Is Peru Safe to Visit? (Updated 2025)

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

Whether you want to visit Machu Picchu, the floating islands in Lake Titicaca, the Nazca Lines, or the vibrant capital of Lima and its thriving 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 about tourists being robbed or having their belongings stolen. I get worried emails from travelers wondering if Peru is safe to visit due to the recent political unrest.

Today I want to answer their questions:

Is it safe to visit Peru? What do you need to look for? What precautions should you take?

In this post, I will share everything you need to know to visit Peru safely.

11 safety tips in Peru

Overall, Peru is a safe place to visit. You won’t be kidnapped or killed there, so don’t worry about any violent crime as a traveler. But Peru requires you to be a little more vigilant than other destinations because there are so many of them Trivial crime.

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

1. Avoid displaying any expensive belongings – Keep your jewelry out of sight (or even leave it at home). Don’t flaunt valuables. Be especially careful when taking your phone out, as phone theft is common (More than 4,000 phones are reported stolen every day). Don’t wear your AirPods even on the street. In short: always keep an eye on your stuff. Minimizing the target on your back that says “I’m carrying a lot of valuable stuff” is very important.

This is especially true in larger cities like Lima and Cusco where petty thefts are more common. If you’re out during the day and see people with phones and such, it’s probably safe, but if you’re alone, be careful. Thieves will come on scooters and take things from your hands and run away.

2. Be aware of thieves or thieves who work in pairs or small groups – A trick is often used to distract you (for example, someone “accidentally” bumping into you, or a group of children playing or fighting nearby) so that an accomplice can rob you while you are not paying attention to your possessions. Don’t fall into the trap of distractions and stay alert.

3. Monitor your property at all times – In crowded places or on public transportation, be aware that thieves may be looking to pick your pocket or rip your bag. Keep some small bills in a separate pocket, so that when you pay for things, you don’t have to expose your entire wallet or wallet.

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

5. Download the Prey app on your phone and laptop -If either device is stolen, you’ll be able to track it and trigger the camera remotely to photograph the thief (you can also erase the data and send a message to the thief as well). It only costs $1.10 per month.

6. Avoid traveling alone at night There have been incidents of people being robbed leaving a taxi at night in cities, and 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 to travel with friends or other travelers at night as there is safety in numbers.

This is especially true for cities at night as well. 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 also the two most beautiful and touristy areas in Lima so it’s a hot spot for thieves.

7. Choose a reputable bus operator – Sometimes the cheapest option isn’t the best option. Some of the cheaper bus companies have more reckless drivers and more breakdowns, and since Peru has some of the worst traffic accident rates in the world, you’re usually safer using a slightly higher priced bus company. Some of the more popular bus operators include Cruz del Sur, Ultursa, Siva, and Movil Tours. Additionally, consider PeruHop, a bus tour operator that caters to travelers (and sometimes locals) and is very safe, uses amazing drivers, and has no theft problem.

8. Do not use drugs – Since Peru produces a lot of cocaine, tourists (especially young backpackers) tend to do a lot of it here. However, it is not worth the risk, because if the authorities suspect you of drug use, 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 get stuck and need help, you will really appreciate it. Start using an app like Duolingo to master some basic vocabulary. Google Translate is also a must-have app (download Spanish to your phone so you can translate offline).

10. Purchase travel insurance -Things can go wrong on the road. That’s why I don’t go anywhere without travel insurance. From theft to injuries to flight delays, travel insurance is here to ensure you don’t go bankrupt. It’s just a few dollars a day (often less) and provides peace of mind. Don’t travel here without it!

I recommend SafetyWing for travelers under 70 years old Insurance for my trip It is the best choice for travelers over 70 years old.

You can use this tool to get a quote for SafetyWing:

For more information about travel insurance, see these posts:

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

Is Machu Picchu safe?

Machu Picchu is a popular tourist destination, and you are likely to be safer here than in any other part of Peru. You’ll likely be out walking with a group or in a crowd, so pickpockets and other petty thieves are unlikely to be around. It is very important to be careful in cities like Lima or Cusco.

The most important safety issue if you are hiking to Machu Picchu is taking care of your health. Make sure you get plenty of water, and use sunscreen and hats to deal with the heat. If you are not acclimatized to altitude, altitude sickness may be a problem; You need to take it seriously if you start feeling sick. Avoid this by staying in Cusco for at least two days before visiting Machu Picchu.

Finally, if you use a guide, which is recommended when hiking, make sure it is a licensed operator, as you sometimes hear of unlicensed guides taking you down the wrong trail and keeping the hiking permit payment for themselves.

Is Peru safe to travel alone?

Solo travel is very popular in Peru, and you’ll often find plenty of other solo travelers to spend time with, so you’re unlikely to be alone much.

Traveling by bus and going out after dark anywhere is safer in a group, but in general, traveling solo in Peru is no riskier than traveling with friends or a partner.

Just remember to avoid looking and sounding like a tourist. Don’t wear fancy clothes, don’t brandish your expensive gadgets, and if you get lost, don’t stand there staring at the map. Basically, avoid sticking out like a sore thumb, and you’ll reduce the chance of a petty thief deciding you’re their next victim.

Is it safe to travel to Peru with children?

On the whole, it is not particularly safe to take your children to Peru. Family and children are very important in Peruvian culture, so you and your children will feel very welcome.

Be especially careful with young children, as they are more likely to get sick from unfiltered water, for example. It is also not recommended to take children under the age of three to high altitudes such as Machu Picchu.

Is Peru safe for female travelers?

It is not safe to be a solo female traveler in Peru, although you may be the victim of some unwanted attention, often in the form of catcalls. Local women in Peru rarely go out to bars without men, so if you’re a group of only women at the bar, you might get some extra attention. But there are a lot of solo female travelers in the country, so you will meet others to spend your time with. Peru does not require any more precautions than you would take elsewhere.

Can you drink tap water in Peru?

No, do not drink tap water in Peru (although it is fine to brush your teeth with it). Use a Survival strawwhich not only ensures that your water is always safe to drink because it has a water filter built into the bottle but helps you avoid single-use plastic.

Are taxis safe in Peru?

Taxis are relatively safe, but make sure you only use licensed taxis and know the price in advance. If you need a taxi, ask your hostel or hotel to call one for you and find out the price in advance. Make sure to 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. However, Uber is everywhere in the country now and you can call Uber if you don’t want to flag down a random taxi.

Peru is a great destination no matter what your interests, with a rich culture, welcoming people, beautiful landscapes and fascinating historical landmarks.

However, you should be careful about your personal safety. The most common problems travelers face there are petty theft and pickpocketing, but by exercising a little vigilance and common sense, you can reduce the risks. Make sure you do not carry valuables in an obvious way and do not have large amounts of cash in one place.

Peru is a relatively safe country to visit, so don’t let the stories get you down. The amazing sights will definitely make your trip worthwhile! Peru is an amazing place and with some common sense you won’t have any problems! I didn’t.