5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Going to Peru

Few countries in the world compare to Peru’s stunning beauty, cultural patrimony and geographical diversity. With its incredible archeological sites of pre-Colombian civilization, breathtaking mountain ranges, amazing diversity of plant and animal species, beautiful cathedrals and monasteries and unique Andean culture, Peru offers travelers of all styles and interests the journey of a lifetime. From the ruins of Machu Pichu and the jungles of the Amazon to the floating islands of lake Titicaca and the mysterious Nazca Lines, Peru is one the most rewarding countries to travel in the world.
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Peru recognizes that tourism plays an important part in its developing economy and has taken great steps in the last few years to change its poor security record. You’ll find a lot more police, especially plain clothed officers, in the towns and cities most frequently visited by tourists.

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We asked our friends in the travel biz what safety precautions they would tell travelers, have a look below at their replies. If you’ve got some great tips of your own please add them to the comments!
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1. From our Twitter friend @cotisgal: Know your Spanish and surroundings, wear modest attire, limit the jewelry and keep $$ hidden & safe.
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2. Travel with reputable service providers. On every trip to Peru I hear stories from individuals trusting someone representing themselves a local guide or porter, only to discover the guide and their personal belongings gone when the traveler arrives at their destination. All guides must be licensed in Peru. Guides operating inside protected areas, such as Machu Picchu Sanctuary, must also have a special permit from SERNANP (National Service for Protected Area Management).

Rich Tobin, Conservation VIP
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Also, there are many levels of service on the trains; some just for locals, some just for Peruvians, and others for tourists. Most local trains will not let foreigners ride, so don’t assume you can catch any train of your choice–even if you offer to pay full tourist price you often will be denied a ticket, possibly leaving you stranded.
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3. I have lived and worked intermittently for twenty-seven years in the Cusco region and Peru in general, and I would say that I feel safer now than ever. Terrorist activity is practically non-existent. And in regards to thievery, I think the Peruvian people have worked hard to raise the consciousness that foreign visitors need to have a positive experience in Peru, so that tourism will stay strong and people will want to return. It used to be fairly common that a foreign traveler was pick-pocketed in the market, or had his/her backpack slashed and items removed. Petty theivery is much less than it used to be, and public tourist places seem to go out of their way to make a situation safe and comfortable for visitors. Having said that, there are still common rules that one must be aware of: in particularly crowded local areas (like the market, or bus stations) only carry the money you need at the time, and be "mindful" of your camera. It is easy to tell which taxis are legitimate and which ones are not. If a tourist is aware and does not take risks then he/she should be fine.
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In closing, I remember once having a conversation with a US friend who commented, "but…aren’t you scared down there?" and I remember feeling slightly angry and defensive, responding: "The Peruvian people are some of the kindest and helpful people I have ever met."

Holly Wissler, Wilderness Travel

4. Plain-clothed “policemen”: Travelers may encounter a plain-clothed Peruvian claiming to be a policeman. While most such individuals are real policemen, some have turned out to be thieves using this ruse to catch travelers off guard and steal from them. When encountering a Peruvian claiming to be a plain-clothed policemen, do not give him any valuable papers, and insist on going straight to the local police station by foot.

GeckoGo.com
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5. 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. Excluding precious photos, most things can be replaced in Peru. Finally don’t let it spoil your holiday and don’t 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 don’t have insurance!

Andean Web

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