Cusco Airport: Atm Availability And Airport Facilities

Cusco Airport, or Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport, is located just 10 minutes by taxi from the historic centre of Cusco. The airport has a small, single-terminal with minimal amenities and services. However, it does have all of Peru's major banks' ATM machines on the ground floor, which accept Visa, MasterCard, Amex and other major credit/debit cards.

ATM locations in the airport

Cusco Airport, or Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport, has ATMs from all of Peru's major banks on the ground floor of the airport. These include BCP, ScotiaBank, BBVA, and GlobalNet. The ATMs accept most international cards, and you can withdraw either Peruvian Soles or US Dollars. ATM fees do apply, so it is recommended to check with your bank if there are any partnerships with the above banks to save money.

In addition to the ATMs, there is also a money exchange booth on the ground floor where you can exchange US Dollars, Euros, and Sterling. However, the exchange rates at the airport may not be as favourable as those in the city centre.

Types of currency available

Cusco Airport, or Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport, has a range of facilities for travellers.

There are several ATMs at the airport, located on the ground floor and the first floor. All of Peru's major banks have ATM machines at the airport, including BCP, ScotiaBank, BBVA, and GlobalNet. These machines accept most international cards, and you can withdraw Peruvian Soles or US Dollars. ATM fees do apply, so it is recommended to check with your bank if there is a partnership with any of the above banks to save money.

There is also a small money exchange booth on the ground floor, where you can exchange Euros, Sterling, and US Dollars. The exchange rates at the airport are not as favourable as those in Cusco's city centre, but this service is convenient for travellers who are short on time. It is important to note that ripped or slightly damaged foreign currency will not be accepted for exchange.

Cards accepted at the ATMs

Cusco Airport, officially known as Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport, has ATMs from all of Peru's major banks on the ground floor. These ATMs accept Visa, MasterCard, Amex, and all other major credit/debit cards.

ATMs from the following banks are available at the airport:

• BCP (Peruvian Credit Bank)
• Scotiabank
• BBVA Continental
• GlobalNet
• Peruvian National Bank

These ATMs accept most international cards, and you can withdraw either Peruvian Soles or US Dollars. However, ATM fees do apply, so it is recommended to check with your bank beforehand to see if there is a partnership with any of the above banks to save on fees.

Alternative ways to get cash at the airport

Cusco Airport, officially known as Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport, is a small airport with minimal amenities. However, there are several alternative ways to obtain cash upon arrival.

Firstly, the airport does have a small money exchange booth on the ground floor where you can exchange US Dollars, Euros, and Sterling. While this option is convenient, the exchange rates may not be as favourable as those found in the city centre. It is important to note that ripped or damaged foreign currency will not be accepted.

Secondly, all of Peru's major banks have ATM machines located on the ground floor of the airport, including BCP, ScotiaBank, BBVA, and GlobalNet. These ATMs accept most international cards, allowing you to withdraw Peruvian Soles or US Dollars. ATM fees do apply, so it is recommended to check with your bank beforehand to see if there are any partnerships with the available banks to save on fees.

Additionally, there are two lounges in the airport that offer entry through the purchase of a lounge pass or a lounge membership/priority pass. These lounges provide amenities such as comfortable seating, free Wi-Fi, flight information monitors, complimentary drinks, and snacks. The VIP Lounge Cusco SAC is located on the first floor before security, while the Hanaq Cusco lounge can be found on the first floor after security, near Gate 9.

Lastly, while not recommended due to safety and comfort concerns, Combis (privately owned mini-buses) are an extremely affordable option for transportation to and from the airport. Combis do not have fixed schedules but run very frequently, and fares are only 0.80 Peruvian Soles. However, it is important to note that they are known for pick-pocketing, and there is limited seating and no baggage storage area.

Transport options from the airport

Cusco Airport, officially known as Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport, is located 5-6km from the historic centre of Cusco. The journey from the airport to the centre takes around 20-30 minutes.

Taxi

Taxis are the most popular mode of transport to and from the airport. Official airport taxis can be found at two desks near the baggage claim, offering safe and comfortable transfers. Expect to pay around $10 USD to the city centre.

Outside the terminal, there are plenty of regular taxi drivers offering cheaper transfers. These drivers do not have set prices and are not metered, so you will need to haggle to get a fair price. A ride to the city centre should cost no more than 10-15 Peruvian Soles ($3.50-$5).

Private Shuttle Services

There are several companies offering private transfer services from the airport to the historic centre, such as Cusco Transport Tours, Cusco Airport Shuttle, and Cusco Transfers. Prices start from $20 for a saloon car, with additional charges for extra passengers.

Combis

Combis are privately owned minibuses that run frequently through the city on set routes. They are the cheapest option, with fares of just 0.80 Peruvian Soles ($0.15), but they are crowded with very limited seating and no baggage storage. They are also known for pickpocketing, so they are not recommended for travel to and from the airport.

Bus

There is no direct bus service between the airport and the centre of Cusco. However, the closest bus station to the airport is Pecsa Petrol Station, and buses are quite frequent. Fares in Cusco range from 0.60 Peruvian centimos to 3 Peruvian Soles (0.25-1 US dollar).

Frequently asked questions