Recent signals
Foreign-ministry advisories
Practical guidance
What the crime sub-score means for you
Peru’s crime sub-score sits at 62/100 (moderate band). That number is anchored on UNODC homicide statistics plus the urban-pattern detail foreign-ministry advisories add, so it captures the national baseline rather than tonight on your specific street. National rates are dominated by domestic and organised-crime violence that visitors rarely encounter; the question for a tourist is not “is the country dangerous” but “what crime patterns target tourists here, and in which neighbourhoods.” The country safety guide goes neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood; this page is the headline.
Crime patterns that affect travellers
The five recurring patterns across most destinations: opportunistic pickpocketing in transit hubs and at landmarks; taxi overcharging and unmetered fares (use Uber, Bolt, Grab, or the local equivalent); ATM card skimming (use machines inside bank branches in daytime); distraction scams targeting groups at bars and clubs; and bag or phone snatching from passing scooters in dense urban areas. In Peru the specific variant matters: the safety guide covers which districts and which times of day concentrate the risk. One generalisable rule: keep a backup card and a small cash reserve in a separate location from your wallet so a single loss doesn’t strand you.
If something happens
Report at the nearest police station within 24 hours; you need the police report for any insurance claim. Most travel-insurance policies require it within 48 hours and reject claims without one. For passport loss, contact your embassy or consulate; emergency travel documents typically take 24 to 72 hours to issue. The Field Manual guide Staying safe in cities, anywhere covers the 11-habit urban-safety baseline that applies regardless of destination.
Related for Peru
Long-form context
Peru is broadly safe for travellers on the standard tourist circuit (Lima coastal districts, Cusco and the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, the Inca and Salkantay treks, Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Puno and Lake Titicaca, the northern beaches, the Amazon at Iquitos and Puerto Maldonado) and uniformly listed at the standard tier of caution by every major foreign ministry, with partial-area warnings for the VRAEM coca-trafficking region and certain border zones. The structural risks are concentrated and addressable: Cusco-altitude acclimatisation (3,400 m, higher than Machu Picchu itself), the Lima petty-crime baseline and express-kidnap pattern, periodic political demonstrations that paralysed Cusco and Puno through 2023 and 2024, the Inca Trail permit logistics that need months of lead time, gastric and altitude considerations, and rabies and yellow fever exposure on Amazon itineraries. This guide unpacks the entry mechanics, the regional risk map, the altitude logic, the political-demonstration calendar context, the Machu Picchu access mechanics, and the practical contacts that shape a Peruvian itinerary.
Frequently asked about Peru
What is the crime rate in Peru?
Peru's crime sub-score is 62/100, anchored on UNODC homicide statistics plus the urban-pattern detail foreign-ministry advisories add. National rates are dominated by domestic and organised-crime violence visitors rarely encounter; traveller-targeted crime (pickpocketing, scams, ATM skimming, taxi overcharging) follows different patterns. The country safety guide breaks it down neighbourhood by neighbourhood.
Is Peru safe for tourists?
Peru's overall Safe Trip Score is 58/100 (heightened risk). Tourist safety depends on which neighbourhoods, what time of day, and what activity. The five recurring patterns travellers encounter most: pickpocketing in transit hubs, taxi overcharging, ATM skimming, distraction scams at bars, bag snatching by scooter. The country safety guide covers which districts and times concentrate the risk.
What are the most common scams in Peru?
The recurring travel-scam patterns globally: unmetered taxis, fake police asking for "passport inspection", distraction theft at restaurants, ATM skimmers, and "free" tour offers that pressure you into expensive purchases. The country safety guide and the Field Manual urban-safety guide cover the specific variants reported in Peru.