Peru is a magnificent country, between ocean, mountains and forests. Its varied landscapes attract many travellers. But before you set off to discover the Inca wonders, the high-altitude lagoons or the city of Cusco, there’s an important question to ask: is it safe to drink tap water in Peru?
Unfortunately, the answer is no. Tap water in Peru is generally not potable for visitors. It may contain bacteria, parasites or other micro-organisms that are invisible to the naked eye, but dangerous to an untrained organism. Although some major cities, such as Lima and Arequipa, have water treatment facilities, the quality remains uneven, not least because of the dilapidated piping system. Peruvians are used to this situation and often take precautions, but for travellers, the risk of digestive problems is very real.
However, this doesn’t mean that staying hydrated in Peru is complicated – on the contrary. Drinking water is available in many forms. The simplest and most widespread solution is to buy bottled mineral water. You can easily find them in grocery stores, supermarkets, restaurants and even in the most remote villages. Many local brands offer bottled water in half-liter, one-liter or two-liter sizes, at affordable prices. Some hostels and hotels also offer drinking water in bottles available in communal areas, so you can fill up your water bottle with less plastic waste.
Travel light and responsibly: adopt the filtering water bottle
For those who want to avoid consuming too much plastic, or who are traveling on a long-term basis, there are more environmentally-friendly alternatives. The filtering water bottle is one of the most practical options. Several models enable you to drink spring, tap or even river water directly, while eliminating bacteria and other impurities. Technologies vary from brand to brand, but the most effective systems combine hollow-fiber filters and activated carbon. This type of solution is particularly useful on hikes, treks or excursions into the wilderness, where bottled water can be hard to come by. You’ll need to spend between 35 and 50 euros for a quality filtering water bottle, which you can easily find at Décathlon or on Amazon. This is the solution we’ve chosen at Escapate, because on all our tours, we prefer to use reusable water bottles rather than plastic ones.
Water purification in Peru: tablets, a simple and effective alternative
Another light and inexpensive solution: purification tablets. These allow you to treat a bottle or flask of water by adding a dose of chemical (generally chlorine- or silver-ion-based), which eliminates most pathogens. However, there is a waiting time (around 30 minutes) before the water can be consumed, which can be particularly restrictive when thirst is pressing. One drawback is the slightly chlorinated taste of the water.
In everyday life, it’s important to adopt a few reflexes to avoid accidental ingestion of non-drinking water. For example, it’s best to brush your teeth with purified or bottled water, even if you only swallow a small quantity. In restaurants or street stalls, it’s best to avoid fruit juices made with untreated water or ice cubes of uncertain provenance. Some tourist establishments already take precautions, but don’t hesitate to ask to be sure. On the other hand, washing your hands, taking a shower or doing your laundry with tap water poses no problem, as long as you don’t drink the water.
Tea and infusions, local hydration habits in Peru
In Peru, and particularly in the Andes, hydration habits are different from those we’re used to in Europe. Here, people frequently drink hot water or infusions made from local plants such as muña or coca. When trekking or staying with local people, it’s common to be offered a hot drink rather than cold water, even in the middle of the day. This reflex may come as a surprise at first, especially when you’re thirsty and looking for fresh water, but it can be explained by climatic conditions, altitude and health precautions. So it’s a good idea to be prepared and, if necessary, to come equipped with a solution to purify your own water.
In short, even if tap water isn’t drinkable in Peru, there are plenty of ways to stay safely hydrated. From bottles available everywhere to filtering gourds and portable purification systems, every traveler can find a solution to suit his or her needs and budget. Taking precautions can help avoid digestive problems that could spoil a once-in-a-lifetime trip. Beyond the health aspect, it also helps to be more autonomous and responsible towards the environment, by reducing plastic consumption whenever possible.
