In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · United States
Peru, Maine
A quiet lake town for a half-day stop or an overnight if you have a car and want to swim or canoe on Worthley Pond. Not a destination on its own.
Peru is a small town in Oxford County, Maine, with about 1,500 residents. Its main draw is Worthley Pond for swimming, canoeing and fishing. Most travellers pass through on the way to Rumford or Bethel. A half-day is enough unless you camp.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Jun–Aug
- Avoid
- Nov–Apr (many facilities closed or limited)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $30–60 excl. bed · Mid $60–120 excl. bed · High $120+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Sandwich from Blaisdell's Store | $6–10 |
| Campsite at Honey Run Campground | $30–55 per night |
| Fuel (nearest in Rumford) | check |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PWM · Portland International Jetport
- About 1 h 45 min drive; rental car needed
- AUG · Augusta State Airport
- About 1 h 15 min drive; limited flights
Typical fares
- Portland Jetport → Peru (car rental)
- about 1 h 45 min; rental car about $50–100/day
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
You need a car. Route 108 runs east–west through town; Worthley Pond Road is off Route 108 east of the centre.
See and do
Known for
- Worthley Pond
- Blaisdell's Store deli
- Quiet rural setting
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Rumford, Maine | Route 108 west, about 10 min | 15 min |
| Bethel, Maine | Route 2 west via Rumford, about 25 min | 35 min |
| Mexico, Maine | Route 108 west, about 8 min | 12 min |
| Andover, Maine | Route 120 north from Rumford, about 20 min | 30 min |
Sleep
- Worthley Pond area
- Honey Run Campground and private camps; book ahead in July.
- Peru village
- No hotels; nearest lodging in Rumford or Bethel.
Language
English everywhere, with strong regional accents; Spanish is the second language in the Southwest, Texas, Florida, California and New York. Some words differ from British English: restroom (toilet), check (bill), gas (petrol), trunk (boot), first floor (ground floor).
- Measurements are imperial: miles, Fahrenheit, gallons, pounds. 100 km ≈ 62 miles; 30 °C ≈ 86 °F.
- Small talk with strangers is normal and friendly; it is not a sales tactic.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- No petrol station in Peru; fill up in Rumford or Mexico.
- Cell service can be patchy around the pond.
- Worthley Pond may have boat size restrictions: check local signs.
Very low crime. Watch for moose on Route 108 at dusk and dawn.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Peru, Maine yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Worthley Pond
- Blaisdell's Store deli
- Quiet rural setting
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Peru (Maine), revision 4983239 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4983239
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Peru, Maine
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
No public transport to Peru; you need a car.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/peru-maine). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.