PERU CRIME AND PERSONAL SAFETY

The biggest problem for travellers in Peru is, without a doubt, thieves, for which the country has one of the worst reputations in South America – on one particular train journey (the Arequipa-Puno night service) many tourists have been robbed over the years. As far as violent attacks go, you’re probably safer in Peru than in New York, Sydney or London. And as for terrorism – as the South American Explorers’ Club once described it – “the visitor, when considering his safety, would be better off concentrating on how to avoid being run over in the crazed Lima traffic”
Theft
The dangers of pickpockets and robberies cannot be over emphasized, though the situation does seem to have improved since the dark days of the late 1980s. Without encouraging a permanent state of paranoia and constant watchfulness in busy…
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Terrorism
Terrorism is much less of a problem in Peru these days than it was in the 1980s and 1990s. You can get up-to-date information on the situation in each region from the South American Explorers’ Club, Peruvian Embassies abroad or your embassy in Lima….
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The police
Most of your contact with the police will, with any luck, be at frontiers and controls. Depending on your personal appearance and the prevailing political climate the police at these posts ( Guardia Nacional and Aduanas) …
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The tourist police
If you’re unlucky enough to have anything stolen, your first port of call should be the tourist police ( policia de turismo). Bear in mind that the police in popular tourist spots, such as Cusco, have become much stricter about…
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