Travel Safely Around Peru
Peru has been a popular tourist destination, but has not always enjoyed a reputation for safe travel. However, Peru has become a safer place to visit. These days, more and more adventurous travelers are enjoying the diverse cultures, ancient civilizations, and fascinating jungles of Peru. This article explains the best way to travel through Peru while minimizing potential risks.
Steps
- Prepare yourself for entering into a land where over 90% of the population speaks only Spanish. Basic Spanish classes are recommended for a full, more confident experience in Peru. Travelers can get by without Spanish while within their tour groups, but one does miss a lot of the overall experience. Learning Spanish in groups or as a family can be really fun, and putting it into practice in Spanish-speaking countries can be really satisfying.
- Research the destinations in Peru that you plan to see. The most popular destinations are Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca (Puno), Nasca and the adventure-filled jungles. All these places have well established tourist circuits, and it is advisable to stick to these for easier and safer travel.
- Consult with your physician three months in advance and receive all relevant inoculations, some of which may be administered over an interval of weeks or months. If you are just traveling to Lima, you will probably not need yellow fever or malaria medications. The risk of disease is higher in rural areas, however.
- Watch what you eat. It is very common for tourists to get food poisoning in Peru.To play it safe, do not drink the tap water (only bottled) and use bottled water to brush your teeth.
- Purchase pharmaceutical food grade chlorine treatment drops that is processed and packaged for agriculture and food processing. Do not eat the skin on fruit or vegetables. You can find them in most local pharmacies or leading food store chains. Ask your doctor for a prescription for antibiotics to treat traveler diarrhea to bring, just in case.
- Practice good street smarts that are advisable for any area where theft is an issue. Try not to display any signs of wealth. Don't carry a lot of cash. Spread it out on you so that if you do get mugged, you can give some of it away and have another cache somewhere on you. Be on the alert for bogus taxis. Use only registered cabs. The tourist board recommends that you never sit in the front seat of a taxi. Sit in the back seat directly behind the driver.
- Stick to the main tourist sections of the cities. For example, in Lima stay near the safe and well policed area of Miraflores. In Cusco keep your family in the center around the Main Square where it's relatively safe. Wherever you are, be aware of your kids' whereabouts.
- Be prepared for the high altitude in areas like Cusco. The air is extremely dry, and you may experience dryness of the nose and lips. It is recommended that you drink at least {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} of water a day and use lip balm.
- The high altitude can also give you mild headaches. Don’t over-exert yourself, and drink lots of water until you adjust. Give yourself time to acclimate before doing anything strenuous. Ask your doctor about medication that will help you acclimate (e.g. Diamox). The locals often recommend drinking coca tea as a remedy.
- Exchange your money at banks, or pull it out of an ATM. Do not exchange cash with people on the street as they may give you fake cash. If you bring cash to exchange, get bills that are in as perfect condition as possible. Often, if you go to your bank and ask a teller, they will give you bills that are in tip top shape. Many places in Peru will not accept dollar bills that have any signs of wear and tear, even just a tiny tear along the edge.
- Bring a counterfeit money marker along with you and strike a distinguishable pattern line across every stacked fan of bills as you hand them to the cash-handler. Make clear and carefully controlled display of the way you present, count, and exchange currency, document notes, and proof of payments.
- Do this as a display of your integrity and respect. This avoids offensive misunderstandings of mistrust and the opportunity to be scammed.
Tips
- Lima taxi drivers and Peruvian businessmen in general will often try to charge tourists twice the usual rate for their goods and services. (They call it the "Gringo Tax".) Be ready to haggle.
Things You'll Need
- Travel Towel
- Lip Balm
- Sun Cream
- Breathable clothing
- Light-weight, breathable coats
- Soles or Dollars
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