The Dress Code in Peru in 2023: From Day-to-Day Clothing to Formal Events

You’ve packed your bags for Peru. You’ve got all the clothes you need for walking the streets of Lima and trekking to Machu Picchu. And then you somehow find yourself invited to a wedding. Or to a fancy restaurant. Or, god forbid, to some formal event where you might actually have to wear a tie.

So now you’re wondering if there’s a specific dress code in Peru. How should you dress? What should you wear? And can you wear sandals to a quinceañera….?

The Day-to-Day Dress Code in Peru

What you wear on a day-to-day basis in Peru is entirely up to you. There’s no real etiquette when it comes to clothing in Peru, and no strict religious or social taboos to bear in mind. But people will judge you to a certain extent depending on what you’re wearing, as they do across the globe.

The majority of Peruvians are fairly conformist when it comes to clothing, and they certainly notice — and occasionally comment on — the occasionally outlandish clothing of foreigners.

Some locals are also quite judgmental. For example, many Peruvians think that hippies are unwashed vagabonds who need a good scrub in a hot bath.

On the flipside, if you’re a sharp dresser — golden wristwatch, Armani shirt, Gucci leggings (?) — you’ll attract an altogether different type of attention. Amorous advances will probably be more frequent, but not always well intentioned. You’ll also be a far more tempting target for all the nearby muggers.

Foreign women wearing revealing clothing will almost certainly find themselves subject to street harassment by Peruvian men, even if the men don’t consider it as such. But don’t let that change the way you choose to dress.

Restaurants

It’s rare for a restaurant in Peru to have a formal dress code. Feel free to dress up if you like — especially if it’s a more formal dinner gathering — but you rarely have to worry about being let in to a restaurant because of what you’re wearing.

I contacted three popular upscale restaurants in Lima to see if they have any kind of dress code. Their responses:

• Central Restaurant: no dress code
• Astrid y Gaston: no dress code (“the attire is casual”)
• Maido: no dress code

Nightlife

Peruvians like to dress up when they go out drinking and dancing. Even in the heat of the jungle, most men will head out to bars and discotecas wearing trousers rather than the more typical daytime shorts. Some of them also wear long-sleeved shirts. I live in the jungle and I never go out at night in trousers — it’s too damn hot. But no one cares.

As far as I know, I’ve never been to a club in Lima or Arequipa or Cusco or anywhere else in Peru that has a dress code. But I guess some of the more exclusive (uptight) nightclubs might have a no-shorts policy. If you’re going somewhere super-swanky, then it might be worth checking in advance.

Beaches

You’ll be fine on Peru’s beaches whatever you wear, as long as you don’t go topless (or bottomless). If you wear one of those tiny Brazilian fio dental (dental floss) bikinis like you see on the beaches of Rio, then expect a few stares. And probably some comments. But no one will ask you to leave the beach.

If you really want to let it all hang out, then head to Puerto Bonito about 45 miles south of Lima. As far as I know, it’s the only nudist beach in Peru.

Business Dress in Peru

Business dress in Peru is the same as the traditional Western dress code: men wear suits (or at least a shirt and trousers) and women wear dresses, skirts or blouses (or a variant of the suit, but that’s less common in Peru).

Indigenous Peruvians might have their own traditional dress for formal occasions, including for business.

Hospitals

I was once denied entry to a hospital in Tarapoto because I was wearing shorts (I was trying to visit a friend who was about to give birth). I’m not sure how common this is in Peru, or if it’s standard policy in other hospitals around the world, but bear it in mind if you want to visit someone.

Dealing with State Officials and Peruvian Bureaucracy

While you can normally enter government buildings wearing whatever you like (within reason), it’s worth dressing up a little if you’re trying to get something done quickly and without additional fuss.

For example, a border official might treat you better if you look respectable (by his standards), rather than scruffy and disheveled. And that could make the difference between being given 183 days in Peru (on your Tarjeta Andina), or just 90.

As a general rule, if you know you’ll be dealing with any kind of Peruvian bureaucracy or officialdom, dress slightly smarter than usual. It all helps.

As a side note, the US Embassy in Peru does not have a dress code. They do recommend wearing “adequate and comfortable” clothing.

In Schools, Colleges and Universities

Business casual/smart casual is normally fine if you’re visiting or teaching at a school, college or university in Peru. Excessive tattoos and piercings might well be frowned upon in some institutions.

In Churches and Cathedrals

Foreign tourists frequently wander into churches and cathedrals in Peru wearing shorts, sandals and a T-shirt, with a camera strapped around their necks. That doesn’t seem to be a problem. But taking photos (especially with a flash) and talking loudly is a problem and should be avoided.

Family Celebrations and Events

Birthday parties, graduation festivities, quinceañeras and other such events don’t have any kind of dress etiquette for guests. That said, Peruvians will often dress up for these parties — the women more so than the men. As a foreign visitor, no one will mind if you turn up in your shorts, jeans, flares or whatever.

Peru Dress Code for Funerals and Weddings

It’s always tricky if you unexpectedly need to attend a wedding or a funeral while you’re traveling. And it’s highly unlikely that you’ll have packed anything appropriate for such an occasion.

For a wedding, just try to dress as smartly as possible. The dress code for Peruvian weddings is similar to a regular (i.e. not too extravagant or upper-class) wedding in the USA or the UK. If the invitation specifies smart or formal clothing, then you’ll have to try to borrow or rent something. Suit rentals are normally possible in Peru’s major cities.

Funerals are obviously a serious and somber affair, making the dress etiquette a more pressing issue. Peruvian funerals have two elements: the funeral itself and the velorio (vigil). If you need to attend a funeral service, then you should try to wear primarily black (unless you hear otherwise). A suit is ideal for a man, which you can try to rent or perhaps borrow from a friend. Otherwise, just dress as smartly as possible, ideally in a shirt, trousers and shoes. Avoid shorts, T-shirts and sandals. Women typically wear black or other dark or muted colors.

The velorio, which normally takes place outside the deceased’s family home, is less formal. But you should still try to dress in a reasonably formal manner.