Peru Guide
Money
Credit cards and travellers' cheques
For safety's sake carry the bulk of your money should be carried as travellers' cheques, bank or credit cards. Whether travellers' cheques or cards, it's preferable to carry two different types, as rumoured forgeries (particularly of travellers' cheques) make individual brands difficult to exchange from time to time. American Express is a good bet since it has its own offices in Lima and Cusco, is widely recognized by casas de cambio, hotels and travel agents, and is exchangeable in one of Peru's most efficient banks, the Banco de Credito. American Express also offers an efficient poste restante service. MasterCard travellers' cheques (such as those issued by Thomas Cook and HSBC) are exchangeable for nuevo soles in Interbanc, Banco Wiese and Banco Latino.
Credit cards are accepted in many of the moderate and all of the more expensive restaurants and hotels throughout Peru, as well as for car rental. Peru also has nationwide coverage with ATM Global Net, so all major cities and some major towns (like Pisac and Urubamba in the Sacred Valley near Cusco) offer ATM access for most plastic, including Visa Electron and Mastercard. The better known credit cards (including MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Diners Club) can also be used with larger travel agents and tour operators, although only with a few of the major bus companies (eg Cruz del Sur). Interbanc, Banco Latino, Banco de Wiese and Banco de Credito all have ATMs and local currency can be withdrawn from most of them; as well as in the banks themselves, they are also found in some main public spaces, from Museums in Cusco to shopping centres in most big cities. Be careful using the machines, though: they can be a target for muggings. Banks will also advance cash on major cards (with passport as ID) for a fee – the amount varies considerably, so check beforehand.