Country Brief: Peru – Securely Travel

Travel to Peru is generally safe, though recent civil unrest has caused the U.S. Department of State to raise the travel advice to travelers to “reconsider travel”. The universal question, “Is it safe to travel to the Peru?” receives a response of “Yes”, but one should defer travel during this period of civil unrest and during the current “State of Emergency. Travelers need to be ever vigilant as to what is occurring in their location and monitor local media and government advisories concerning closures of airports and arterial roadways.

If such is not possible, then avoid the following areas highlighted as dangerous by the U.S. State Department:

• The Colombian-Peruvian border area in the Loreto Region due to crime.
• The Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM), including areas within the Departments of Ayacucho, Cusco, Huancavelica, and Junin, due to crime and terrorism.

Country Travel Synopsis – Peru

Peru is generally a country where U.S. business and leisure travelers could travel without incident. The recent ouster of the President of the country and his subsequent arrest for corruption has caused considerable civil unrest. The U.S. Department of State advises travelers reconsider travel at this time. The government of Canada recommended non-essential travel be deferred, noting protests have turned violent with casualties. The governments of Australia and New Zealand are also urging travelers to avoid non-essential travel to Peru at this time.

Under normal circumstances the worry for travelers would be the food and waterborne diseases which are prevalent and present travelers with a high degree of risk for bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever.

Lima has a high level of crime, though it does vary by district. Petty theft is most common in higher income areas frequented by tourists. Armed assailants target smartphones, wallets, or purses and travelers are advised to keep valuables out of sight. Robbers tend to target travelers on routes to and from the airport in Lima and use tools to break car windows in traffic to steal belongings on back seats. Travelers are advised to keep luggage in the trunks of cars and bags generally out sight. It is best to use ATMs in banks instead of open access ATMs and expect vendors to use credit card readers in your presence when making transactions.

The U.S. Department of State warns that driving conditions are very different than found in the United States and considerably more dangerous, and visitors are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with local law and driving customs. Due to fog on coastal and mountain highways, conditions are treacherous and travelers should be prepared with spare tires, parts and fuel on long distance roads. Intercity bus travel can be dangerous due to poor bus maintenance, excessive speed, poor road conditions and driver fatigue. It is recommended that travelers use trusted taxi or an app-based taxi services. Taxis charge a flat rate from the airport and generally safer than hailing taxis from the street.

Travelers who visit the popular Andean destinations, such as Cusco/Machu Picchu, Arequipa/Colca Canyon, Kuelap/Chachapoyas, Puno/Lake Titicaca, and other areas high in the mountains to should seek medical advice prior to travel due to altitude-related illness.

Generally, medical care in Lima is good and adequate in major cities, less so in other parts of Peru. The private, urban health care facilities are often better staffed and equipped than public or rural ones. In Cusco, public facilities are generally inadequate for serious medical conditions. The following diseases are prevalent in some parts of Peru:
Dengue
Diarrheal disease
Hepatitis A and B
Leishmaniasis
Malaria
Rabies
Tuberculosis
Yellow fever
Zika

Peru is designated as Threat Level 3 by the US Department of State.

The Department of State increased the threat level facing travelers on 15 December 2022 to Level 3 – Reconsider Travel due to civil unrest.

Addresses & Numbers you can use in Peru

Tourist Police: 0800 22 221

Travel Advice

U.S. citizens are encouraged to enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive the latest travel security information for Peru By registering, U.S. citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency.

Updated: 18 December 2022

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