Is Peru safe? 🇵🇪

Peru remains a viable and rewarding destination for travelers who exercise standard urban vigilance, particularly along the well-established Lima–Cusco–Machu Picchu corridor. While the country's overall safety index sits at a moderate 48/100 — driven largely by crime and institutional weaknesses — tourist hubs benefit from stronger policing, English-speaking guides, and well-marked routes that keep most visitors out of harm's way. Violent crime against tourists is described as rare on these standard routes by multiple recent sources, though the U.S. State Department's Level 2 advisory (Exercise Increased Caution) persists due to crime, civil unrest, and kidnapping risks, with specific regional warnings for areas like the VRAEM and the Peru-Colombia border that lie outside typical itineraries.

On the ground, the most immediate risks are opportunistic rather than violent. Petty theft — especially pickpocketing and bag-snatching — is consistently cited as the top concern for visitors, occurring frequently in crowded markets, bus terminals, and popular districts like Lima's Historic Center, Miraflores, and Barranco. Taxi scams, including overcharging and unnecessary detours, are also widespread, prompting strong recommendations to rely on app-based services or registered operators. Recent data from Peru's National Police shows a 23% year-on-year increase in armed robberies targeting solo travelers in Lima's Miraflores and San Isidro districts as of February 2026, underscoring the need for nighttime awareness even in safer neighborhoods. While incidents like the August 2026 Nazca Lines flight crash (which killed 13 tourists) and the April Cusco train accident highlight transportation safety gaps, they are atypical and have prompted regulatory reviews.

To stay safe, travelers should prioritize mundane but effective habits: use neck wallets for cash, avoid displaying valuables, verify bills for counterfeits (a known issue even at banks), and stay alert in crowded areas where distraction-based theft thrives. Altitude sickness in the Andes and occasional road blockades from demonstrations are additional practical concerns, but they rarely pose direct safety threats when managed with acclimatization and flexible planning. Overall, millions visit Peru annually without incident, and those who stick to the tourist circuit and apply basic big-city awareness find it a safe and enriching experience.