SAFETY

Peru recognizes that tourism plays an important part in its developing economy and has taken great steps in the last few years to improve its security record. You will find a lot more police, especially plain clothed officers, in the towns and cities most frequently visited by tourists.
Personal security is a very subjective thing to talk about. If we say that Peru is totally safe, then travellers will take fewer precautions; If we say that it is dangerous, then a huge number of potential travellers will avoid Peru and miss out on one of the most beautiful countries in  the world.
The possibility of being assaulted can be greatly reduced by taking a few simple precautions:

• When taking taxis from an airport to your hotel, travel in the more expensive airport taxis and ensure that the drivers have official identification. Never take a taxi waiting outside the airport grounds.
• When travelling from your hotel to the airport, go with a taxi recommended by the hotel.
• Try not to arrive in a new city or town late at night.
• Learn the basics in Spanish before you arrive in Peru. Dont expect that people will speak English.
• Keep your valuables hidden.
• Avoid going on your own to remote areas/ruins where tourist would be expected to go. Seek local advice or take a guide.
• Read the guide books and talk with other tourists to find out which areas are best avoided.
• When leaving discos late at night take a taxi home no matter how close your hostel is.
• When arriving in a new town, keep to your original plan and stay in the hostel that you have decided on. Dont let the taxi driver persuade you that your hostel is fully booked and that he knows a cheaper and better one. He will be working on commission and the hostel probably wont be in a safe part of town.
• On public transport have your day pack close to you at all times, preferably with the straps around your legs or padlocked to the luggage rack.
• When putting your bag down on the floor, to take a photo or just to sit in a café, remember to put your foot through the strap.

The above precautions are not overly complicated and will soon become second nature. They are basic precautions to avoid being robbed, not just in Peru, but anywhere in the world ... even in your own home town.

If, at the end of the day, you are unfortunate enough to be robbed … just accept it as a travel experience. Make sure that you have good insurance and that you ve read the small print before arriving in Peru so you know what is required to make a successful claim.  Finally dont let it spoil your holiday and dont suddenly believe that every Peruvian is a thief. The overwhelming majority are kind, honest, hardworking people who detest the thieves probably more than you do – when they get robbed they usually dont have insurance!