An Etiquette Guide to Peru

1
An Etiquette Guide to Peru

• General and Useful information to visiting Peru

Return to Visit Peru!
2
Background to Peru and its People

• Spaniards discover New World and find a
  concentration of Silver in the Andes Region, Peru
• Peru was the wealthiest Spanish Colony
• The Inca Civilization was Destroyed by Pizarro
  and his Conquistadors
• Traces of Inca Civilization lost after conquest
• Today, the Peruvian society is separated by a
  small wealthy governing class and a larger more
  poor class

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Religion and Demographics

• 95 Roman Catholics
• Many religious practices mix indigenous
  traditions
• 50 of population under 25
• Significant, Asian immigration
• Bring political economic influence

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4
Greetings Introductions

• Languages Spanish Quechua (modern Inca
  language)
• When answering a phone Peruvians usually say
  Alo?
• Kissing once on the cheek is common between women
  or men and women
• To be courteous, permission for photos of the
  people is recommended as well as a tip

5
The Okays Not-Okays of Communication

• Americans are very welcomed in Peru hosted
  very warmly while visiting
• Be sure to mention how much you are enjoying your
  stay
• Do not discuss political problems or past
  relations with neighboring countries
• Peruvians do not get along with Bolivians and
  have little relations with Ecuadorians
• The traditional hand wave is done with your palm
  facing outward and waving from side to side

6
Protocol in Public

• Travel by car is not recommended
• Poor road conditions and the threat of guerilla
  activity make cars dangerous
• Visitors should not wear expensive jewelry due to
  high crime rates
• Women should always be accompanied by men
• Men should try not to look too much like a
  foreign business person

www.filtrs.com/peru/Peru-Dave/Peru.jpg
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Business Culture

• Travel with a female associate have respected
  men at home establish your authority with Men
• Appointments should be scheduled for the morning
• Expect stop and go meetings
• Peruvians prefer building relationships with
  business partners rather than building relations
  with a corporation

www.geolingua.org/imagens/peru_lima2.jpg
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How to be a good guest or host

• Peruvians like to be impressed Choose to dine
  and stay at a nicer hotel and restaurant
• Invite spouses to join everyone
• Dinners are a social gathering
• Avoid talking about business
• Save it for the office or for lunch

www.peru-explorer.com/limahotels.jpg
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Dining in Peru

• In the early evening, Peruvians eat a lonche, a
  small breakfast like meal
• Intended to hold you over until dinner
• Entails cakes, coffee or tea
• Dinner comes around 9pm or 10pm
• The quantity of food served is usually large
• Potatoes, rice, bread and other starches are
  common servings
• The host and the honored guest usually sit next
  to one another
• Males to the right and Females to the left

www.angrypsycho.com/apweb/photos/arch/peru
A Hawaiian Chicken dinner in Peru
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Drinking in Peru

• Mate de Coca is a common drink especially in
  higher altitudes
• The herbal tea helps people adjust to the higher
  altitudes
• Due to the altitude, water is sometimes mixed in
  with beer or wine
• Pisco is a eau de vie made from grapes mixed with
  lemons and sugar
• Chicha is a fermented corn or grain drink like
  wine
• A purple colored drink is alcoholic, where as a
  non-purple drink is non-alcoholic

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Giving gifts to Peruvians

• When sending flowers, send an odd number of
  roses, but not 13
• Thirteen is seen as an unlucky number
• If you send another type of flower, it looks like
  a cheap substitute
• Linen handkerchiefs represent sadness
• Gift giving is expected in business
• Thoughtful gifts should either
• Represent the receiver of the gift
• Be a rarity in Peru

12
Special Holidays and Celebrations

• January 1 Ano Nuevo (New Years Day)
• March/April Semana Santa/Pasqua (Holy week
  and Easter)
• June 29 Feast of Saints Peter and Paul
• July 28-29Independence Day
• August 30Saint Rosa of the Americans
  Celebration
• November 1Dia de los Santos (All Saints Day)
• December 8Imaculada Concepcion (Immaculate
  Conception)