Do You Need to Speak Spanish in Peru? A Gringo’s Guide
Being able to speak Spanish in Peru is important, but it’s not the end of the world if you’re still learning.
My first trip to Peru I could barely utter a word in Spanish. I was luckily to get past “Como estas?” without sounding like a complete and utter moron.
Luckily, I was traveling around with my buddy who was fluent in Spanish. So, I didn’t need much Spanish speaking ability. If we ever got in a sticky situation, he handled all the talking and translating.
I just stood there looking like a charming, handsome gringo and flashed the occasional nod with a smile – like I understood what the hell was going on.
I didn’t. But, I quickly learned it wouldn’t have really mattered.
See, Peru is a hotspot for international tourism. Due to Machu Picchu being one of the world’s greatest tourist attractions, the country is filled with tourists all year long.
As such, many a Peruvian are used to interacting with travelers who can’t speak a lick of Spanish. Many locals, especially those involved in tourism, speak decent English and have no problem communicating in the language.
You can get by in Peru without speaking Spanish, especially if you spend most of your time in Miraflores and Cusco.
English Levels in Peru
Why is it easy to get by without speaking Spanish in Peru? Because many Peruvians speak English due to the tourism sector being such a major part of the economy.
If you spend most of your time in the tourist districts of Lima, like Miraflores and Barranco, you’ll interact with a plethora of people who can speak some English – no matter what you’re doing.
Miraflores is an upper class neighborhood in Lima filled with tourists. Speaking some English is pretty important for a number of Peruvians working and living in the area.
In Cusco, the city thrives on tourism. The locals have a huge incentive to learn some English. If they can communicate in English, they’ll get a better job in the tourism industry.
As Lima and Cusco are the two most visited cities in Peru, you’ll probably be spending most of your time in the country in them – where you can get by without much Spanish.
Now, if you venture off the beaten path in Peru, you’ll want to learn some Spanish. You won’t find a ton of English in the north of Peru.
English levels aren’t horrible in Arequipa, but speaking Spanish is more important than in Lima.
Overall, if you plan to visit Peru with little to no Spanish speaking skills, I’d recommend spending a lot of your time in Lima and Cusco. Once you get outside those areas, things will become a lot more difficult without Spanish.
Does Speaking Spanish Make Life Better In Peru?
While you can get away without speaking Spanish in Peru, I’m not sure I’d recommend it.
My second trip to Peru I was able to communicate in Spanish. I’m by no means fluent, but I can have conversations and understand nearly everything people say – as long as they leave out the local slang.
It made the trip so much better. I could relax a bit, interact with people, and enjoy myself. I didn’t have to ask every person who I was speaking with if they spoke English.
There’s really no comparison. If you have the ability to speak Spanish in Peru, the whole country opens up and you’re sure to have a much better time.
Sure, you can get by with English in Peru, but the experience just isn’t the same. With a little Spanish, you’ll have such a better time exploring Peru.
Bullfighting in Peru.
How to Learn Spanish
If you’re ready to learn a little Spanish before heading to Peru, you’ve come to the right place. After trial and tribulation, I found three great ways to learn the language before a big trip.
- Just Travel
The absolute fastest way to learn a language is to travel in a Latin American country. You’ll hear the accents, understand how people communicate, and pick things up 10X faster than if you were back home.
You’ll want to have some type of baseline before you head out, but the easiest way to learn is by getting away from English speakers and having almost all of your daily conversations in Spanish.
The learning curve is steep, but you’ll retain so much more by doing it this way.
- Skype Lessons
Now, you want to have some type of baseline before you go. If you’ve never even muttered an “Hola” – then things are going to be pretty tough on you.
One of the best ways to learn before traveling? Taking Skype lessons with native Spanish speakers.
That may sound a little expensive to you. I know I figured Skype lessons would break my bank, too.
Then I heard about BaseLang.
The company offers unlimited Spanish lessons on Skype for a low monthly fee. You can legitimately take five hours every day and the price would be the same!
I had a buddy who wanted to do intensive Spanish lessons online before a trip. He was retired and could dedicate a lot of time to it.
Using BaseLang, he got his per hour cost down to $1.25! You read that right. He was paying $1.25 per hour of private Spanish lessons.
Not only is BaseLang affordable, but the teachers are great and the curriculum is impressive. You’ll learn Spanish the right way using this company.
- A Cheap, Self-Study Method
If your budget is really tight, there’s one dirt cheap way to learn Spanish. All you have to do is buy one book, read it 30 minutes a day, and make some flashcards.
All you have to do is buy this book and start reading.
Madrigal’s Magic Key to Spanish is the absolute best book on learning the language in an efficient manner. It’s cheap and effective.
Do You Need to Speak Spanish in Peru? A Gringo’s Guide
Overall, speaking Spanish in Peru is beneficial for the average gringo. While it isn’t necessary, I’m confident you’ll have a much better experience if you can speak a little of the language.
Don’t overcomplicate things. Start taking private Spanish lessons today!
More Peru Travel Tips:
