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Is Puno safe? 🇵🇪

Peru · Safety report last updated

As of October 2026, Puno scores 60/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: mostly — take normal precautions. Puno requires a high degree of caution due to ongoing political instability and crime risks. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and robbery (moderate risk).

Safety Report

IsMyTripSafe.com

Puno 🇵🇪

Peru · Assessed 13 October 2026

60

/ 100

Mostly — take normal precautions

Safer than ~57% of countries

District map

What drives this score

Crime56/100FairCrime index 66.9 / 100
Sentiment58/100FairCautious
Advisories75Good
Stability58Fair
Health77Good

01 · Official Guidance

Advisories

Good

UK Foreign Office (FCDO)

Level 3

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 →

Government of Canada

Level 2

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

Fair

Mugging & robbery risk

Moderate risk
62

City SignalCity Web Research

Pickpocketing & theft risk

Moderate risk
78

City SignalCity Web Research

Visitor safety sentiment

40 / 100 (Cautious)
40

City SignalCity Web Research

Urban scale factor

129k residents
85

City SignalCity Geocoding

Crime index (crowdsourced)

66.9 / 100
32

City SignalNumbeo Crime Index

Homicide rate

8.6 / 100kHomicide rate · per 100kJapan0.2Switzerland0.6World avg5.2United States5.8Peru8.6Brazil19.3South Africa43.7
50

Country BaselineWorld Bank Open Data · 2021

Feel safe walking alone after dark

43.4%
40

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database · 2024

Physical assault (past year)

7.0%
68

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database · 2024

Robbery / mugging

Moderate

Moderate risk of mugging and armed robbery, particularly in less crowded areas and at night.

Pickpocketing

Moderate

Moderate risk of pickpocketing and bag-snatching in crowded tourist areas, markets, and on public transport.

▸ 4 more indicators

Sexual violence (past year)

1.7%
80

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database · 2024

Detected human-trafficking victims

0.49 / 100k
85

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database · 2024

Bribery during public-official contact

2.7%
94

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database · 2023

Crime seen as a major business constraint

5.4%
84

Country BaselineWorld Bank Enterprise Surveys · 2017

03 · Environment

Health & Air

Good

Air quality

US AQI 25 · Good

Open-Meteo Air Quality

Hospitals

6 within 15 km · nearest ~0.3 km

OpenStreetMap

Weather

October: highs ~22°C · no weather extremes

Open-Meteo

Road safety

12.7 / 100k

WHO Global Health Observatory

Natural hazards

3 active alerts · Wildfire (green)
72

Country BaselineGDACS / USGS

Wildfire

forest fire notification in Peru · ~362 km away

Wildfire

forest fire notification in Bolivia · ~416 km away

Wildfire

forest fire notification in Bolivia · ~457 km away

CDC travel health notices · none for this destination

Worldwide notices (not specific to this trip): Polio, Dengue, Measles

04 · Institutions

Stability

Fair

Political stability & no terrorism

57/100
57

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Terrorism deaths (latest year)

0.58 / million
80

Country BaselineGlobal Terrorism Database · 2021

Rule of law

48/100
48

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Control of corruption

33/100
33

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

▸ 3 more indicators

Government effectiveness

49/100
49

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Regulatory quality

58/100
58

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Voice & accountability

57/100
57

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

05 · Field Research

Current Situation

Moderate

Traveller sentiment score

Cautious

58/100

Reported feel40Cautious
Robbery risk62Moderate risk
Pickpocket risk78Moderate risk

Traveler sentiment indicates a need for caution, with reports of civil unrest and crime impacting the feeling of safety.

Puno requires a high degree of caution due to ongoing political instability and crime risks.

While Puno is a popular tourist destination, it has experienced significant civil unrest and has a moderate crime rate. Travelers should remain vigilant, especially regarding petty crime and potential disruptions.

Recent developments

  • Jan 2023Anti-government protesters clashed with police, leading to airport takeover attempts.— Reuters
  • Jan 2023Protests in Peru led to clashes with police in Puno.— Al Jazeera
  • Nov 2022Lake Titicaca was described as a smuggler's paradise.— InSight Crime
  • May 2023U.S. Embassy in Peru issued a security alert and updated travel advisories.— U.S. Embassy in Peru

Common scams

  • Overcharging by taxi drivers
  • Distraction theft in crowded areas
Which areas are safe? District-by-district ratings are on the Safety Map→

Full briefing

Puno requires a high degree of caution for travelers. The city has experienced significant civil unrest, including clashes between protesters and police in January 2023, which led to disruptions like airport takeover attempts. While official advisories from Canada and the UK recommend exercising a high degree of caution, the U.S. Embassy has also issued security alerts.

Crime rates in Puno are moderate. Petty theft, such as pickpocketing and bag-snatching, is a concern in crowded tourist spots and markets. There is also a moderate risk of mugging and armed robbery, particularly in less populated areas or after dark. Travelers report feeling a need for caution, with a reported 43.4% feeling safe walking alone after dark.

To stay safe, avoid large demonstrations and remain aware of your surroundings at all times. Keep valuables secure and out of sight, and use reputable taxi services. It is advisable to stay informed about local news and any developing situations that could affect your safety or travel plans. Given the ongoing political climate and crime risks, a high degree of vigilance is recommended.

Was this Puno, Peru report helpful?

IsMyTripSafe.com

Not legal or medical advice

Report generated 13 October 2026

Sources: U.S. State Dept · UK FCDO · World Bank · WGI · UNODC · WHO · UN SDG · Global Terrorism Database · Numbeo · OpenStreetMap · Open-Meteo · CDC. Composite index recomputed at request time.

Links:

06 · Neighbourhoods

Safest areas and areas to avoid

6 districts

Our field research rated 6 Puno districts for visitors, 5 needing caution and 1 best avoided. See them plotted on the Puno safety map.

Outskirts of PunoavoidAreas away from the city center may have higher crime rates and less police presence.

Jirón LimacautionMain tourist street, can attract pickpockets and petty theft.

Plaza de ArmascautionCentral area, generally safe but can experience petty crime and protests.

Barrio IchucautionResidential area, exercise caution after dark.

Barrio HuajsapatacautionKnown for its views, but can be isolated at night.

Lake Titicaca waterfrontcautionTourist hub, be aware of your surroundings and belongings.

0 safer5 caution1 avoidOpen the district map

07 · After Dark

Is Puno safe at night?

43% of people in Peru say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2024).

Moderate risk of mugging and armed robbery, particularly in less crowded areas and at night.

After dark, be most careful around Outskirts of Puno, Jirón Lima, Plaza de Armas, Barrio Ichu. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.

08 · Questions

Puno safety FAQ (2026)

Is Puno safe right now (2026)?

Puno requires a high degree of caution due to ongoing political instability and crime risks. While Puno is a popular tourist destination, it has experienced significant civil unrest and has a moderate crime rate. Travelers should remain vigilant, especially regarding petty crime and potential disruptions. (Assessed 13 October 2026.)

Is Puno safe for women, families and solo travelers?

Safety is not one number, and this Puno 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 Puno should tourists avoid?

Field research flags Outskirts of Puno as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.

What are the most common scams in Puno (2026)?

  • Overcharging by taxi drivers
  • Distraction theft in crowded areas

How does Puno compare with other places in Peru (2026)?

Puno ranks #6 of 9 Peru destinations we've assessed, scoring 60/100. See the Peru safety overview for the full list.

How is this puno safety score calculated (2026)?

The score blends 14+ 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: puno.json (CC BY 4.0).