Safety in Peru: the right habits

Four kinds of risk, four sources

The FDFA advises against three areas far from tourist itineraries: the valley of the Ene, Apurímac and Mantaro rivers (VRAEM), the border region with Colombia, and the isolated areas east of the city of Huánuco. It recommends great caution in the La Libertad region, where explosive attacks linked to extortion hit the outlying districts of Trujillo, in Puno and its surroundings, and in the south of Tambopata province (Madre de Dios). It also reports frequent demonstrations and blockades in Cusco and on the routes to Machu Picchu, and road and river blockades in the Amazon. This advice changes: read it again before you leave and during the trip.

What the figures say

INEI, the national statistics institute, asks city residents every year about the crimes they have suffered in the previous twelve months. Its latest results, which are preliminary, cover the half-year from February to July 2026 (INEI). They should be read crime by crime, not as a single block:

These figures describe residents’ lives over a whole year, not the risk of a two-week stay. Even so, they tell travellers two useful things. By far the most common crime is the theft of money, a bag or a phone, often snatched: it is what most of the advice below targets, and it has fallen over a year. Cybercrime, on the other hand, is rising the most (online scams, for example). Extortion, very present in the Peruvian news, targets mainly drivers and businesses: it is behind the transport strikes in Lima and, according to the FDFA, the explosive attacks in the outlying districts of Trujillo.

In the street

The FDFA reports many assaults in the big cities (Lima, Trujillo, Arequipa, Ica, Cusco) and bag and phone snatching, often by thieves on bicycles or motorbikes, mostly of phones. In Lima, crime is high, including in places popular with tourists, especially at night.

• Your phone: check it inside a shop or away from the edge, not at the kerb; a wrist strap or a tethered case discourages snatching.
• Your bag: closed, in front of you in crowds and markets, never on the back of a chair at a pavement café.
• Your documents: the FDFA advises leaving your passport and valuables in the hotel safe and carrying a photocopy; the UK government points out that the police may ask for ID.
• In the evening: the FDFA recommends caution at night in the centres of Lima, Cusco, Arequipa and Puno, and using only well-lit, busy streets. Plan how you will get back, and take a booked taxi rather than a long walk.
• Drinks: do not leave your glass unattended; the FDFA reports spiked drinks and adulterated alcohol, and the UK government deaths from methanol.
• Fake police officers: a real police officer will not ask you to hand over your wallet. The FDFA advises never getting into an unmarked “police car” and asking to see a police ID card; if in doubt, suggest going to the police station.

A neighbourhood cannot be summed up by a label: useful advice concerns the address, the time, the access routes and current conditions. See Which neighbourhood to choose in Lima?.

Scams and money

• On arrival: the UK government reports fake taxi drivers and fake excursion sellers who approach travellers at Jorge Chávez airport and at bus terminals. Take a taxi from the official desks, just outside the baggage hall, or one booked by your hotel.
• Banknotes: counterfeit dollars and soles are in circulation. In Cusco, street money changers have handed out intis, a former currency that is no longer legal tender. Change money at a bank or an exchange office, and look at the notes you are given. See money and connectivity.
• Your bank card: the FDFA reports frequent fraud when a card leaves its holder’s sight. Pay at the terminal, in front of you.
• Buying online: entry tickets, trains and excursions are bought on official websites or from an identifiable agency; type the ticket office address yourself rather than following a link received in a message.
• Fake kidnapping: after a phone theft, fraudsters sometimes call the victim’s contacts claiming to have kidnapped them, and demand a ransom. Warn your family about this scenario before you leave.
• Online contacts: the FDFA and the UK government warn against people who try to use travellers as drug couriers. Never carry luggage or a parcel for anyone.

Taxis and drivers

The FDFA recommends taking only official taxis booked in advance or those provided by hotels, particularly in Lima, Trujillo, Cusco and Arequipa, and at Lima airport, licensed taxis or buses. It reports assaults in taxis hailed in the street, with forced withdrawals at cash machines (“secuestro al paso”). In the event of an assault, it advises offering no resistance.

In practice: book through an app or through the hotel, check the number plate and the driver’s name before getting in, share the journey with someone close to you, and agree on the price if the taxi has no meter.

On the road

The FDFA reports that bus accidents are frequent, recommends higher-category companies and avoiding intercity journeys at night, and advises flying for long distances. It advises against car hire for people who do not know the country. See transport.

It also reports attacks on intercity buses: keep your valuables on you, not in the compartment above your seat.

Strikes, blockades and states of emergency

According to the FDFA, the situation has remained tense since the change of government in September 2025, especially with the elections. Strikes, demonstrations and blockades of roads, railways and rivers can occur throughout the country, including in tourist areas, particularly in Cusco, on the routes to Machu Picchu and around Puno. Blockades sometimes paralyse the main roads for several days.

States of emergency. The government declares them locally for a few weeks, and often extends them. On 31 August 2026, according to the list of the Consulate General of Spain in Lima, one was in force against crime in Lima and Callao (until 29 October 2026), in Trujillo, in several districts of Piura, in Pisco and Paracas, and in Tambopata province, each with its own end date (Spanish consulate). In practice, the police are supported by the armed forces, and some rights are restricted: inviolability of the home, freedom of movement, freedom of assembly (El Peruano). For a traveller, daily life carries on; you see more patrols, and a local curfew remains possible.

Transport strikes in Lima. Targeted by extortion, bus drivers in Lima and Callao go on strike from time to time. During the strike of 14 January 2026, taxis, ride-hailing apps, the metro, the Metropolitano and intercity buses kept running, according to Bloomberg Línea: on a strike day, plan a booked taxi and a little more time.

The rule: never try to get through a blockade, even on foot, and keep away from demonstrations; the FDFA points out that any political activity is forbidden to foreigners. The preparation: a spare day before an international flight, bookings you can change for the exposed stages, and the contact details of your provider, who knows the state of the roads the day before.

Women travelling alone, LGBT travellers

Alone. Many women travel around Peru on their own. Both governments nevertheless urge caution: the FDFA recommends travelling in a group and by day where possible, and advises women against travelling alone, as sexual offences occur. The UK government says they are infrequent, but reported mostly around Cusco and Arequipa, sometimes by unscrupulous agencies targeting young women travelling alone. In practice: recognised agencies (iPerú can advise you), booked taxis, your drink always in sight, and your programme shared with someone close to you.

Same-sex couples. Same-sex relationships are legal in Peru, but, according to the UK government, attitudes remain generally conservative, partnerships are not recognised and the law does not treat homophobic crimes as an aggravating factor. Public displays of affection may attract negative attention.

Risky activities

• Adventure sports: according to the FDFA, safety standards and equipment vary widely (paragliding, dune buggies, rafting, mountaineering). The UK government reports fatal sand buggy accidents in the dunes of Ica and Huacachina, an unregulated activity. Ask for the agency’s licence and check your insurance.
• Mountains: in the Cordillera Blanca, hikers have died and rescues are often carried out on foot. Go with a local guide and an approved agency, as the FDFA advises.
• The sea: beaches do not always have lifeguards; in Miraflores, some surfboard rentals are unauthorised.
• Rivers: the FDFA recommends taking tourist boats on the Amazon only with a tour operator or trusted guides.
• Ayahuasca or San Pedro ceremonies: the FDFA advises against taking part. The UK government reports serious illness, deaths and sexual assaults, often far from any medical help.

What the law forbids

• Drugs, even in very small quantities: heavy prison sentences, according to the FDFA, in poor detention conditions.
• Politics: any political activity is forbidden to foreigners.
• Military photos: photographing a military installation is illegal, according to the UK government.
• Coca at the Swiss border: importing coca-based products into Switzerland is prohibited. See coca leaf.

Earthquakes, tsunamis, rain

Peru is an earthquake-prone country; the south has active volcanoes. In buildings, look out for the earthquake safe-zone signs and the exits; on the coast, the tsunami evacuation routes. After a strong tremor felt by the sea, move away from the beach to higher ground without waiting for an alert. To understand earthquakes and tsunamis, and the actions recommended by the Peruvian authorities, see earthquakes and tsunamis in Peru.

From December to March, heavy rain causes landslides (huaicos) in the Andes and in some coastal valleys that cut roads and railways: follow SENAMHI’s alerts and your provider’s advice, and keep a margin. During an El Niño episode, heavy rain can also hit the coast, especially the north coast: see El Niño in Peru.

What to do if…

Your phone has been stolen. Block the line with your operator and your cards with your banks, change the passwords of your main accounts from another device, warn your family that a fake kidnapping call is possible, then report the theft to the police (the receipt is used for the insurance). If you had a Peruvian SIM, the operator can block the device.

You have lost your passport. Report the loss to the police, then contact your country’s embassy in Lima, which can issue an emergency travel document. According to France Diplomatie, you then need to have your entry record transferred to this new document with Migraciones; buses accept a passenger with a copy of the passport and the police report, planes do not (except between Iquitos and Lima).

You have been robbed or assaulted. Get to safety, then file a complaint with the tourist police, who deal with travellers. Inform your insurance.

The road is blocked. Stay where you are, do not try to get through, follow your provider’s instructions and shift the programme.

Useful numbers

Before you leave: back-ups

• A copy of your passport’s identity page, on paper (kept separately) and online.
• The numbers for blocking your cards and your line, written down on paper.
• Your insurance’s assistance number, and what it covers, adventure sports included.
• Two bank cards kept separately, a little cash.
• The FDFA’s advice downloaded, and registration with its travel app if you wish.
• A word to your family about the fake kidnapping scenario.

The two tourist police numbers are those published by MINCETUR; we have not tested them with a call. In a medical emergency, a health establishment must treat you without requiring prior payment (SUSALUD): see if you fall ill.

This guide summarises a few points at a given date; it replaces neither official advice nor a recent local assessment of your route.