South America
Can you drink tap water in Peru?
NoNo, drink bottled
Can you drink the tap water in Peru?
Don't drink the tap water. Drink bottled or filtered water everywhere; many hostels have refill stations. Be careful with ice and raw salads in cheap places.
Key facts
- Safely managed drinking water: 49% of people (2024, WHO/UNICEF JMP).
Tap water by place in Peru
| Place | Verdict | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lima | No, drink bottled | Drink bottled or filtered water. Most hostels offer refills; be careful with ice and raw salads in cheap spots. |
| Cusco | No, drink bottled | Drink bottled or filtered water; hostels offer refills. Be careful with ice and raw salads in cheap places. |
| Machu Picchu | No, drink bottled | Drink bottled or filtered water. Hotels offer refills; be careful with ice and raw salads in cheap places. |
| Arequipa | No, drink bottled | Drink bottled or filtered water. Ice in cheap restaurants is a stomach risk. |
| Sacred Valley | No, drink bottled | Drink bottled or filtered water. Be careful with ice and salads in market stalls. |
| Huacachina | No, drink bottled | Drink bottled water; the oasis water is not for drinking. Hostels often sell refills. |
| Máncora | No, drink bottled | Drink bottled or filtered water. Be careful with ice and raw seafood from street stalls. |
| Huaraz | No, drink bottled | Drink bottled or filtered water; treat stream water on treks. Avoid ice in cheap places. |
| Puno | No, drink bottled | Drink bottled or filtered water. Lake water is not safe to drink; avoid ice in cheap places. |
| Paracas | No, drink bottled | Drink bottled or filtered water. Seafood is fresh, but avoid ice and raw dishes in the cheapest stalls. |
| Iquitos | No, drink bottled | Drink bottled or filtered water. Avoid ice, salads and unpeeled fruit in street stalls. |
| Nazca | No, drink bottled | Drink bottled or filtered water. Hotels provide bottled water; avoid ice and raw salads in cheap places. |
| Puerto Maldonado | No, drink bottled | Never drink tap water. Drink bottled or filtered water; lodges provide purified water and ice. |
Tap water by place
Sources
- World Bank: safely managed drinking water
- US State Department travel advisory
- Superintendencia Nacional de Migraciones
- iPerú tourist information (PromPerú)
- PeruRail
- Speedtest Global Index: Peru
- World Bank open data
Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.