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Speaking and Language

In high class hotels, Cusco and Machu Picchu English is spoken. However if you intend to visit other sites, especially in the countryside, you'll need to speak spanish (castellano not español). Even if you encounter highly educated individuals, their english is usually very poor. Contrary to the way that's spoken in Spain, all South American countries substitute "vosotros" and their conjugations to the more friendly "ustedes". Also, peruvians are fond of adding diminutives to their language, so that phrases appear to be more affectionate. ("gringuito" instead of "gringo").

In the Sierra, the main language is Quechua, the language of the Incas. Some elderly people speak very little or no spanish there. On the Altiplano some communities still speak Aymara, which was the language of the Tihuanacu culture.