Traffic regulations in South America - Peru

What should be considered on a motorcycle tour through Peru? What documents do you need to bring with you? Which special features in road traffic have to be observed. MotoGS WorldTours provides you with answers to your most important questions.
Errors and omissions excepted - all information without guarantee.

Basics:
The Republic of Peru is the third-largest country in South America after Brazil and Argentina and impresses with its cultural and scenic diversity.
Here is part of the Amazon rainforest and Machu Picchu, an ancient Inca city high in the Andes. The area around Machu Picchu, including the Sacred Valley, the Inca Trail and the colonial city of Cusco, has numerous archaeological sites. On Peru's arid Pacific coast lies the capital, Lima, with a well-preserved colonial center and important collections of pre-Columbian art.
Peru is a country of contrasts and breathtaking beauty. From the warm coast, the dry desert, the cool mountains and the humid jungle - hardly any other country is so rich in diversity.

Vehicle papers and other necessary documents:
To enter Peru, EU citizens need a passport that is still valid for at least 6 months. Of course, an identity card is not sufficient for entry into Peru. Tourists from the EU who stay in the country for less than 90 days in a period of 6 months do not need a visa.

Almost similar requirements apply to non-EU citizens, but this always depends on your actual country of origin. Therefore, for your own safety, you should check the visa requirements for your home country to enter Peru at VisaHQ. This website is a very good indicator to find out easily.

Peruvian Customs - Beware of what is in your suitcase:
The import and export of national and foreign currency over USD 10,000 must be declared, the import of cash over USD 30,000 is prohibited. It is recommend taking cash (Euros and US dollars) or credit cards with you.

Absurd exemption limits for stimulants:
The Peruvian customs, a topic in itself. If you are going to Peru, you should think carefully about what you pack in your bag. Especially with electronic devices, a state limit can quickly be exceeded.

Already on the flight to Peru you will receive the customs declaration from the friendly flight attendants. The note has a logical structure, a green and a red page, divided into categories and provided with quantities. And that is exactly what matters - the quantities. There are no problems with comprehensibility. But possibly upon import. Because nobody usually thinks about declaring personal things such as a camera, mobile phone, USB stick, etc. After all, these are personal items. It is actually quite logical, but it is not.

Customs restrictions are not stingy:
Limitations as far as the eye can see, or as far as there is space on this form for the customs declaration. Peruvians apparently love law and order, at least on their customs papers. For example, an electric razor is allowed. A second one not. Two cameras are fine. No information is given regarding lenses. The number of four USB sticks must not be exceeded. The same apply to external hard drives, which means no more than two. The amount that is above the specified exemption limit must be declared for import and duty paid. 12% of the value of the goods, to be exact.
Therefore, it may make sense to find out exactly how much goods you would like to have with you. 

You can find out easily on the Peruvian customs website SUNAT (National Superintendence of Customs and Tax Administration or El equipaje Asistente Aduanero) before departure.

Pay Attention:
Anyone who owns a drone and wants to take it to South America, especially Peru or Chile, should know the following.
Basically, the available information about the import, such as taking or using drones in Peru and Chile is sparse. No one can give precise information, as the regulations are constantly changing. We have information on Peru and Chile, two countries that regulate drones very strictly.

Using a Drone in Peru - an administrative hassle:
A contact with the Ministry of Transport and Communication gives more details. Drones must be declared to customs upon entry and registered for use in Peru. This means you have to take the drone to customs and pay between 12% and 18% of the purchase price as import duty. So do not forget to bring the original invoice of the drone you bought. You will get this amount back when you have complied with all the formalities and you have finally taken the drone back out of Peru. It is actually quite simple, despite the insane administrative effort. But different countries different customs.

But what is the exact procedure?
Personal appearance at the office is mandatory!
The drone must first be declared, registered AND deposited at the airport. Then YOU have to go to the Ministry of Transport and Communication in Lima in person and apply for the use of your drone. This takes around a day. Permission will then follow three to seven days later. With this permission, the drone can then be released at the airport where you deposited the drone. On the return flight you have to present the drone in person and after the security check you have to leave the airport again accompanied by a customs officer to claim back the taxes you have already paid. You can then run the drone and take it home with you on your return flight. The procedure is over. So you can ask yourself whether it is worth the effort.

Language:
The official language in Peru is Spanish and will always remain Spanish plus many diverse indigenous languages. With English or even German you are lost in Peru. Even with basic knowledge of the Spanish language, it will not be easy.
A well-functioning translation program is certainly an advantage, but not very helpful when dealing with important questions or even problems.
Without a Spanish speaking guide, this trip will be an absolute adventure.

Currency:
The national currency of the Republic of Peru is the Peruvian Nuevo Sol (PEN). In Peru, as in all South American countries, there is high inflation. You can see the current exchange rate on Oanda, for example.

In every Peruvian city there are exchange offices where money (both Euros and Dollars) can be exchanged. In general, you should make sure that you have small bills with you, as large ones are not accepted. Credit card holders can access ATMs nationwide. With an EC or MaestroCard, however, you get a better exchange rate. Visa and Mastercard are the most common and therefore often, but not consistently, offer an alternative to cash.
Cash payment is always the easiest. In Peru itself, you should have only few bills over 50 soles possible with you, as even 100 soles (around 25-30€) lead to money changing problems in smaller shops.

Security:
The topic “Peru and security” comes up again and again among travelers.
Ok, numbers and facts!
Let it start by enumerating some hard facts, because these are also part of the overall picture: Peru ranks 64th in the world for homicides, behind neighboring countries such as Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador or Bolivia. Above all, the thriving drug business with cocaine is causing the murder rate to skyrocket, similar to that in Colombia or Mexico.

Unfortunately, violence against women is also the order of the day in Peru: The World Health Organization (WHO) published a report that ranked Peru third among the countries with the highest number of female victims of sexual violence by their partners. As in all of Latin America, more and more women and girls are taking to the streets in Peru to draw attention to their country's macho culture and to make their rights heard.

Due to the deep corruption in Peru, many criminal offenses are not even reported, many are not cleared up and disappear into nothing.

Apart from crime in Peru, one reads again and again about dangerous roads, bus accidents with many fatalities and natural disasters such as floods, landslides or earthquakes.

To put it succinctly, having an opinion like: much is cooked hotter than it is eaten is absolutely correct in this case.

Pay close attention to your luggage at the bus terminal, we also strongly advise you not to walk around in front of the terminal with your luggage, but rather to wait inside for your bus. Valuable items, your passport, cameras, laptops and cash should never be stowed in the lower luggage compartment. It is best to carry them on your body or take good care of your hand luggage bag on the bus. By the way, bus travel in Peru is fun and a real luxury - so do not panic!
 
When driving a taxi, always try to take an official taxi from a taxi company. These are mainly recognizable by signs, imprints on the car, radio devices and ID cards in the window. Especially at night, you should not just take a taxi off the street, but rather call it by phone or app, for example with the Taxibeat or Uber app. It is always advisable to negotiate the price before the trip. If you have a bad feeling about a taxi driver, it is better to choose the next taxi.

Which cities and areas are considered unsafe and better to avoid?
It is of course very difficult to say in general. Mostly, the areas are dangerous, in which tourists or travelers do not get lost so often anyway. In general, Lima is considered more dangerous than other cities, but to be honest, Berlin (Germany) is also less safe than Wanne-Eickel (Germany) or Sacramento (California) than El Paso (Texas).
In Lima, we advise you not to go to the districts of Cercado de Lima, San Juan de Lurigancho, La Victoria or el Callao, among others. You will certainly come across the latter district, el Callao, more often, because that is where the airport is located. That is why it is advisable ALWAYS to take a safe taxi (e.g. from GreenTaxi) or the airport shuttle and never take a taxi outside the airport.

The tourist districts of Miraflores or Barranco, on the other hand, are considered to be much safer, although pickpocketing etc. can of course also happen there. When you arrive in a new city, it is advisable to ask your accommodation how safe the area around your hotel or accommodation is and which areas are better to avoid.

Is there a high risk of being mugged?
No If you listen to your gut feeling and take as few valuables with you as possible and do not carry them around obviously, then the probability is relatively low. Most robberies involve purses, cell phones or cameras. In the event of a robbery, it is definitely advisable not to offer any resistance and to be willing to hand over valuables, since in most cases the attackers will actually be armed.

How safe is it to travel alone in Peru?
There are a lot of solo travelers, and almost all report only positive things. Most of the time you are not alone for long anyway, because you often meet other nice travelers and motorcycle enthusiasts who you can join if you want.

Peruvians are generally very accommodating and hospitable and have a keen interest in you having a good time in their country, which Peruvians are very proud of. If you have any questions or if you need help, you will always meet helpful people who have an open ear for you.
But always assuming you are fluent in Spanish.

Vaccinations:
There are vaccinations that you need for almost every vacation, such as hepatitis A and hepatitis B. Diphtheria, tetanus and polio should also be boosted regularly. In addition, there are other vaccinations that you only need if you travel to these regions:
Unfortunately, preventive health care for a trip to South America or Peru cannot be completely covered by vaccinations: Dengue fever, for example, against which there is no vaccination, is unfortunately an issue in large parts of South America.
Depending on the specific travel route, however, it is recommend, among other things, cholera vaccination, diphtheria vaccination, yellow fever vaccination, hepatitis A vaccination, hepatitis B vaccination, polio vaccination, tetanus vaccination and possibly rabies vaccination as well as measures for malaria prophylaxis. These vaccinations are recommended, regardless of whether you are traveling to Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela or Peru.

Vehicle papers and other necessary documents:
Assuming that you do NOT want to bring your own motorcycle or have it brought to Peru, but simply rent a motorcycle on site in a much less complicated way, then the following documents must also be brought with you.
Of course, you can also have your motorcycle shipped to Peru or generally to South America by ship or air freight for a certain period of time. Basically no problem. BUT, time-consuming, cost-intensive and always the risk in the neck, for example, everything goes according to plan at customs in the country of arrival. If you still plan to ship your motorcycle to Peru, then a tip on the side. Ship to Chile and subsequent journey to Peru is less complicated.
Many motorcyclists and globetrotters have their own motorcycles with them, which of course has a certain charm and is understandable, but there is also a little easier way. What if your own motorcycle is totaled in an accident, for example, what if it was stolen. Always remember, the motorcycle MUST be re-shiped for customs purposes. If the motorcycle has not been demonstrably re-shiped or shiped to another country within the prescribed time (3 to 6 months, with an extension up to 12 months), this is considered an import and this is guaranteed to cause major problems and is very expensive. Confiscation will result and enforcement action for customs fraud. That is why we are dealing here with renting a motorcycle on site.

Your national driving license is NOT sufficient. The rental stations also require an international driver's license (usually issued for a period of 3 years). If you want to tour Peru for longer than 30 days, then you must also have an IDP (International Drivers Permit) with you. This IDP is a translation into 12 different languages, including Spanish. You can apply for the IDP at International Drivers Association.

The legal driving age for general motor vehicles in Peru is 18 years. For foreigners who want to rent a motorcycle in Peru, the rental stations usually require a minimum age of 23 years, sometimes even 25 years.
Young riders surcharges for riders under the age of 25 are often required. You should also have held a motorcycle license for at least 1 year.

Of course, you also need a credit card in order to be able to deposit a necessary deposit with the rental company.

Health insurance:
In principle, all travelers to Peru or abroad in general, regardless of their country of origin, should take out international health insurance. This can also be done easily here via Global Rescue. Surely this type of insurance protection is a bit more expensive than other providers. However, as the name suggests, this type of coverage is built on Rescue. Therefore not comparable. However, this should not be understood as advertising, it is a simple recommendation.

Helmet obligation:
Helmets are compulsory! And this just for your own safety.

First aid kit / warning vests:
It is always advisable to carry a high-visibility vest, a first aid kit in a dustproof package, a motorcycle warning triangle and a small warning light.

Lighting:
Outside of built-up areas, you must ride with your headlights on all year round during the day. It is therefore always advisable to take a set of spare light bulbs with you. Excluded are motorcycles equipped with LED lights.

Speed limits in Peru:
in front of schools and hospitals: 30km/h
In town on secondary roads: 40 km/h
In town on main roads: 60 km/h
On expressways: 90 km/h
Panamericana: 100 km/h
On motorways: 100 km/h 

PAY ATTENTION:
Exceeding the speed limit will be strictly prosecuted and punished. Traffic cameras are installed across the country. Certainly less on the mountain roads, there it is not necessary, since a higher speed cannot usually be driven either.

Alcohol limit:
The general traffic rules of Peru also determine how much blood alcohol in the blood riders are still allowed to ride a motorcycle. The general alcohol limit is 0.5‰. In an accident due to the influence of alcohol and an injured person, for example a pedestrian or even your own passenger, there is a risk of imprisonment from 60 days to 5 years, depending on the severity of the injury.
Since the police are very sensitive to alcohol consumption, it is advisable in Peru to only sit on the motorcycle WITHOUT alcohol.

Environmental zone:
A restriction of motor traffic by an environmental zone, as the environmental zones are known in Europe, is not known in Peru.
In other words, there is no information about an environmental zone in Peru.

Tired of tolls on motorways, tunnels and bridges.
The use of many privately maintained road sections in Peru are subject to tolls and depend on the vehicle type or size. Payment can be made in cash or, in some cases, electronically.

However, in Peru there is generally NO toll for motorcycles. So neither a vignette obligation nor any other kind of obligation to pay for the use of motorways, expressways, tunnels or bridges.

Correct behavior in the event of an accident or breakdown:
In any case, it is advisable and important to call the police, even in the case of "minor damage", because the police protocol is the basis for the settlement of the damage.
This is all the more important if, for example, the motorcycle was rented.

Border crossing to neighboring countries with the rented motorbike:
Basically possible, but always dependent on the respective neighboring country. So for example, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia and Chile. Since a possible border crossing into one of the neighboring countries depends on the respective customs regulations of the countries among themselves, it is absolutely necessary to clarify this question directly with the motorcycle rental station.
In any case, it is important to ensure that all necessary documents, such as the rental company's declaration of approval, insurance confirmation and so on, are handed over after the rental company has given its approval for crossing the border. Crossing the border with a rental motorcycle or rental car is not always possible. For example, crossing the border from Panama to Costa Rica is impossible. That means riding the rental motorcycle in Panama, for example, to the border to Costa Rica, handing it in there, crossing the border on foot and continuing on the Costa Rican side with a new rental motorcycle (licensed in Costa Rica). Of course, all this can only be done if your rental company has drop-off points at the border.

Fines and peculiarities in Peruvian road traffic:
Violations of traffic regulations can result in high fines or even imprisonment, depending on the severity of the violation.
It should be mentioned right at the beginning. In Peru, driving on the right is preferred. This also means that on a 2-lane road you are expected to ride on the right and use the left lane only for overtaking and only for the duration of the overtaking.
Granted, that is the traffic rule, but NOT the reality. In Peru, as in other South American countries, every local drives how and where they want on the road. The traffic is chaotic. On a 2-lane road, 3 cars like to drive next to each other and it gets really exciting when a motorcycle rides in between.

General horns:
While everyone knows when and where to honk your horn in the city and countryside, you should also know that honking your horn on mountain roads is one of the critical points to consider when touring Peru. Since many mountain roads in Peru have blind spots, honking your horn before the bend is a useful sign to avoid collisions while riding. In other words, the use of horns is encouraged and perfectly normal in Peru. That means, using the honk is actually normal and that all the time.

Riding at night on the roads of Peru:
It is NOT recommended to continue riding after dark. Sometimes the road conditions are in such a bad condition and the street lighting is either insufficient or simply non-existent. Furthermore, the large trucks and buses at night also drive much faster than permitted or usual.
It is therefore absolutely not advisable to do so.

If you have riding experience in other South American countries and, above all, have self-confidence in your own riding practice, you can also ride through Peru by rental motorcycle.
As already mentioned, traffic rules are not observed by many road users, especially truck, bus and taxi drivers who claim the right of the strongest for themselves.
Peru's traffic police also have a reputation for finding an additional source of income in foreign tourists, charging foreigners with traffic violations (real AND made-up) and punishing them with hefty fines.

Parking - you should always park the motorcycle in a secure and guarded parking lot, especially overnight, as theft of parts is widespread.

Emergency numbers in Peru:
General emergency number and police: 105
Rescue: 106
Civil Defense: 115
Fire department: 116
Ambulance service: 117
Tourist information and assistance: +51 1 574 8000
Ambulance: +51 1 416 67 77
Tourist Police: + 51 1 460 10 60

As of 07/09/2023