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Peru
Dramatic mountain landscape of the Peruvian Andes with clouds

Sending a Postcard from Peru: Postage, Stamps & Delivery

From the Andean peaks and cobblestone streets of Cusco to the mysterious ruins of Machu Picchu – here's how to send greetings from the land of the Incas without getting stuck in front of a closed post office door.
Photo by Willian Justen de Vasconcellos on Unsplash

Peru is a country of superlatives: Lake Titicaca at nearly 4,000 metres, Machu Picchu lost in the clouds, the enigmatic Nazca Lines etched into the desert. What surprises many travellers: stamps are only available in one single place here – and that place can be surprisingly hard to track down on holiday.

SERPOST (Servicios Postales del Perú) is the national postal service. This guide tells you where to buy stamps in Cusco and Lima, what postage to Germany costs, and what the famous Machu Picchu stamp is really all about.

Last updated: May 2026

Sending Postcards from Peru

Between Andean landscapes, Inca culture, and the Pacific coast – here's how to navigate the Peruvian postal system.
Exterior of a SERPOST post office branch in Iquitos, Peru.
Photo by Cuando lo deseys Maria on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

SERPOST: The Only Way to Get a Stamp

SERPOST (Servicios Postales del Perú) is the only place in all of Peru where you can buy a stamp. No souvenir shop, no supermarket, no hotel reception stocks them – this is not a misconception, it is a fact that costs many travellers a lengthy detour. The main post office in Cusco is at Plaza Regocijo (map), about a 5-minute walk from Plaza de Armas. In Lima there are branches including one in Miraflores near the Inka Market (map). Tip: Always check current opening hours – the best way is to look at recent Google Maps reviews before you go.
A woman in a straw hat looks pensively out of a window – atmospheric scene from Peru.
Photo by Frank Rolando Romero on Unsplash

The Machu Picchu Stamp: Legend vs. Reality

Many travellers set aside extra time to mail a postcard in Aguas Calientes with the iconic Machu Picchu postmark – only to find the doors locked. The SERPOST office in Aguas Calientes has an unreliable opening history – check the current status in advance by reading recent Google Maps reviews. The good news: the famous Machu Picchu stamp as a free souvenir (not a postage stamp!) is available right at the entrance to the ruins and at the Centro Cultural in Aguas Calientes (Avenida Pachacutec). For actual postal dispatch, Cusco is your most reliable base.
Aerial view over Lima, Peru, showing a city park surrounded by high-rise buildings.
Photo by Kieran Proctor on Unsplash

Don't Count on Mailboxes

Orange SERPOST mailboxes do exist in some city streets – but don't rely on finding one on your holiday, and certainly don't assume it gets emptied regularly. The safest move: hand your stamped card directly to SERPOST staff at the counter – that way you know it's actually going out. Hotel receptions rarely accept stamped cards either. In short: find a SERPOST branch, buy your stamp, and hand the card straight to the person behind the counter.

Phrasebook: Spanish at the Post Office

Spanish is the official language of Peru – with a few key phrases you'll track down even the most hidden SERPOST branch.
Good morning / afternoon!

🇵🇪¡Buenos días / tardes!

🗣️Bwe-nos dee-as / tar-des!

Where is the post office?

🇵🇪¿Dónde está el SERPOST / correo?

🗣️Don-de es-ta el Ser-post / ko-re-o?

I need a stamp.

🇵🇪Necesito un timbre postal.

🗣️Ne-se-see-to oon teem-bre pos-tal.

To Germany, please.

🇵🇪Para Alemania, por favor.

🗣️Pa-ra A-le-ma-nia, por fa-bor.

How much does it cost to send this to Europe?

🇵🇪¿Cuánto cuesta enviar esto a Europa?

🗣️Kwan-to kwes-ta en-bee-ar es-to a Eu-ro-pa?

I would like to send this postcard.

🇵🇪Quiero enviar esta postal.

🗣️Kee-e-ro en-bee-ar es-ta pos-tal.

Thank you very much!

🇵🇪¡Muchas gracias!

🗣️Moo-chas gra-see-as!

How much does postage from Peru to Europe cost?

Current prices for sending via SERPOST to Europe. (As of: 2026)

Local Facts (SERPOST)

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Postcard (souvenir shop)approx. €0.25 – €0.75
Stamp (approx. 14.40 PEN)approx. €3.40 – €3.60
Total cost per cardapprox. €3.60 – €4.50
Effort on vacationFind a SERPOST branch – stamps are only sold there!
Delivery time (based on experience)Officially 10–30 business days, realistically 2–4 weeks
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Inspiration: Greetings with altitude and adventure

"Hello from Cusco! The city sits at 3,400 metres and even climbing a flight of stairs leaves us breathless – but the view from the Sacsayhuamán fortress makes up for everything. Tomorrow we're off to Machu Picchu!"
"Greetings from the roof of the world! Lake Titicaca is so vast you can barely see the other shore – and the water shimmers such a vivid turquoise it looks almost artificial. The floating reed islands of the Uros community are simply incredible."
"Machu Picchu in the morning mist is even more magical than any photo. No camera captures this feeling – which is exactly why this card is in your hands right now."

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Frequently Asked Questions about Postcards from Peru

How long does a postcard from Peru to Europe take?

SERPOST officially states 10 to 30 business days for international mail. In practice, most travellers should plan for 2 to 4 weeks to reach Europe – meaning you'll almost certainly be back home before the card arrives. From well-touristed cities like Cusco or Lima, delivery tends to be faster than from remote regions.

Where can I buy stamps in Peru?

Stamps are sold exclusively at SERPOST branches – that is the only option. Neither souvenir shops, supermarkets, nor hotel receptions stock them. In Cusco, the main post office is at Plaza Regocijo (about a 5-minute walk from Plaza de Armas – search on map). In Lima there are branches in several districts, including Miraflores near the Inka Market (search on map). Opening hours: Mon–Fri approx. 8am–6pm, Sat approx. 8am–12pm (varies by branch).

Can I send postcards from Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu)?

The SERPOST office in Aguas Calientes has been closed for extended periods in the past and has an unreliable track record – check its current status in advance via Google Maps reviews. Don't count on it while planning your trip: the safest option is to send cards from Cusco or Lima. Tip: The iconic Machu Picchu stamp as a free souvenir (not a postage stamp!) is available at the entrance to the ruins and at the Centro Cultural in Aguas Calientes (Avenida Pachacutec) – a popular keepsake worth grabbing.

How much does postage for a postcard from Peru cost?

Postage for a standard postcard to Europe is currently around 14.40 PEN (Peruvian Sol) – roughly €3.40 to €3.60 depending on the exchange rate. Add the cost of the card itself (usually 1–3 Sol at souvenir shops) and the total comes to about €3.60 to €4.50 per card.

Are there mailboxes on the street in Peru?

Orange SERPOST mailboxes exist in some cities, but they are rare and not always reliably emptied. The safest approach is to hand your stamped postcards directly to a SERPOST staff member at the counter – then you know they're actually on their way.

Where can I find free Peru photos for my postcard?

The Machu Picchu selfie turned out blurry? No problem! Unsplash has thousands of free professional shots of Machu Picchu, the Andes, Lake Titicaca, and Cusco. Search for "Machu Picchu", "Cusco Peru", "Lake Titicaca", or "Andes Peru". Our free motifs guide walks you through exactly how it works.