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Peru is considered a safe country to visit, but travelers should exercise caution in most areas and avoid dangerous zones and neighborhoods. Travelers should also familiarize themselves with the current state of civil unrest.
Protests broke out across Peru in December 2022. People’s anger over inequality and rising prices, especially in impoverished rural areas, was the main reason for the protests.
The trigger was the decision by the Peruvian Congress to impeach former President Pedro Castillo.. Before the impeachment vote, Castillo tried to illegally dissolve Congress to maintain control. He was subsequently taken to prison and is still there.
Castillo’s vice president, Dina Boluarte, assumed the presidency after his arrest. According to CNN, the opposition is calling for new elections, Bolwart’s resignation, a new constitution and Castillo’s release. They are also demanding responsibility for the injuries and deaths caused by the security forces during the peaceful demonstration.
Latest security updates and news from Peru:
May 10 – Peru’s overall advisory level has decreased according to the US Department of State
Peru’s alert level has been downgraded to level 2, urging travelers to “exercise extreme caution,” according to the government. The change is due to a reduction in crime and civil unrest in certain parts of the country. The stability of the country creates a favorable environment for tourists. This safety improvement allows visitors to fully enjoy Peru’s natural beauty and popular cultural and recreational sites such as the famous Machu Picchu.
Although the country’s overall alert level has been lowered, travel advisories still list the following “no-travel” areas.
- A region on the Colombia-Peru border in Loreto due to crime.
- In Crime and Terrorism, the Valley of the Apurmac, In and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM), which includes the departments of Ayacucho, Cusco, Huancavelica and Junin.
- The Puno region, which includes Lake Titicaca and the Apurimac region of Peru, due to civil unrest.
April 6 – Authorities have renewed the state of emergency until April 19
The state of emergency in the Libertad department has been extended by the authorities until at least April 19. The departments of Amazonas and Tanka were originally included in La Libertad’s state of emergency, but since the extension only applied to La Libertad, those departments were allowed to expire the state of emergency. As of now, the following areas are still under state of emergency.
- “Padre Abad Province, Ucayali Department: At least until March 30
- Departments of Apurimac, Arequipa, Cusco, Moquegua, Puno and Tacna: At least until April
- Ica Department: At least until April 12
- Pan-American Highway, Central Highway, Southern Apurimac-Cusco-Arequipa Highway Corridor and Southern Interoceanic Highway Corridor: at least by April 14
- Condorcanqui and Imaza and Aramango Districts, Department of Amazonas: At least until April 19
- Department of La Libertad at least until April 19
Certain constitutional rights have been suspended under emergency decrees, and the military has been empowered to carry out law enforcement functions such as riot police. All security functions in the Puno department have been handed over to the armed forces. The troops deployed under the emergency declaration are mainly focused on protecting airports and other important infrastructure.
March 7 – Machu Picchu reopens amid protests.
Peru’s Ministry of Culture has opened Machu Picchu to the public after nearly three months of political protests suddenly shifted to the capital.
Government officials have shut down the tourist destination as protesters have damaged train lines, highways and airports in the area. As a result, about 400 tourists were airlifted from the place and settled on the beach.
Demonstrators protesting Castillo’s impeachment blocked roads and halted airport operations weeks later, sparking deadly violence that killed nearly 60 people. The opposition and many Castillo supporters in the capital are calling for Bollaret to step down and for Congress to call early elections.
Is Peru safe to travel now?
The Peruvian government has declared a state of emergency in the provinces of Lima, Cusco, Puno and Callao. even if It does not directly affect touriststhe state of emergency gives the police and military additional powers to control and suppress protesters while suspending some constitutional rights.
In addition, several foreign governments have issued travel warnings. The US State Department has issued a Level 3 travel warning, meaning Americans should reconsider traveling to Peru.
The U.S. Embassy in Peru advises Americans to stay safe:
- Staying away from the public, protests and demonstrations
- Avoid interfering with obstacles.
- Follow any instructions from local authorities or the police.
- Stay tuned for media updates and tips.
- Sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive updates from the United States Embassy in Lima.
Update files:
In the year February 16: Peru’s ‘racist bias’ fueled deadly police response to protests, says Amnesty / Theguardian.com
Amnesty International has confirmed that at least 60 people have been killed in Peru’s use of lethal force against indigenous and campesino protesters who committed racial discrimination. Of the 46 human rights violations, 12 people were shot dead, all victims were shot in the chest, body or head. The investigation includes Lima, Chincheros, Ayacucho and Andahuilas.
January 24 – Peru arrests 200 people in Lima and closes Machu Picchu.
Deadly anti-government protests spread across the country as Peruvian police arrested more than 200 people for trespassing on the campus of a major college in Lima, and authorities in Cusco closed down the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail.
“Given the current social situation in which our region and country are immersed, the Inca Trail network and Machu Picchu have been ordered to close from January 21 and until further notice,” cultural officials in Cusco said in a statement.
Tensions rose again as police clashed with protesters and in Lima security forces used tear gas to disperse crowds. Dozens of Peruvians were wounded again.
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