Can i use the US dollar in peru or do i need to exchange it for their money?-thanks?

You did not ask a stupid question, even though you received some stupid answers. Readers should be aware that there are places in the US along our northern and southern borders that accept Canadian Dollars and Mexican Pesos. Commerce is commerce! Most people throughout the world are quite happy to accept US dollars. The exceptions in Latin America are Cuba and Venezuela (although there may be a lively underground market for US dollars in those countries). I was just in Peru, and all the stores that I went in to were happy to take dollars at a reasonable exchange rate. This included grocery stores, drug stores, etc. If their cash registers don't automatically do the conversion the shopkeepers whip out a pocket calculator and tell you just what your purchase will cost in dollars. This is true throughout Latin America. Even in the middle of the Amazon Jungle people were quite happy to accept American dollars. One consideration, though - take smaller bills, expect change in the local currency (nueva soles in Peru), and take new, crisp bills. The dollar is a very desirable currency (still!) and it is also the currency most counterfeited - so no one except a bank is likely to take anything over a $20 bill, and if you are in a rural area the small shopkeepers and vendors will not want to give you change for a $20 bill for a small purchase. You don't want to carry a lot of currency, so also take a credit card that you can use at ATM machines - that way you can get cash when needed, and the exchange rate is usually the best you can get. I also carried some back-up cash in a money belt. By the way - if Lima is your destination, I used a service called Viator (Viator.com) for transfers to and from the airport - it was like $15 US and I paid it online when I reserved it (and simply tipped the driver with $5 when there). Cheaper than a taxi, and the driver picks you up right at the airport waving a sign with your name on it - the driver I had spoke English and was very informative. He helped me carry my bag to his car - it was cheaper than a taxi and much better. And I didn't have to worry about whether a taxi driver would want dollars or if I needed to exchange at the airport (sometimes not easy when the flights arrive so late). Make sure you have your Hepatitis A vaccination if you haven't had that, and if going into the Amazon you need to visit a travel health clinic. Have a great trip!

Dollar In Peru

Can you walk into a shop in your city or town and pay with anything other than US currency?

No.

Why would you think it would be any different in any other country?

Of course you have to use the local currency!

Yes, for the most part you will need to pay in nuevos soles in Peru. The only exception is that in a few places where there are a lot of tourists, some of the street vendors may be willing to take US dollars. On my last day in Lima, there was a painting I wanted to buy. I asked the man if he would accept dollars as I was nearly out of soles and didn't want to go find an ATM to get more.

Be aware, though, that the exchange rate you get o transactions like this is not the most favorable.

Dollar En Peru

Can I use the US dollar in Peru or do I need to exchange it for their money?

Answer: Certainly you can use the US dollar in Peru wherever they accept it. However, the value of the US dollar has been going downwards as Peru's local currency is getting stronger and stronger due to the high economic growth in the last decade. Look at the following comparison:

Year 1998: US$ 1.00 = S/. 3.50

Year 2012: US$ 1.00 = S/. 2.68

I recommend you to exchange your US dollars but keep some of your money is US dollars as well.

To sum up, Peru gladly accepts the dollar just about everywhere. It is not a dumb question.

You will generally get better prices if you change your money in Peruvian soles, though.

You shouldn't carry much cash around with you to prevent temptation to desperate people. You can easily withdraw money from ATM machines if you have a major credit card except when traveling in isolated areas.

I was born in Peru and have dual citizenship Peru/USA. With my wife and family, I have lived for many years in Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Nicaragua, and all those countries are used to US dollars. Ecuador officially changed their currency to the US dollar over 10 years ago.

So the negative comments on here are just from opinionated but unlearned people. :-)

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RE:

Can i use the US dollar in peru or do i need to exchange it for their money?-thanks?

Don't listen to the people that say its normal and some places in Peru accept USD dollars. They don't. It's RARE you will find a place that does. The only place where they for sure accept it is when you are exchanging it for Soles.

not answering for best in show but my years traveling have shown that any country is quite willing to take US bucks. there are some qualifiers: French(Arrogant SOB's), and now that Euro is in play some prefer it. Although the Euro has gone **** up at the Moment.In Costa Rica dollars are the de facto currency but that is tourist central.

What you would be wise to do is get a credit card that does not charge usury rates for foreign use. the local cambios/banks/exchange joints are in the biz of turning you upside-down and shaking vigorously. Exchange some folding money here if you can find a source, or when you get there shop for the best bank rate of exchange, so there will be less room for a merchant to take advantage of a trumped up exchange rate and avoid having to do exchange conversions on the fly.

BTW larry does have an unusual mind does he not.

you didn't offend anyone, im from Peru and everyone accepts dollar over there, even the street vendors. they might not honor the exact exchange rate, maybe they'll give you a little less, but if you aren't spending hundreds of dollars i wouldn't worry about it. it won't make much of a difference, peru uses soles. i was there a month ago and one dollar was about 2.65 soles ( if i remember correctly) a few years ago, you were able to get 3.28 soles for a dollar, the sol got stronger.

have fun, im so jealous i'm miss my family