Dont want to carry too much or too little. Whats the average cash people carry when travelling around Peru?
I usually withdrew 500 soles at a time and kept about 200 to 250 on me each day, split between wallet and money belt. Used the rest gradually or left it at the hostel in a locker. Some ATMs had high fees or didn’t work with my card so I preferred withdrawing in cities when I had the chance. If you're going off-grid or to small villages definitely carry more since card acceptance is rare.
I travelled solo and kept it simple - 150 soles in my wallet and another 100 soles hidden in my bag. Most meals were around 15 to 25 soles and local buses or colectivos were cheap. I used cash for markets, tips, and transport. Bigger things like Machu Picchu tickets I booked online with my card in advance. I didn’t want to flash too much money but I also didn’t want to be stuck needing an ATM late at night.
I carried around 200 soles in small bills and used my debit card whenever possible. In Lima and Cusco most restaurants and hostels accepted cards but in places like Pisac or Ollantaytambo I paid cash for everything. I also made sure to hide a backup stash in my backpack just in case. You won’t need loads of cash daily but it’s smart to always have enough for a full day’s expenses plus a little extra for emergencies.
I usually kept around 300 to 400 soles on me at any given time. That was enough for food, taxis, entry tickets, and small shopping without feeling nervous about carrying too much. I used my card for bigger things like hotels and tours when possible. ATMs are easy to find in cities but not always reliable in smaller towns, so I made sure to top up before heading into remote areas like Colca Canyon.