Money at Rodríguez Ballón International (AQP)
Currency, tipping and cash-vs-card for arrivals at Arequipa, Peru.
Arequipa uses the PEN (S/). Expected airport→city taxi fare is roughly PEN 20–30. Cash preferred for taxis; small PEN notes.
Airport currency kiosks quote rates 5–15% worse than any bank ATM inside the terminal. If you need cash on landing, use an in-terminal bank ATM — not the "0% commission" kiosks (the margin is in the rate).
Frequently asked
Q.What currency is used at Rodríguez Ballón International (AQP)?
Peru uses the PEN (S/). Airport ATMs dispense PEN directly — skip the exchange kiosks.
Q.How much should a taxi from AQP to the city cost?
Expected fare on the AQP → central Arequipa route is roughly PEN 20–30. Around PEN 50+ is already high, and USD 20 flat quote is a scam quote — confirm the meter or a printed rate before you get in.
Q.Do I tip taxi drivers at AQP?
Not expected. Drivers in Peru don't rely on tips the way US drivers do; inflated "tips" are sometimes used to justify an overcharge — pay the metered fare first, then decide.
Q.Cash or card for a taxi at AQP?
Cash preferred for taxis; small PEN notes. "Card machine broken" is the most common excuse to force a cash overpay — carry a small stack of PEN notes and you keep the leverage.
Q.Should I change money at AQP?
Only if you need $10–20 of PEN to cover a taxi or a SIM card. Airport exchange kiosks quote 5–15% worse than a bank ATM in the same terminal. If your card has no FX fee, just pay by card and skip cash entirely.
Every transport option ranked, fare tiers, first-30-minute checklist and reported scams.