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Peru, the third largest country in South America and Before the pandemic, it received more than four million visitors each year.

Whether it’s visiting Machu Picchu, the floating islands of Lake Titicaca, the Nazca Lines or the vibrant capital city of Lima and its blossoming food scene, Peru lives up to the hype. I absolutely loved my visit here. It was everything I thought it would be!

However, I often hear and read that tourists are being mugged or their belongings stolen. I receive worried emails from travelers wondering if Peru is safe to visit due to the recent political unrest.

Today, I would like to answer their questions:

Is it safe to visit Peru? What do you need to see? What precautions do you need to take?

In this post, I’ll share everything you need to know for a safe visit to Peru.

11 Safety Tips for Peru

In general, Peru is a safe place to visit. You won’t be kidnapped or murdered there so don’t worry about any violent crime as a tourist. But Peru requires you to be a little more vigilant than other places because there is so much more small crime

Here are some tips to help you plan and prepare for a safe visit to Peru:

1. Avoid displaying any expensive items – Keep your jewelry out of sight (or even leave it at home). Do not embezzle valuables. Be especially careful to take your phone, as phone theft is rampant (More than 4,000 phones are reported stolen every day). Don’t even wear AirPods on the street. In short: always monitor your content. Minimizing the target on your back that says, “I’m carrying too much valuable stuff” is very important.

This is especially practiced in large cities such as Lima and Cusco where petty theft is more common. If you’re out during the day and you see people on phones and such, it’s probably safe but if you’re alone be careful. A thief will come on a scooter and take the goods from your hands and drive away.

2. Beware of thieves or robbers working in pairs or small groups – A distraction tactic (for example, someone “accidentally” bumping into you, or a group of children playing or fighting near you) is often used so that an accomplice can rob you while you are not paying attention to your belongings. Don’t fall into distractions and take your precautions.

3. Keep an eye on your belongings at all times – In crowded places or on public transport, be aware that thieves may literally want to pick your pocket or cut your bag. Keep some small bills in a separate pocket, so when you’re paying for things, you don’t have to have your entire wallet or purse on display.

4. Keep your valuables separate – When you go out for the day, keep some credit cards and cash locked away in your accommodation. That way, even if you lose your wallet, you’ll still have cash and cards back at your hostel. In general, it is a good idea to make a photocopy of your passport to take with you and lock your passport in your hostel locker. Also keep digital copies of your passport in your email inbox.

5. Download the pre app on your phone and laptop – If any device is stolen, you can track it and remotely activate your camera to take a photograph of the thief (you can also wipe data and message the thief). It costs only $1.10/month.

6. Avoid traveling alone at night – There have been incidents of people being mugged while leaving taxis at night in the city, and there have been frequent reports of bandit activity after dark in some areas, such as Tingo Maria, northwest of Lima, at the entrance to Tingo Maria National Park. . Try traveling with friends or other travelers at night as there is safety in numbers.

And this is especially true in cities at night. In some areas of Lima, like Miraflores and Barranco, there are a lot of people out at night so it’s less of a problem but these are two of Lima’s prettiest and most touristy areas so they’re a hot bed for thieves.

7. Choose a reputable bus operator – Sometimes the cheapest option is not the best. Some of the cheapest bus companies have the most reckless drivers and a lot of breakdowns, and Peru has some of the worst traffic accident rates in the world, so you’re usually safer using a less expensive bus company. Some of the most reputable bus operators include Cruz del Sur, Altersa, Civa and Movil Tours. Additionally, consider PeruHop, a hop on/hop off bus tour operator that provides travel (and sometimes locals) that is very safe, uses reliable drivers and has no problem with theft.

8. Do not use drugs – Peru produces a lot of cocaine, so tourists (especially young backpackers) do a lot here. However, it is not worth the risk, because if the authorities even suspect you of using drugs, you can be detained for up to 15 days. Buying drugs here supports organized crime, so be smart and skip the drugs.

9. Learn some Spanish – Being able to speak some basic Spanish will help you in many situations, but if you run into trouble and need help, you’ll really appreciate it. Start with an app like Duolingo to master some basic vocabulary. The Google Translate app is also a must-have app (download Spanish on your phone so you can translate offline).

10. Buy travel insurance – Things can go wrong on the road. That’s why I never go anywhere without travel insurance. From theft to injuries to delayed flights, travel insurance is there to make sure you don’t go broke. It’s only a few bucks a day (often less) and offers peace of mind. Don’t travel here without it!

I recommend Safewing for travelers under 70, when My travel insurance Best choice for travelers above 70 years of age.

You can use this widget to get a quote for Safewing:

For more information on travel insurance, check out these posts:

With these travel tips, you’ll be safe while you visit or backpack around Peru! Additionally, here are answers to some frequently asked questions we receive.

Is Machu Picchu safe?

Machu Picchu is such a common tourist destination that you will be safer here than in any other part of Peru. Chances are you’ll be hiking with a group or in a crowd, so pickpockets and other petty thieves aren’t likely to be around. It’s even more important to be vigilant in cities like Lima or Cusco.

An even more important safety issue if you are hiking to Machu Picchu is taking care of your health. Make sure you have plenty of water, and use sunscreen and hats to combat the heat. If you are not acclimated to altitude, altitude sickness can be a problem; If you start getting sick you need to take it seriously. Avoid this by staying at least two days in Cusco before visiting Machu Picchu.

Finally, if you use a guide, which is recommended when hiking, make sure they are a licensed operator, as you sometimes hear that unlicensed guides will lead you on the wrong path and pay for your hiking permit on their own. keeps for

Is Peru safe to travel alone?

Solo travel is very common in Peru, and you’ll often find other solo backpackers to spend time with, so it’s unlikely you’ll be that lonely.

Bus travel and going out anywhere after dark is safe in a group, but in general, solo travel in Peru is no more dangerous than traveling with friends or a partner.

Just remember to avoid standing out and looking like a tourist. Don’t wear fancy clothes, don’t wave your expensive gadgets around, and if you get lost, don’t stand there staring at a map. Basically, avoid sticking out like a sore thumb, and let a petty thief decide you’re his next victim.

Is it safe to travel to Peru with children?

Overall, it’s not particularly unsafe to take your kids to Peru. Family and children are very important in Peruvian culture, so you and your children will be made to feel very welcome.

However, be especially careful with young children, as they are more susceptible to getting sick from unfiltered water, for example. It is also not recommended to take children over the height of three such as Machu Picchu.

Is Peru safe for female travelers?

Being a solo female traveler in Peru is not unsafe, although you may be subject to some unwanted attention, mostly in the form of catcalling. Local women in Peru rarely go to bars without men, so if you’re a women-only group at a bar, you might get a little more attention. But there are a lot of solo female travelers in the country so you will meet other people to hang out with. Peru requires no more precautions than you would take anywhere else.

Can you drink tap water in Peru?

No, don’t drink the tap water in Peru (although brushing your teeth is fine). Use it LifestrawWhich not only ensures that your water is always safe to drink as it has a built in water filter in the bottle but also helps you avoid single use plastic.

Are taxis safe in Peru?

Taxis are relatively safe, but make sure you only use authorized taxis and that you know the rates in advance. If you need a taxi, call your hostel or hotel for you and find out in advance what the rate is. Make sure you agree the fare with the driver in advance, as taxis don’t use meters so it’s easy to get overcharged if you’re not paying attention. That said, Uber is now everywhere in the country and you can call Uber if you don’t want to flag down a random taxi.

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Whatever your interests, Peru is a beautiful place with a rich culture, welcoming people, beautiful landscapes and fascinating historical sites.

However, you need to be careful about your personal safety. The most common problems travelers face are petty theft and pickpocketing, but by using a little extra vigilance and common sense, you can minimize your risk. Make sure you’re not carrying valuables in plain sight and don’t have large amounts of cash in one place.

Peru is a relatively safe country to visit, so don’t let the stories put you off. Amazing attractions will definitely make your trip worthwhile! Peru is an amazing place and with some common sense you will have no problem! I didn’t.