Honoraria guidelines for SpiritQuest

Guidlines For Tipping in the Peruvian Amazon
...with advice on dealing with panhandlers, tourist predators, public transportation scams,
money changer cheating, and other risks in Iquitos and vicinity
by
Otorongo Blanco

In the Peruvian Amazon as elsewhere, it is appropriate to award tips and honoraria for services rendered. The amount is elective based on your means and satisfaction upon conclusion of services rendered. The suggested guidelines are based on current standards.
Tips for services
Ten percent is the standard restaurant tip. Three to five soles is sufficient for baggage handlers at the airport. They'll seem to expect more for 30-60 seconds work from your vehicle to the check-in counter
Always tip for any special personal services or assistance you request.
Our cooks are great ladies who work hard to keep us well fed and content. You may wish to give them a special gift of thanks for the excellent food they will prepare during your stay.

Honoraria for shamans and curanderos
True grassroots community curanderos live on very modest income derived from their service to the local community. For most, it is their full time occupation and they have no other source of income. True curanderos provide their healing services for whatever their local clients can afford and often do "pro bono" work for those more impoverished than they.
Although our curanderos and shamans are well-compensated for their work, please consider a generous personal honorarium if you find their work beneficial and rewarding. It will help subsidize their pro bono community healing work after you are gone.
We encourage your generosity with our local staff and leave the matter to your personal discretion without pressure or prejudice.

Panhandling and con games Street begging and panhandling is common in areas frequented by foreign visitors. It is difficult not to give a sol or two here and there. Most of the people of Iquitos are materially under-privileged but are not materially unhappy in their lives. Deception, fraud and petty theft are often encountered. Be advised that the street slang in Iquitos for new tourists in town is "carne fresca"..."fresh meat". Behind many a friendly, smiling face is a bright, clever mind scheming to get at your money, property, and more if possible.
Use your own discretion but try to avoid becoming a target for hustlers and panhandlers. It is best for all to discourage them by simply smiling and saying "no". Be firm if they persist. They will often try to make you feel guilty if you do not give something. Don't fall for it. They are no worse off than anyone else and are most likely doing much better by virtue of their exposure to tourists. Rarely is the situation as dismal as portrayed and your money usually will not go to the stated need.
A common tourist ploy is to present as sad scenario of poverty, mistreatment, and dire need as possible. The fact is that no one is starving in the Amazon and the people in greatest need (with a few obvious exceptions, i.e. handicapped individuals) generally do not frequent tourist areas.
It is far better to pay for a product or service such as a shoe shine even if you don't really want it. In this way honest work is rewarded, the dignity and self-respect of the people is nurtured, and freeloading and scamming is discouraged.
Be especially cautious with local people you meet in tourist areas or who are employed in tourism. Regrettably, many of them are dishonest scam artists who are very adept at confidence games to separate you from your money and valuables. These include overcharging for services, misrepresentation of services or costs, conning tourists out of money or belongings, and contracting for services paid in advance but not delivered.
Tragic stories of family and personal woe and need are often told with great emotion and apparent sincerity to arouse sympathy and hopefully, a "propina" or more substantial commitments of support such as a monthly stipend conveyed by bank wire transfer to their bank account.
Not infrequently, naive foreign visitors are persuaded to subsidize entire families and arrange visas and travel opportunities for people they've known less than a week or two! Strangely enough, visitors here will often give large amounts of money to local people they've known only a few days that they wouldn't give to friends or even family back home. We see it all the time.
Iquitos is in many ways a criminal empire where dishonest dealing is rewarded and tacitly sanctioned. Confidence crime involving swindling of tourists is considered morally acceptable in the minds of many here since the visitors are assumed to be "rich" and able to afford the "gifts" they so willingly bestow. If this doesn't bother you and you have plenty of money then give as much of it away as you want. But do it with the understanding that your are supporting a "gringo welfare system" built on fraud and dishonesty which will be perpetuated week after week with other tourists after you've gone. It is a very successful confidence crime strategy that reaps easy money for little or no work.
Public Transportation Scams - Motokaristas
Be wary of motokaristas (motokar taxi drivers) who's favorite scam is to overcharge tourists by two or three times the normal fare. One can go anywhere in Iquitos for 1.5 to 2 soles per ride. Drivers also love to quote a fare in soles then at the destination insist the cost is in dollars, i.e. a one hour motokar tour of Iquitos costs S/10 (soles). If the passenger does not make the price clear at the beginning, he will always be charged $10 (dollars) at the end of his one hour tour. They'll try to charge double for any fraction over the one hour tour too. Always get a clear charge in SOLES before entering the vehicle. If the deal is clear at the beginning and the driver still tries to cheat you, just give him the agreed amount in soles and walk away. He'll accept it because he knows if you go to the police he'll be in trouble because this scam is well-known to the authorities.
Money Changing
Dealing with street money changers (cambistas) is another potentially risky street encounter in Iquitos. They offer a better exchange rate than the banks and are often more convenient. Just about all of the male cambistas will try to cheat you a half dozen ways if given the opportunity. They are quite clever in their tactics. On the other hand, female cambistas are almost always honest and will usually give you a straight exchange at the day's rate without deceptive games. ALWAYS LOOK FOR FEMALE MONEY CHANGERS. AVOID THE MEN WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
Common money changer cheats include quoting a lucrative exchange rate, receiving your money first, then lowering the rate in their favor. NEVER EVER give a money changer your money first. ALWAYS receive their money first, count it, make sure some of the bills are not doubled over to be counted twice, and carefully examine any bills which look different in any way. Change bills in increments of $20 and $100 to make it easier to confirm the calculated exchange amount since some of the cambistas use rigged calculators. If unsure, do your own math before parting with your money. After you are satisfied the exchange is honest, then and only then should you hand over your money. Remember, once your money is in their hands, it is very difficult to retrieve.
Some final words of advice
Iquitos and vicinity is a hotbed of lies, fraud and dishonest dealings. Most people here are not above any sort of story or scam to get your money. Many are professional con artists who prey on tourists. They make a very good living by exploiting generous and good hearted travelers with tales of mistreatment by employers, major family health emergencies, etc. with the sole intention to win sympathy and get as much of your money as possible. They can be very patient and VERY convincing. When you realize you've been had, it often dampens an otherwise positive and rewarding Amazon experience. Be kind, be generous...but don't be foolish and too trusting either. Remember, on the streets of Iquitos and especially among many tourist workers, i.e. guides, cooks, etc., you are "carne fresca" ...fresh meat.
Remember that foreign travelers are seen as wealthy by most Peruvians. Many will lie, cheat, con, or steal from you and won't feel the least bit guilty about taking advantage of your kindness and generosity. It is therefore best to avoid the trappings of affluence as much as possible. Leave your jewelry and finer clothes at home and dress down for both comfort and more effective immersion in the culture. Above all, don't flash your money or affluence with exorbitant tips or gifts. Here it is likely to spark a feeding frenzy. Word travels fast and you will be engulfed by new "friends" after your money.
Finally, remember above all that most Loretanos are fine hard-working, culturally-rich people of high character and integrity. Most will not abuse your trust and will give you as much or more than they take. They sincerely want to know you and hope you will return. Don't miss the opportunity to make many new and lasting friends while in the Peruvian Amazon!

El Tigre Journeys
Educational and Adventure
Travel Opportunities to Perú

United States
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revised December 9, 2002