Is Peru safe to visit? (Updated in 2025)

Peruthe third largest country in South America, More than 4 million tourists every year Before the pandemic.

Want to visit Machu PicchuLake Tekaka, Nazca Line or the floating islands of its vibrant capital Lima and its blooming food world have a lot to see.

It’s competent for hype. I absolutely love my visit. That’s everything I think will!

However, I also often hear and read about things that tourists are robbed or stolen. I’m worried about travelers’ emails and wondering if Peru is safe to access due to recent political turmoil.

Today, I want to answer their questions:

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

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

10 safety tips for Peru

Usually, Peru is a safe place to visit. You won’t be kidnapped or murdered there, so you don’t have to worry about violent crimes as a traveler. But Peru does ask you to be more alert than other destinations, because there are many mean crime.

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

1. Avoid displaying any expensive items – Make your jewelry invisible (even keep it at home). Don’t show off valuables. Pay special attention to taking out your phone, because mobile phone theft is rampant (More than 4,000 mobile phones are reportedly stolen every day). Don’t even wear airpods on the street. In short: Always pay attention to your stuff. Minimize the goal on your back, which says, “I carry a lot of valuable things” is very important.

This is especially tried in major cities such as Lima and Cusco, where theft is more common. If you are out during the day and see someone with a phone call, it may be safe, but be careful if you are alone. The thief will drive by the scooter, take things from your hands, and drive.

2. Be careful of pairs or groups of thieves or robbers who work in pairs or groups – Tips for distracting your attention (e.g., a group of kids who rammed “by chance” into you, or a bunch of kids playing or fighting near you) are used frequently so that accomplices can rob you while not paying attention to their own property. Don’t get stuck in trouble and stay alert because of distraction.

3. Always pay attention to your property – In crowded places or in public transportation, be aware that thieves may want to literally pick up your pocket or chop off bags. Put some small notes in a separate pocket so you don’t need to put your entire wallet or purse on it.

4. Separate your valuables – When you are out for a day, please leave some credit cards and cash to lock in your stay. This way, if you lose your wallet, you can still have cash and cards in the hotel. It is usually best to carry a photocopy of your passport and lock your passport in a hotel locker. If just in case, keep a digital copy of your passport in your email inbox.

5. Download the Prey app to your phone and laptop – If any device is stolen, you will be able to track it and remotely turn on the camera to shoot the thief (you can also erase data and message the thief). The monthly price is only $1.10.

6. Avoid traveling alone at night – There was an incident where people were robbed while leaving the taxi in the city at night and repeated reports of gangsters at the entrance of the Tingo María National Park in certain areas such as Tingo María in northwest of Lima. Try traveling with friends or other travelers at night because the number is safe.

This is especially true in the city at night. In certain areas of Lima, like Miraflores and Barranco, there are a lot of people going out at night, so that’s not a problem yet, but it’s also the two best and most touristy areas of Lima, so it’s a hot bed for thieves.

7. Choose a well-known bus operator – Sometimes the cheapest option is not the best option. Some cheap bus companies have the most resilient drivers and a lot of failures, and because Peru has the worst traffic accident rates, it is usually safer to use bus companies with a slightly priced one. Some of the most famous bus operators include Cruz del Sur, Oltursa, Civa and Movil Tours. Also, consider Peruhop, a very safe travel agency (sometimes local) to travel (sometimes local), using incredible drivers, and without theft issues.

8. Do not use drugs – Since Peru produces a lot of cocaine, tourists (especially young backpackers) tend to do a lot of cocaine here. However, this is not worth it, as if the authorities even suspect that you use drugs, you can be detained for up to 15 days. Buy drugs here to support organized crime, so be smart and skip drugs.

9. Learn some Spanish – Being able to speak some basic Spanish will help you in many cases, but if you are in trouble and need help, you will be very grateful. Start with an application like Duolingo Master some basic vocabulary. The Google Translate app is also an essential app (download Spanish to your phone so you can translate offline).

10. Buy travel insurance – There may be errors on the way. That’s why I’ll never go anywhere without travel insurance. From theft to injuries to delayed flights, travel insurance will be there to ensure you don’t go bankrupt. Spend only a few dollars a day (usually less) and provide peace of mind. Don’t travel here without it!

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For more information on travel insurance, check out the following posts:

With these travel tips, you can stay safe while visiting Peru or backpacking! Also, here are the answers to some of the frequently asked questions we got.

Is Machu Picchu safe?

Machu Picchu is such a normal tourist destination, and you are likely to be safer here than anywhere else in Peru. It’s very likely that you will Hiking with a group Or in the crowd, so pickpockets and other tiny thieves are unlikely to be around. It is more important to be vigilant in cities like Lima or Cusco.

If you are, more important security issues Hiking to Machu Picchu It is to take care of your health. Make sure you have enough water and use sunscreen and hat to handle the heat. If you are not accommodating to height, then height disease can be a problem. If you start to feel sick, you need to take it seriously. Stay in Cusco for at least a few days to avoid this before visiting Machu Picchu.

Finally, if you use the recommended guides when hiking, make sure they are licensed operators, as sometimes you hear unlicensed guides that will take you on the wrong route and keep your own payment for a hiking license.

Can Peru travel safely?

Solo Travel is common in Peru and you will usually find a lot of other solo backpackers who can spend time with it, so you are unlikely to be alone.

Bus travel and going out after a darkness is safer in anyone’s group, but overall, solo trips in Peru are no more dangerous than traveling with friends or partners.

Just remember to avoid standing out and looking like a tourist. Don’t wear beautiful clothes, don’t wave expensive gadgets, and don’t stand there staring at the map if you’re lost. Basically, avoid sticking out like a sore thumb, and you will reduce the chances of a thief deciding on his next victim.

Is it safe to go to Peru with your kids?

Overall, it is 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 very welcome in a way.

But be especially careful with children, as they are more likely to get sick from unfiltered water. It is also not recommended to bring children to three high-altitude areas, including Machu Picchu.

Is Peru safe for female travelers?

It’s not Unsafe to become a solo female traveler In Peru, although you may be a victim of some unnecessary attention, mainly in the form of cat call. Local women in Peru rarely go to bars without men, so if you are a group with only women in the bar, you may get some extra attention. But there are a lot of female travelers in the country, so you’ll meet others hanging out. Peru doesn’t need more precautions than anywhere else.

Can you drink tap water in Peru?

No, don’t drink tap water in Peru (although brushing is great). use LifestrawThis not only ensures that your water is always safe to drink, as it has a built-in water filter in the bottle, but it can also help you avoid single-use plastic.

Are taxis in Peru safe?

Taxis are relatively safe, but make sure you only use authorized taxis and you need to know the tax rate in advance. If you need a taxi, ask your hotel or hotel to call you and find out the fee in advance. Make sure you agree with the driver in advance, as the taxi does not use the meter, so it is easy to charge if you don’t pay attention. That said, Uber is now everywhere in the country, and if you don’t want to mark your random taxi as Uber, you can call Uber.

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Peru Whatever your interests, having a rich culture, welcoming people, beautiful landscapes and charming historical attractions is an amazing destination.

However, you do need to be cautious about your personal safety. The most common problems faced by travelers are theft and pickle, but by taking some extra vigilance and common sense, you can minimize the risk. Make sure you don’t carry valuables in an obvious way and don’t have a lot of cash in one place.

Don’t let the story throw you away. Amazing attractions will surely make your trip worth it! Peru is a great place, and for some common sense you won’t have any questions! I don’t.