Hello there! Recently I shared a couple of reels on my Instagram of what it’s like working remotely in Perú. Don’t get me wrong, living in a foreign country has its perks. But there are also some things you should know about if you’re planning on working remotely outside the US full-time.
Working remotely from a third-world country like Perú brings with it a unique blend of challenges and charms. While it’s an enriching experience, it also requires adaptability and a good sense of humor. Here’s an honest look at what it’s like to work from home in Perú, focusing on some everyday realities that come with the territory.
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Roosters and Meetings
Having the freedom to work from anywhere I want is great! Because I’m not chained to an office, I can pick up my laptop and just go. Sometimes I work from my house, from my Aunt’s house, or even from my mother-in-law’s house. This can be great – but the rooster sounds seem to follow you wherever you go!
Don’t be fooled, the roosters aren’t just in the countryside. I’ve lived in Lima in the middle of the city, where our landlord had just one rooster downstairs. You’d think the noise wouldn’t be too noticeable on phone calls, but our hallway was incredibly echoey (due to all the buildings being made out of concrete). A lot of people commented about rooster sounds on my work calls.
If you’re planning to work remotely in Perú, be aware that you may need to explain the constant rooster noises in all your meetings. Because I guarantee you’ll get asked about it.
Trash Trucks
In Perú, the trash trucks, especially if you live in Lima, announce themselves with a loud siren. Unless it’s election season, then they play political advertisements. The siren they play is so loud it sounds like something big is going down and police cars are everywhere. Except that it’s just trash and not the police.
You can hear this siren from blocks away!
They play this loud siren to ensure everyone gets their trash out on time. In Perú, we don’t have trash cans like in the States. You can’t leave your trash bags sitting on the curb for hours at a time because of the dogs. If the dogs get into your trash, they’ll eat it and drag it all over the street. Then you’ll have to clean it up because no one will do it for you.
You may be thinking, this is a great culture shock and all Elisha, but what does this have to do with working remotely?
Depending on your work hours, and what time your trash truck goes by, you might find yourself toggling that mute button during your next work meeting. Where my Aunt lives, the trash truck passes her house three times from morning till noon. When I work from her house, I listen to the trash truck sirens for quite a while.
Street Vendors
One of the most unique things about life in Perú is the constant presence of street vendors. From early morning until late evening, vendors walk, bicycle, and drive through the streets selling everything from fresh fruits to household appliances, things for your pets, fresh fish, and even warm-cooked meals.
This can be great if you’re unable to run out and do a little shopping in the middle of your workday or have a sudden craving for ice cream, hot churros, or leche de tigre.
But – I will warn you, they are loud! Not like the ice cream truck back in the States. This is how they make a living, so they will not only toot their own horn but also get on the loudspeaker.
If you’re going to move to Perú and work remotely or in any foreign country for that matter, take into consideration that that country might not have the same work-from-home environment as the US.
If you get caught on a call when one of these street vendors goes by, I find it helpful to really lean into it and say, “Sorry, I live in a foreign country.” This helps to bring curiosity to the conversation instead of irritation that you interrupted the meeting unintentionally.
With all the noises in Perú, and the difference of remote work environments compared to the States, you may want to consider some noise-canceling headphones if moving abroad.
Internet
One of my biggest struggles when working remotely in Perú is the unstable internet. If you work from home, you know how important having consistent internet is. But working outside the US doesn’t have the same quality of internet.
There are days when everything runs smoothly (albeit, a bit slow), and then there are days when the power, signal, or just the internet is gone. This inconsistency has taught me to be flexible and to always have a backup plan, whether it’s using mobile data or rescheduling meetings.
Housebound
Working remotely in the US comes with the freedom to run to the grocery store or coffee shop in the middle of the day. I can go for a walk and take my phone with me so I’m still available should something come up.
Working in Perú is not the same. I’m still running off of a US-based phone number. So in the middle of a work day, I don’t have the freedom to simply leave the house because my phone won’t work once I’m disconnected from the internet. No texts, emails, or phone calls – all important for remote work.
Some tips to get around this:
- Get an international plan and keep your cellular data on
- Use data from another, local-based phone (to avoid extra fees)
Using these I’ve been able to run out during the day if I need to, or work from a bus station when trying to travel at the end of my day. Just keep in mind that cellphone data is not as powerful as the internet at your house. Cellphone data and a bad signal can lead to spotty phone calls and ssslllloooooowwwww internet.
Power Converters/Adapters
Something to keep in mind when working remotely in Perú, is the power is not the same as in the US. Meaning you’ll need to invest in a power adapter/converter. It’s not a big deal and I’m certainly used to it at this point. But when I travel I have all these extra things I need to bring just to charge my laptop. Be aware if you’re trying to travel light that there may be a mess of cables to bring with you.
- When I first visited Perú my brother and I bought a converter like this one, which I still have and use today.
- I like that you can plug multiple devices into it at the same time. It’s also adaptable to different countries, not just Perú.
- The con is that it’s very clunky, which is not great for packing in a backpack when you’re traveling light.
- Also, this may be Perú specific, but the outlets here are sometimes very far from the ground. Picture outlets halfway up the wall, and occasionally almost to the ceiling. Some of the outlets are loose, and the plug won’t stay in very well, and others are too tight to use. I find this converter is sometimes too heavy for these types of outlets. Consider using an extension cord or power strip to get around this if you’re experiencing awkward outlet placement too.
- For adapters, I really like something like these. We have several and use them daily, especially for travel because they’re small and light.
- A con would be that it’s not a power converter. It just makes it so I can plug my computer into the wall to charge. Because of the voltage difference in Perú vs the US, I unplug my devices as soon as they’re fully charged and never leave them charging overnight.
- If you’re moving to another country and are staying in one place for a while, instead of traveling constantly and hopping between hotel rooms. I recommend you get a surge protector power strip or UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply).
- I can’t recommend a specific power strip, the one I use I bought in Perú and I don’t see it on Amazon.
- I have found the APC brand to be pretty good. If you purchase one, make sure the UPS you buy is adaptable to the electrical voltage in the country you’re traveling to. They’re not all universal. Ask me how I know.
- Finally, you may also find you need a portable charger. Because power is not always consistent in other countries. It’s important to be able to charge your phone on the fly. My husband and I use this power adapter from Amazon regularly. In fact, just last week we had four full-day power outages and we were so glad we had it!
Housing Conditions
A perhaps never-discussed topic – the houses in Perú. If you didn’t know, most houses in Perú are made of concrete – with no insulation. This may seem random, but I have found that the outdoor temperatures are different than the indoor temperatures and it only intensifies whatever is outside. Meaning in the summer, the house will get very hot, while in the winter, it will be even colder than outside.
This has taught me the importance of managing my environment and finding ways to stay comfortable regardless of the weather.
When working in the summer you’ll need to take extra precautions to ensure your computer doesn’t get overheated. In the winter, I recommend investing in a pair of gloves that you can type and use your phone in. Even when I wrap up in a blanket, my hands are the one thing I can’t keep warm when typing all day at work.
Not All Hotels Are Created Equally
If you’re trying to travel in every spare minute between work, you’ll probably be jumping in and out of hotels a lot. Because of that, I feel it’s worth mentioning that not all hotels are created equally. Duh.
But by this I mean if you opt for a cheap S/30 hotel (about an $8.00 hotel) you may find their wifi incredibly spotty. What you save in dollars you may pay for in your ability to make phone calls.
If you have a lot of meetings to jump on on a specific day, consider getting more of a S/100 ($26.30) hotel instead so you can have some reliable internet. Opting for the cheaper hotels when you just need a bed between traveling to your next adventure.
Time Differences
Something interesting about working a remote job, is you often find you communicate with people from all different time zones. This isn’t particularly unusual for remote jobs. What is interesting to me, is living in a country that doesn’t follow daylight savings, but working for a country that does.
I have set work hours, but because I don’t “fall back” or “spring forward” during the year, my working hours change in my country, but not in the country where my job is based. The good thing about all this though, is the time difference between Perú and the USA isn’t that big, so I don’t have to struggle much. It’s just a curious little thing about working remotely in Perú.
Work-Life Balance
If you can survive roosters and street vendor sounds, finding the joy and humor in these unique everyday things from life in Perú, then you’re on your way to experiencing an incredible life abroad! Despite the challenges, Perú has some great perks. The rich culture, amazing food, stunning landscapes – and of course, alpacas – provide an adventure of a lifetime.
I also really enjoy the slower pace of life here. I’m learning to embrace local customs and find joy in the small, everyday moments that make living and working here so unique.
Got any questions about working remotely or what to know more about Peruvian culture? Let me know in the comments so I can put more posts together for you!
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