If you’re traveling in Peru, you’ll greet people constantly, such as hotel staff, guides, shopkeepers, new friends, and locals you meet along the way.
Knowing a few saludos (greetings) helps you come across as warm, respectful, and “in the flow” even if your Spanish is beginner-level.
Here’s a guide to the exact phrases Peruvians use most, when to use them, and what to do with the handshake, cheek kiss and hug side of greetings.
Quick Checklist: What Greetings Should I Learn for Peru?
You can handle 90% of situations with these:
- Hello: Hola
- Good morning: Buenos días (until noon)
- Good afternoon: Buenas tardes (midday → evening)
- Good evening/night: Buenas noches (nighttime hello and goodbye)
- How are you?: ¿Qué tal? / ¿Cómo estás?
- Bye: Chau (also written Chao)
- See you later: Hasta luego / Nos vemos
- Please/Thank you: Por favor / Gracias
How do you say “hello” in Peru?
The most common “hello” in Peru is Hola, and the most polite everyday hellos are Buenos días / Buenas tardes / Buenas noches (based on the time of day).
Formal hellos (polite and safe)
Use these when meeting someone new, speaking to older people, hotel staff, or anyone you want to show extra respect to.
| Spanish | Meaning | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Buenos días | Good morning / Good day | Morning → noon |
| Buenas tardes | Good afternoon | Noon → early evening |
| Buenas noches | Good evening / Good night | Nighttime greeting |
Add a title if you want to be extra polite:
- Señor (man), Señora (woman), Señorita (young woman)
Example: Buenos días, señora.
Friendly / everyday hellos (casual)
| Spanish | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hola | Hi / Hello | Works everywhere |
| Buenas | Hi (short for “buenas…”) | Casual, very common |
| ¿Qué tal? | How’s it going? / What’s up? | Friendly |
| ¿Cómo estás? | How are you? | Informal (tú) |
| ¿Cómo va? | How’s it going? | Casual |
Internal link idea: “Want the fun stuff locals say?” Read A Crash Course in Peruvian Slang
How do you say “good morning”, “good afternoon”, and “good night” in Peru?
Use the time-based greetings below and you’ll sound instantly more natural.
| Phrase | Best time to use | Quick tip |
|---|---|---|
| Buenos días | Morning (until ~12pm) | Safe default when you start your day |
| Buenas tardes | After 12pm | Great for restaurants + shops |
| Buenas noches | Nighttime | Works as hello and goodbye |
How do you introduce yourself in Peru?
A simple intro is always appreciated, especially when meeting guides, hosts, or new travel friends.
| Spanish | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Mucho gusto | Nice to meet you |
| Me llamo ____ | My name is ____ |
| Soy de ____ | I’m from ____ |
| ¿Y tú? | And you? (informal) |
| ¿Y usted? | And you? (formal) |
How do you say “goodbye” in Peru?
The easiest, most common goodbye in Peru is Chau/Chao.
Everyday goodbyes
| Spanish | Meaning | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Chau / Chao | Bye | Almost anytime |
| Nos vemos | See you | Casual, friendly |
| Hasta luego | See you later | Neutral, common |
| Hasta mañana | See you tomorrow | Only if it’s true |
| Buenas noches | Good night | Leaving at night |
More formal / “big” goodbyes
| Spanish | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Adiós | Goodbye / Farewell | Often feels “final” compared to chau |
What everyday polite phrases should I use in Peru?
These phrases matter because Peru tends to value politeness in day-to-day interactions.
| Spanish | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Por favor | Please |
| Gracias | Thank you |
| Muchas gracias | Thank you very much |
| De nada | You’re welcome |
| Disculpe / Perdón | Excuse me / Sorry |
| Con permiso | Excuse me (passing through) |
| Buenas | Quick polite hello (casual) |
What physical greetings are common in Peru?
In many social situations, Peruvians greet warmly: a handshake is standard, and a single cheek kiss is common among women and between women and men who know each other.
Here’s the simple guide:
- Formal/business setting: handshake is safest.
- Women ↔ women (social): usually one cheek kiss.
- Man ↔ woman (social): often one cheek kiss (if familiar) or handshake (if formal).
- Men ↔ men: usually handshake; close friends might do a quick hug/half-hug.
Practical tip: If you’re unsure, pause and let the local person lead.
Easy Quechua Greetings to Know in Cusco/Sacred Valley?
Quechua varies by region, but these are commonly taught to travelers:
| Quechua | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rimaykullayki | Hello (polite greeting) | Often shared as the go-to greeting |
| Imaynallam? | How are you? | Friendly check-in |
| Sulpayki | Thank you | Useful anywhere in the Andes |
| Allin p’unchay | Good day | Common phrasebook greeting |
| Allin tuta | Good night | Often used for “good night” |
| Paqarin kama | Until tomorrow | Travel-friendly goodbye |
FAQ: Peru greetings, “usted”, politeness, and Quechua basics
Yes—usted is commonly used to show respect, especially with strangers, elders, and in formal situations. Many conversations may shift to tú once you’re more familiar.
se time-based greetings (Buenos días / Buenas tardes / Buenas noches), add ‘por favour’ and ‘gracias’, and when in doubt choose usted forms (¿Cómo está?, ¿Y usted?).
No, ¿Qué tal? is a normal, friendly “How’s it going?” It’s casual, so use it with peers, guides, shopkeepers, and people you’ve already said hello to. In very formal situations, stick to Buenos días / Buenas tardes instead.
Both mean “excuse me/sorry,” but disculpe tends to sound a bit more polite/formal (great in shops, hotels, and restaurants), while perdón is very common for quick, everyday moments (like bumping into someone).
Yes, especially in smaller spaces. A simple “Buenos días” or “Buenas” (plus a smile) is considered polite, and people will usually respond warmly.
Yes. Buen provecho is a polite phrase around food—like “enjoy your meal.” You can say it when someone is eating, when food is served, or even when you’re passing by people eating.
These will save you fast:
“No entiendo.” (I don’t understand.)
“¿Puede repetir, por favor?” (Can you repeat, please?)
“Más despacio, por favor.” (More slowly, please.)
“¿Cómo se dice ____ en español?” (How do you say ____ in Spanish?)
Article Updated: December 12, 2025
