Exercise Increased Caution
“Exercise increased cautionin Peru due to risk of crime, unrest, kidnapping, and terrorism. Some areas have increased risk.”
Updated Fri, 04 Sep 2026
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Is Lima safe? 🇵🇪
Peru · Safety report last updated
As of October 2026, Lima scores 56/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: mostly — take normal precautions. Yes, Lima is generally safe for visitors who stay in recommended districts and take standard precautions against petty crime. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (high risk) and robbery (moderate risk). The U.S. State Department rates it Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Lima 🇵🇪
Peru · Assessed 11 October 2026
56
/ 100
What drives this score
Crime49/100CautionCrime index 70.2 / 100 · city-level
Sentiment62/100FairMostly positive
Advisories75Good
Stability58Fair
Health77Good
01 · Official Guidance
Advisories
Good
Advises against all travel to parts of the country
“Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Areas where FCDO advises against all but essential travel Within 20km south of the Peru-Colombia border FCDO advises against all but essential travel to areas within 20km south of the Putumayo River and the border between Peru and Colombia (Loreto region) except for: the Amazon River the area of the triple border with Brazil and Colombia from and including the towns of Caballococha in Peru up to the actual triple border at Santa Rosa de Yavari town Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM) FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers, also known as the VRAEM region.”
Updated 2026-10-09T13:35:03Z
Full advisory →Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)
“Canada's official risk level for Peru: exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories).”
Updated 2026-10-09T15:20:27.9212675-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Crime
Caution
Mugging & robbery risk
Moderate risk
62
City SignalCity Web Research
Pickpocketing & theft risk
High risk
58
City SignalCity Web Research
Visitor safety sentiment
63 / 100 (Mostly positive)
63
City SignalCity Web Research
Urban scale factor
7.7M residents
42
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
8.6 / 100kHomicide rate · per 100kJapan0.2Switzerland0.6World avg5.2United States5.8Peru8.6Brazil19.3South Africa43.7
50
Robbery / mugging
ModerateMuggings and express robberies occur, particularly targeting tourists using unlicensed taxis or ATMs at night in central districts.
Pickpocketing
HighPickpocketing and bag-snatching are frequent in crowded tourist zones like Miraflores, Barranco, and the Historic Centre.
▸ 4 more indicators▾ Hide extra indicators
03 · Environment
Health & Air
Good
04 · Institutions
Stability
Fair
05 · Field Research
Current Situation
Moderate
Traveller sentiment score
Mostly positive
62/100
Reported feel63Mostly positive
Robbery risk62Moderate risk
Pickpocket risk58High risk
Recent traveler reports indicate most visitors feel safe during the day in recommended districts, though concerns rise at night or when using informal transport.
Yes, Lima is generally safe for visitors who stay in recommended districts and take standard precautions against petty crime.
Lima presents moderate crime risks, primarily petty theft and scams targeting tourists in popular areas, while violent crime against visitors remains relatively uncommon. The city benefits from strong tourism infrastructure and security presence in Miraflores, Barranco, and San Isidro, though a state of emergency has been in effect for Lima and Callao since October 2025. Visitors should exercise heightened vigilance in crowded areas, avoid unlicensed taxis, and keep valuables secure.
Recent developments
- Oct 2026Peru creates unified military-police command to battle its worst crime wave in 25 years— Latin Times
- Sep 2026— Fox News
- Jul 2026Protests in Lima as Keiko Fujimori sworn in as Peru president— Al Jazeera
- Oct 2025Peru declares state of emergency in Lima: key travel safety tips for visitors— TravelPulse
Common scams
- unlicensed taxi overcharging or robbery
- express kidnapping ('secuestro al paso') at ATMs
- pickpocketing and bag-snatching in crowded areas
- ATM and card cloning
Full briefing
Lima remains a viable destination for travelers who concentrate their stay in the well-patrolled coastal districts of Miraflores, Barranco, and San Isidro, where tourism infrastructure is strong and visible security presence helps deter crime. While the city overall faces moderate crime risks, incidents affecting visitors are largely limited to petty theft and scams rather than violent assaults, particularly when basic precautions are observed. The state of emergency declared for Lima and Callao in October 2025 continues, resulting in heightened police and military activity that may lead to unannounced restrictions or demonstrations, so visitors should avoid protest zones and follow local guidance.
Recent reporting underscores persistent challenges: a unified military-police command was launched in October 2026 to confront what officials describe as Peru’s worst crime wave in 25 years, and earlier in September, Fox News highlighted risks of drugs, crime, and kidnapping at major tourist sites. Protests accompanied the July 2026 inauguration of Keiko Fujimori, demonstrating how political events can trigger temporary disruptions in the capital. These developments align with the U.S. State Department’s Level 2 advisory urging increased caution due to crime, unrest, kidnapping, and terrorism risks.
To minimize exposure, travelers should use only registered ride-hailing apps or pre-booked airport transfers, as unlicensed taxis remain a vector for overcharging and express robberies. Pickpocketing is prevalent in crowded areas, so backpacks should be worn facing forward and valuables kept concealed. Walking alone at night is discouraged outside the main tourist corridors, especially in the Historic Centre after dark. By staying in established visitor districts, moving with purpose, and maintaining awareness without displaying wealth, most travelers can experience Lima’s cultural and culinary offerings safely.
Was this Lima, Peru report helpful?
06 · Neighbourhoods
Safest areas and areas to avoid
Our field research rated 8 Lima districts for visitors: 3 safer, 2 needing caution and 3 best avoided. See them plotted on the Lima safety map.
RímacavoidHigh rates of assaults and robberies; limited tourist infrastructure and sporadic gang activity increase risk for visitors.
CallaoavoidPort area adjacent to Lima; elevated crime including express kidnappings and armed robberies; state of emergency in effect since Oct 2025.
San Juan de LuriganchoavoidLima's most populous district; high incidence of violent crime and extortion; not recommended for tourists.
Historic Centre (Centro Histórico)cautionSafe during daylight with tour groups; avoid walking alone after dark due to higher rates of pickpocketing and muggings.
La VictoriacautionIndustrial and residential zone with frequent petty crime; exercise caution, especially at night and on public transport.
MirafloressaferWell-patrolled tourist district with strong security presence; petty theft possible in crowded areas.
BarrancosaferGenerally safe by day and evening; quieter streets require caution after midnight due to occasional opportunistic theft.
San IsidrosaferAffluent business district with excellent security, upscale amenities, and minimal crime rates; considered one of Lima's safest areas.
07 · After Dark
Is Lima safe at night?
43% of people in Peru say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2024).
Muggings and express robberies occur, particularly targeting tourists using unlicensed taxis or ATMs at night in central districts.
After dark, be most careful around Rímac, Callao, San Juan de Lurigancho, Historic Centre (Centro Histórico). Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
Lima safety FAQ (2026)
Is Lima safe right now (2026)?
Yes, Lima is generally safe for visitors who stay in recommended districts and take standard precautions against petty crime. Lima presents moderate crime risks, primarily petty theft and scams targeting tourists in popular areas, while violent crime against visitors remains relatively uncommon. The city benefits from strong tourism infrastructure and security presence in Miraflores, Barranco, and San Isidro, though a state of emergency has been in effect for Lima and Callao since October 2025. Visitors should exercise heightened vigilance in crowded areas, avoid unlicensed taxis, and keep valuables secure. (Assessed 11 October 2026.)
Is Lima safe for women, families and solo travelers?
Safety is not one number, and this Lima report does not pretend it is: the score is re-weighted for who is travelling. A woman travelling alone, a family with children and a solo backpacker face different street-level risks, so the headline score shifts and the report leads with the findings that matter for that group. Personalize this report in one click to see the 2026 score and safety briefing for your specific travellers.
Which areas of Lima should tourists avoid?
Field research flags Rímac, Callao, San Juan de Lurigancho as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.
What are the most common scams in Lima (2026)?
- unlicensed taxi overcharging or robbery
- express kidnapping ('secuestro al paso') at ATMs
- pickpocketing and bag-snatching in crowded areas
- ATM and card cloning
How does Lima compare with other places in Peru (2026)?
Lima ranks #9 of 9 Peru destinations we've assessed, scoring 56/100. See the Peru safety overview for the full list.
How is this lima safety score calculated (2026)?
The score blends 15+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, FBI crime data for U.S. cities, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry the bulk of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries the rest. Full methodology.
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Raw data: lima.json (CC BY 4.0).