The golden rule in Peru is never to deposit money into personal bank accounts. Every legal travel agency must have a corporate bank account under its registered company name (Razón Social) and an active RUC number (Taxpayer ID). You can use our Free Búho-Smart Verifier to check if the agency is accredited by the Ministry of Tourism (MINCETUR). The RUC is like the tax ID granted by the Peruvian tax administration. It is unique and consists of 11 digits; corporate entities start with "20...", and sole proprietorships start with "10...". After obtaining their RUC, all travel agencies and tour guides must go to MINCETUR to register in the General Registry of Tourism Providers. Búho Smart directly consults these official registries to give you an immediate answer regarding the formality of the agency you are hiring. While this significantly reduces the risk of scams, you should always check their references and reputation on digital channels like social media or platforms like TripAdvisor. Look for agencies with a track record and recent posts showing their staff wearing branded polo shirts or caps, proving they are constantly active.

 With the opening of the new airport terminal (2025), logistical chaos is often exploited by informal taxi drivers. There have been multiple reports of excessive charges or deceitful currency exchanges ("I said dollars, not soles"). Recommendation: Hire an official transfer from inside the airport, use secure ride-hailing apps (like Uber or Cabify), or ask your verified agency to send a registered driver. Inside the airport, there are customer service staff members who will guide you to the official taxi ranks. The authorized taxi companies are:

• Taxi Green: Phone: +51 1 4844001
• Taxi Directo: Phone: +51 1 7111111
• Taxi 365: Phone: +51 934 865 776

TAXI REMISSE VIP: Provide corporate services and transfers to 5-star hotels

• CMV Remisse Ejecutivo: Phone: +51 981 057 229
• Taxi Trip: Phone: +51 932 553 721

Peruvian laws against child trafficking are extremely strict. If a minor (Peruvian or resident) travels with only one parent or a third party inside or outside the country, police and airlines will demand a Notarized Travel Permit signed by the absent parent. If you are a foreign tourist in transit, your passport is usually sufficient, but you should always carry the original birth certificate to prove parentage. For foreign tourists arriving in Peru, entry controls are not as strict; exit controls for minors are much stricter in their home countries, where they must prove they are leaving with the proper permits according to their country's legislation. We highly recommend that once you arrive in Peru, you always keep a digital copy of your passport and your TAM (Andean Migration Card) in your email. In case of loss, this will speed up any paperwork at your consulate.

 Beware! Machu Picchu tickets sell out months in advance. There are scammers in the Cusco Main Square (Plaza de Armas) who sell fake tickets or promise "preferential entry" that simply does not exist. Only buy your tickets through MINCETUR-verified formal agencies or on the Peruvian government’s official website (tuboleto.cultura.pe).

Peru, the only official receipts with legal validity are the Electronic Sales Receipt (Boleta de Venta Electrónica) and the Electronic Invoice (Factura Electrónica) issued by SUNAT (the national tax agency). Never accept "Proformas," "Service Orders," or simple paper receipts; these have no tax value, and if the agency disappears with your money, you will have no legal way to report them. If you have doubts about the validity of your receipt, contact us through the channels provided in our verifier block.