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Peru is a must-see destination if you plan to visit South America. The mythical land of the Incas has beautiful cities and destinations to explore. For this reason, many travelers need to understand more about what is involved in the currency exchange in Peru.
Understanding foreign exchange in Peru in advance will help you identify the ideal places to exchange your money and avoid places that offer exchange rates above the market or above what the Central Reserve Bank of Peru sets. For this, our team of travel specialists has created a small guide where you will find the necessary information about money exchange in Peru.
Nuevo Sol (PEN) is the official currency in Peru and is the equivalent of 100 centimos. Nuevo Sol bills are in S/.200, 100, 50, 20, and 10 denominations. Coins are in S/.5, 2, and 1 denominations, and 50, 20, 10, 5, and 1 centimos (cents).
The main places to exchange currency in Peru are the following:
Money exchange at the airport: You will usually find unfavorable exchange rates, so we recommend changing just the money you need for transfers and meals or just changing your currencies for emergencies.
Money exchange in banks: It is a safe way to change money in Peru, even though the exchange rates may not be favorable. The best thing is that you will avoid the stress and waiting that other places generate.
Money exchange in Exchange Houses: It is the safest way to exchange your money in Peru, where you can find the most favorable exchange rates to get Peruvian soles. Generally, you will find them in all cities, especially in the places most frequented by tourists.
Money exchange in supermarkets: They do not offer very favorable rates, but they allow you to avoid the queues generated in banks or exchange houses at certain hours.
Another related fact about money exchange in Peru is the circulation of counterfeit nuevos soles bills, so we suggest avoiding exchanging your money on the street or with people working near the financial centers dedicated to currency exchange since you will not be able to distinguish a real bill from a counterfeit one. Consider also that torn bills (both dollars, euros, and soles) are not readily accepted in financial institutions, so paying with this type of bill may bring you some setbacks.
You will also be able to find international companies such as Western Union with offices in all the provincial capitals of Peru if you wish to send or receive money in the currency of your country of origin and then exchange your money for Peruvian soles. Another related fact about money exchange in Peru is the circulation of counterfeit nuevos soles bills, so we suggest avoiding exchanging your money on the street or with people working near the financial centers dedicated to currency exchange since you will not be able to distinguish a legitimate bill from a counterfeit one.
You can also withdraw US dollars at most ATMs in Peru, but be careful with those not located inside banks, as they can be dangerous in some cases.
The central banks in Peru are:
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