Safety in Lima and Cusco: fake taxis, express kidnapping and theft

Travelling to Peru as a couple can be wonderful: coast, history, mountains and great food. It also demands reading the official advice before you land. This guide gathers, without drama, what the UK Foreign Office (FCDO) publishes on safety in Lima, Cusco and other cities, and turns it into concrete habits. It does not replace your own government's advice: check it before departure and re-check the situation on the day.

What the FCDO says about street theft

Street crime, including muggings and theft, is a significant problem in Lima, Cusco, Arequipa and other large cities. There have been armed robberies of tourists and residents, even in Miraflores and Barranco. The official tips are simple and they work:

• Do not display expensive items: watches, cameras, jewellery.
• Do not use your phone in the street: it can be snatched from a motorbike.
• Use cash machines inside banks or large shopping centres during business hours.
• Do not walk alone in quiet areas or at night.
• If you are in a car, keep doors locked and windows up at traffic lights, a frequent point of attack.

As a couple, a useful trick is to split the essentials: one card and some cash in each bag, and a printed passport copy stored separately. If you are robbed, handing over what is asked for is usually the prudent choice.

The fake-taxi risk

The biggest practical risk is not on the street but in the ride: the FCDO warns of robberies by fake taxi drivers, especially at Jorge Chávez airport and at bus terminals. The recommendation is clear: use licensed taxi services, by phone or app, and do not hail taxis in the street. Ask your hotel to book the taxi. At the airport, use the official taxi desks just outside the baggage-reclaim area.

Before you get in, check that the vehicle and driver match the app or hotel details, and share your trip with someone. If something does not add up, do not get in.

Express kidnapping: what it is and what to do

The FCDO describes "express kidnapping" as a detention to force cash-machine withdrawals, usually at night, which tends to involve fake taxi drivers or drivers linked to gangs. The official instruction if it happens is not to resist, to comply with demands and to report it to the police as soon as possible. It is not a situation for negotiating or improvised bravery: the aim is to get out unharmed.

The best prevention is logistics. Go home by booked transport, avoid coming back late and alone, and do not accept transport offers from people who approach you at a venue door.

Protests, road blocks and trains

Protests are unpredictable and can escalate quickly. They cause road blocks, transport disruption (including trains) and suspension of immigration services at land borders, often without warning. The FCDO has recently cited Lima (especially the historic centre), Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cusco, La Libertad, Madre de Dios and Puno. Southern trains, including those to Machu Picchu, are sometimes suspended or altered.

What to do: book with flexible cancellation, leave a spare day before an international flight, carry water, food, local cash and medication, and avoid gatherings. It is illegal for foreigners to take part in political activity, including demonstrations against the government, and you can be detained or deported. The British Embassy's ability to help in these cases is very limited.

Drugs and "courier" scams

Drug use and trafficking carry long prison sentences, and Peruvian prisons are in very poor condition. Pack your own bag, carry no one else's luggage and do not take coca leaves or tea out of the country. There are email scams from supposed "couriers" asking you to travel to Peru to collect items containing drugs; anyone who accepts can end up arrested for trafficking.

Areas to avoid and earthquakes

The FCDO advises against travel to some parts of Peru unless essential; risk is higher in border areas with Ecuador, Colombia and Brazil and in the Apurímac, Ene and Mantaro rivers valley (VRAEM), where remnants of Shining Path remain active in coca-growing areas. Always check the regional risk section. Peru also lies in an active seismic zone with frequent tremors: learn your lodging's evacuation route.

And the lifestyle scene

We found no official sources documenting swinger venues in Lima or Cusco, so we publish none. If someone invites you to a private party by messaging with a private individual's address, treat it as a red flag: it matches the scam patterns the advisories describe. Keep consent and communication as on any other trip, and do not separate at night.

Quick checklist before you go

• Taxi booked from the airport and first hotel night confirmed.
• Printed passport copy and photos of documents stored safely.
• Travel insurance with local medical care and evacuation.
• Local cash, water and medication for possible blockades.
• Vaccines checked at least eight weeks ahead.

FAQ

Is Miraflores safe? It is a comfortable tourist area, but the FCDO records armed robberies even there.

Can I hail a taxi on the street? Not recommended; order by phone, app or through your hotel.

What do I do in an express kidnapping? Do not resist, comply with demands and report it as soon as possible.

Do trains to Machu Picchu always run? No: the FCDO says they are sometimes suspended because of protests.