is PERU a safe place for a vacation? Are mugging, thefts, kidnapping prevalent in Lima, cuzco, and nezca?

Question

planning to go there at the end of this month and a little bit apprehensive about leaving my tour group to fly to Nezca to see the nezca lines.

Answer 1

I'm peruvian and no, Peru is not a violent place. Peru is as safe as any other country in the world. Nazca (not Nezca) is not dangerous also but I recommend you contact a travel agent to fly the Nazca lines as people can easily con you if they see you are a tourist flying on your own without your tour group.
Lima, Cuzco and Nazca are safe places. Kidnapping are rare, muggings and thefts are there if you give robbers the opportunity. Dont flash around the fact that you're a tourist, stick with a group and dont go alone to places at night. This is something any person will do in any country in the world. Cuzco is much safer than Lima for the fact that it's a city that lives on tourism and as it's much smaller they have more police and more control.
If you're going alone to Nazca, try contacting Lima Tours, one of the best agencies in Peru (www.limatours.com.pe) for information on how to fly, which company, etc. Dont go to Nazca on your own, if no one in your tour party wants to go join another tour party via a travel agency.
Morgan (another answerer) painta a pretty horrible picture of what Lima is. I've been living all my life in Lima and it is not like that, believe me.

Answer 2

I have been to both Lima and Cuzco twice in the past two years. I would have to say that Lima wasn't exactly a fortress. The cab driver told us to take all watches, necklaces etc. off prior to going to the main square for "our safety". I have been all over the world especially C. and South America and wouldn't exactly call Lima safe. Cuzco is well protected within the main square but be aware of thieves of all ages (yep, even those young ones). For the most part they do not allow the kids to hustle in the square. You will be safe on the Bus ride to see the lines but always take your belongings along with you when you get to the rest areas. We lost a bag on that route. Most of all relax. I am sure you could point out areas within your own town you would tell people not to go. Peru is no different.

Answer 3

I went there in 2003 for 16 days. I went to Lima, Cuzco, Inca Trail, Arequipa, Pisco, Nazca and back to Lima. I heard and read a lot of scary stories online so I had some ideas what might happen. Do some research online. Prepare yourself if the same thing happen to you. If you sit in a car, lock the door and put your bag right next to your feet. Don't put it on the seat. I also don't wear any jewelery including watch and I use a money belt. Everything worked out great and I had a blast. Just use common sense and be cautious.

Answer 4

Peru is a safe place but has some dangerous zones, you should ask for advise to guide or people of the hotels in the city you travel so you will avoid dangerous places and enjoy the beauty of Peru.
If you plan to leave your tour group to go to Nazca I suggest not to go alone and to go in a group. Ask for advise for a good hotel and a good plane company I've never seen the Nazca lines But I'm sure it's worth the trip.
Have fun.

Answer 5

Yes Peru is a really safe place 4 vacation especially if you want to go tu Cuzco and Nazca.

Answer 6

Here are some sites you should visit for information:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_998.html
http://www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=45280
http://www.einnews.com/peru/newsfeed-peru-crime
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Peru

This is only a snippet of what you will find there:

Violent crime, including carjacking, assault, and armed robbery is common in Lima. Resistance to violent crime often provokes greater violence, while victims who do not resist usually do not suffer serious physical harm. "Express kidnappings," in which criminals kidnap victims and seek to obtain funds from their bank accounts via automatic teller machines, occur frequently. Thieves often smash car windows at traffic lights to grab jewelry, purses, backpacks, or other visible items from a car. This type of assault is common on main roads leading to Lima's Jorge Chavez International Airport, specifically along De la Marina and Faucett Avenues and Via de Evitamiento, but it can occur anywhere in congested traffic, particularly in downtown Lima. Travelers are encouraged to put all belongings, including purses, in the trunk of a car or taxi. Passengers who hail taxis on the street have been assaulted. Following the May 2003 armed robbery of a U.S. Embassy employee by a taxi driver, the Embassy’s Regional Security Officer advised all embassy personnel not to hail taxis on the street. It is safer to use telephone-dispatched radio taxis or car services associated with major hotels. Travelers should guard against the theft of luggage and other belongings, particularly U.S. passports, at the Lima airport.

Travel agencies only get paid if you travel, it's telling that each and every one I visited had dire warnings regarding travel to this county.

Answer 7

No place in the world is absolutely safe, but Peru is far safer than the US as far as mugging, kidnapping and other violent crimes go; only with non-violent pickpocketing theft is it worse in Peru than the US.

Answer 8

You'll be very comforted to see all the fellow tourists there doing the same things you had intended. As far as crime goes, I worried about it far, far less while I was there (by myself) than I am at home in Georgia. Don't worry...we always get a little anxiety before crossing borders.

Good luck

Answer 9

i honestly dont think so but you should try Bolivia!

Answer 10

No