Wondering if ATMs and places like restaurants shops in Peru easily take American Express or its better to get a Visa or Mastercard
I made the mistake of relying too much on my Amex in Peru and regretted it. It got declined at almost every shop I tried including at the airport. Most ATMs didn’t even show Amex as an option. My friend had a Chase Mastercard and it worked everywhere including gas stations and hostel check-ins. Peru is mostly Visa and Mastercard friendly. If you are carrying an Amex, make sure you have at least one backup card from another network.
I was surprised how many places in Peru did not accept Amex. Even though I booked my flights with my Amex Gold charge card, I couldn't use it in most places once I landed. Small shops, markets, and even some big restaurants only took Visa or Mastercard. My HDFC Visa worked well at BCP and Interbank ATMs too. Just one big restaurant in Miraflores accepted Amex and even there they added a 5 percent fee. So definitely better to carry a Visa or Mastercard for daily use.
Definitely bring a Visa or Mastercard. I had an Amex from Bank of America and could only use it at high-end hotels like JW Marriott in Lima and once at a touristy restaurant in Arequipa. Every other place including supermarkets, museums, even hostels said they couldn’t process Amex. My Revolut Visa and Wise Mastercard worked everywhere from ATMs to corner stores. Peru still prefers the more common card networks.
Wondering if ATMs and places like restaurants shops in Peru easily take American Express or its better to get a Visa or Mastercard
I travelled around Lima, Cusco, and the Sacred Valley in April. American Express barely worked anywhere. Even in nicer restaurants in Miraflores they would say sorry no Amex. My Visa debit card from TD Bank worked almost everywhere including ATMs, cafes, and hotels. Mastercard was fine too. For Peru I would not rely on Amex at all. It’s more accepted in luxury hotels or international chains but not in local shops or smaller restaurants.
BCP didnt work with my Mastercard, unfortunately. And did not see any amex sticker on there either
BCP ATMs are literally everywhere-super convenient. My Indian card worked without any issues. Not amex though