Yes, Peru is safe to travel to with care: the US State Department advises increased caution because of crime, unrest, kidnapping and terrorism, and Canada asks for a high degree of caution. The UK FCDO warnings against all but essential travel cover only the VRAEM valleys and a strip along the Colombian border in Loreto.
At Safe to Go, we see travelers misread national advisory headlines and assume the entire country is unstable. In reality, visiting popular destinations like Cusco and Arequipa requires managing daily urban street crime, avoiding public demonstrations, and planning for sporadic transit disruptions rather than avoiding the nation altogether.
Where the Warnings Concentrate by Region
Official travel warnings for Peru distinguish sharply between high-risk remote zones and popular tourist destinations. The panel above shows today’s level for each government, and their strictest regional warnings isolate two specific parts of the country where violent criminal networks and insurgent remnants operate.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all but essential travel to the Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers, commonly known as the VRAEM region. Remnants of the Shining Path guerrilla group remain active in coca-growing river basins in central Peru, occasionally attacking police, military forces, and local authorities. While these groups do not usually target tourists, visitors risk mistaken identity or getting caught in security operations. US government staff need special authorization to travel to the VRAEM and its boundary cities of Abancay, Ayacucho, Huancavelica and Huancayo.
The second exclusion zone is the northern frontier near Colombia. The UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to areas within 20 kilometers south of the Putumayo River and the Peru-Colombia border in the Loreto region, citing intense violence from organized criminal gangs producing and smuggling illegal drugs. This exclusion explicitly exempts the Amazon River itself and the triple-border area connecting Peru, Brazil, and Colombia from Caballococha to Santa Rosa de Yavari town. The US Department of State similarly requires special authorization for government personnel visiting this border corridor in Loreto.
Outside these areas, the US and UK name no region to avoid, but protests and street crime affect popular destinations too. The Peruvian government occasionally declares states of emergency in specific districts, which lead to an increased military and police presence. Only basic medical services are available at Machu Picchu, and several climbers have died or been seriously injured in falls on Huayna Picchu, so take particular care in steep, slippery or unfenced areas. Along the northern border with Ecuador, extra security measures are active following regional tensions, and travelers must use official checkpoints due to unexploded landmines.
- VRAEM river basin: Avoid all but essential travel due to Shining Path insurgent activity and drug production operations.
- VRAEM boundary cities: US government staff need special authorization to visit Abancay, Ayacucho, Huancavelica and Huancayo.
- Loreto-Colombia border: Avoid areas within 20km south of the Putumayo River due to drug trafficking networks, excluding the Amazon River channel.
- Triple border: The river corridor covering Caballococha to Santa Rosa de Yavari remains exempted from the strictest warnings.
- Northern frontier: Cross the Peru-Ecuador border only at official checkpoints to avoid unexploded landmines.
Crime and Protest Risks for Visitors in Peru
Everyday street crime presents a significant hazard for international visitors across major Peruvian cities. The UK FCDO says street crime, including muggings and thefts, is a serious problem in Lima, Cusco, Arequipa and other major cities, and the US State Department says violent crime often happens in daylight with many witnesses around. The UK FCDO warns that motorbike riders may snatch your phone if you use it at the roadside.
Express kidnappings, which the US State Department calls rare, usually happen at night and often involve armed criminals posing as taxi drivers, the UK FCDO says. In an express kidnapping, armed criminals force a victim to visit automated teller machines (ATMs) to withdraw cash before releasing them. Criminal networks also set up physical roadblocks on rural roads outside Lima to intercept passing vehicles. When hailing transportation, arriving passengers at Jorge Chavez International Airport and intercity bus terminals face individuals posing as taxi drivers or tour operators to rob unsuspecting travelers.
Civil unrest and protests disrupt travel itineraries without advance notice. Demonstrations over political or economic grievances occur nationwide, which can shut down local roads, trains and major highways without warning, and train services to and from Machu Picchu are occasionally suspended. Regions with recent protests include Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cusco, La Libertad, Madre de Dios and Puno, and road closures can limit access to airports. Foreigners are legally prohibited from participating in political demonstrations in Peru and face detention or deportation for joining protests.
Targeted scams, assault risks, and toxic substances require specific daily habits. Counterfeit United States dollars and Peruvian banknotes circulate widely, and street money changers in Cusco tourist centers have passed out obsolete Peruvian intis instead of legal currency. Sexual assaults are infrequent but happen mostly in the Cusco and Arequipa areas, and unscrupulous tour agents have targeted young women travelling alone around Cusco. Alcoholic drinks in Peru can contain lethal levels of methanol, causing severe illness or death.
Outdoor transport and remote travel bring distinct environmental and logistical hazards. Overflights across the Nazca Lines have suffered several fatal accidents in recent years, requiring travelers to check operator licensing and safety records before booking. River pirates and armed drug traffickers operate along segments of the Amazon River, requiring tourists to book only reputable commercial cruise companies. Along Lake Titicaca, armed robbers target tourists walking alone, making group travel advisable at night.
- Street robbery: Never use mobile phones along roadside curbs and keep bags secure on public transit.
- Unregulated taxis: Book registered counter services directly inside airport baggage halls, use mobile apps, or arrange hotel cars.
- Express kidnapping: Comply with all demands for money or valuables, and never attempt to physically resist armed attackers.
- Civil unrest: Stay clear of political crowds, monitor local announcements, and carry emergency cash, water, and medication.
- Counterfeit currency: Check your banknotes, and be wary of street money changers in Cusco tourist areas, some of whom have passed off old intis.
- Methanol: You cannot taste or smell methanol in drinks, so get urgent medical help if anyone shows signs of poisoning after drinking.
- Scenic flights: Verify regulatory licensing and safety history through official information counters before taking Nazca Lines tours.
Comparing US, UK, and Canadian Government Warnings
Travel guidance from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada aligns on primary security themes while emphasizing different administrative concerns. The US and UK both warn about crime, road blockades and demonstrations, and Canada asks for a high degree of caution with regional advisories.
The United States State Department highlights kidnapping, terrorism, and severe road hazards in its advisory summary. US rules bar staff from driving at night except within cities, between Lima and Huacho, and between Lima and Paracas. US staff may also travel at night with commercial bus companies along the Pan-American Highway, to Huaraz, and on the Lima-Arequipa-Cusco corridor.
The Government of Canada advises citizens to exercise a high degree of caution throughout Peru while maintaining regional travel advisories for high-risk zones. The UK reminds international travelers that local emergency services and consular assistance become severely limited when protests or criminal activity disrupt travel or damage infrastructure.
The UK FCDO focuses heavily on the financial and legal consequences of ignoring official regional warnings. Traveling into areas where the UK advises against all but essential travel could invalidate your travel insurance. The UK also provides explicit warnings regarding the strict illegality of taking photographs of anything of a military nature, which carries prison sentences of two to five years under Peruvian law.
Regional Risk Assessment by Government
Government advisories evaluate individual regions in Peru differently based on insurgent presence, drug transit routes, and protest activity. Evaluating these specific regional boundaries helps travelers separate dangerous border sectors from accessible central and southern highlights.
| Region or Corridor | Primary Hazards | What the US and UK Advise |
|---|---|---|
| VRAEM Valley and boundary cities | Shining Path guerrilla remnants, drug production, violence | UK: all but essential travel advised against in the VRAEM. US: staff need special authorization for the VRAEM and its boundary cities |
| Putumayo River and Loreto border | Armed drug cartels, cross-border organized violence | Avoid areas within 20km of border, excluding Amazon River channels |
| Cusco and Machu Picchu | Protest blockades, train cancellations, street thefts | Exercise heightened caution, secure transit, and monitor local strike alerts |
| Lima (Miraflores, Barranco, Airport) | Armed robberies, fake taxis, phone snatching at curbs | Exercise heightened caution, use airport booking desks, secure valuables |
| Lake Titicaca and Puno | Armed hold-ups of solo walkers, strike roadblocks | Avoid isolated night walks, join group excursions, verify transit status |
Practical Precautions for Money, Transport, and Law
Securing cash, documents, and ground transit before arriving reduces your exposure to opportunistic urban crime. Use automated teller machines situated directly inside commercial banks, supermarkets, or enclosed shopping centers during regular business hours rather than free-standing street machines. When exchanging currency, reject obsolete Peruvian intis, and inspect banknotes for counterfeit markings.
Peruvian law mandates that all individuals carry personal identification at all times. The UK FCDO says Peruvian police may ask to see ID, and if you do not have it with you, you may be required to go to the nearest police station. Keep your original passport secure on long-distance bus journeys by storing it directly on your person rather than in overhead luggage bins or under seats.
Vehicle safety requires strict discipline when navigating city streets or booking cross-country transfers. When traveling by car or taxi, keep windows rolled up and door locks engaged to prevent opportunistic robberies at traffic intersections. Never hail taxis on the street. Use licensed telephone or app-based taxis, ask your hotel to book one, or use the official taxi desks directly outside the airport baggage hall.
Drug use and trafficking carry lengthy jail sentences, prison conditions are extremely poor, and the UK FCDO says the British Embassy cannot intervene in police or judicial matters. Pack all luggage yourself, monitor bags continuously, and never transport packages through customs on behalf of strangers. Do not take coca leaves or coca tea out of Peru. The UK FCDO notes it is illegal to import them into the UK.
In addition, travelers should get appropriate travel insurance covering their itinerary, planned activities, and expenses in an emergency before departure.
Checking Real-Time Safety Conditions and Transit
Safety conditions in Peru change rapidly during regional labor disputes and political demonstrations. Before beginning regional journeys, contact the official iPeru tourist information service for help with issues travelling to different regions of Peru.
Consult the live advisory panel above to check whether baseline national recommendations have shifted today. You can read a list of the areas with a state of emergency in El Peruano official newspaper (in Spanish). Track local reports across verified news media and consult train operators directly before setting out toward Machu Picchu.
Peru is a poor fit for travel into the VRAEM or along the Colombian border unless the trip is essential, and for tight schedules that cannot absorb a protest closing roads or trains. Our verdict would change if the UK FCDO extended its warnings to Cusco, Puno or Lima, or if protests began closing the Machu Picchu trains for long periods. If you are planning a wider South American trip, compare neighboring countries too. You can read our guides on whether Colombia is safe or whether Brazil is safe, check how Peru measures up in our safest countries in South America guide, or compare destinations side by side. To manage your final packing and document prep, review our free travel safety checklist before you depart.