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Threat assessment · Peru
Cusco / Machu Picchu
Our rating, plus the advisories, health notices, emergency numbers and crime data behind it, from official sources checked Oct 20, 2026.
Nepsis threat assessment
Cusco / Machu Picchu
Reviewed Oct 20, 2026. Scored with our published method; never below the State Department level.
Crime and scams and Transit and roads set the level.
Top actions
- Avoid displaying expensive items, and keep your phone away from the roadside where motorbike thieves snatch them.
- Use pre-booked or official airport taxis on arrival, since criminals sometimes pose as taxi drivers.
- Take your first day in Cusco slowly to adjust to the altitude of nearly 11,000 feet.
Know before you go
Cusco sits at 10,981 feet; in Peru dial 105 for police, 106 for ambulance and 116 for fire.
Official advisories
What governments say right now.
Checked Oct 20, 2026. We link every source so you can read it yourself.
| U.S. State Department | Level 2: Exercise increased caution (updated Sep 3, 2026) Read it → |
|---|---|
| UK Foreign Office (FCDO) | Last updated Oct 9, 2026. Latest change: Removal of information about local elections ('Warnings and insurance' page). Read it → |
| CDC health notices | No active CDC travel health notice for this country. CDC travel notices → |
| Emergency numbers | Ambulance: 106 · Fire: 116 · Police: 105 |
| Main airport | CUZ, LIM |
Crime and scams
What the UK Foreign Office advises.
Excerpt from UK FCDO travel advice, lightly trimmed for travelers outside the UK. This advice covers all of Peru, not only Cusco / Machu Picchu. Full FCDO safety advice →
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Organised crime
There is a higher risk to your safety in areas where there is serious organised crime linked to drug production. This includes the border areas with Ecuador, Colombia and Brazil and the Valley of Apurímac, Ene and Mantaro rivers ( VRAEM ). Remnants of the Shining Path guerrilla group are still active in some of the main coca growing areas in central Peru (Alto Huallaga, Aguaytia and VRAEM river basins).
Street crime
Street crime, including muggings and thefts, is a significant problem in Lima, Cusco, Arequipa and other major cities. Be alert in public places and when withdrawing cash from ATMs.
It is safer to use ATMs inside banks, supermarkets or large commercial buildings during business hours. Do not walk on your own in quiet areas or at night.
- avoid wearing or displaying expensive items
- avoid using your phone at the roadside, as motorbike riders may snatch it
- report crimes to local police as soon as possible
- ask lodge or hotel staff for help if an incident happens on site
Criminals target cars stopped at traffic lights. Keep your doors locked and windows shut while driving.
Protecting your belongings
Petty crime, such as pickpocketing and bag-snatching, is common, so:
- keep your belongings secure
- do not leave bags unattended
- on bus journeys, keep your passport with you
Fake taxi drivers
There is a risk of robbery by criminals posing as taxi drivers, especially at Jorge Chavez International Airport and bus terminals. Fake taxi drivers and thieves pretending to be tour operators sometimes approach arriving passengers. To reduce your risk:
- use licensed telephone or app-based taxi services
- do not hail taxis on the street
- ask your hotel to book taxis for you
- use one of the official taxi companies at the airport, located at desks directly outside the baggage hall
- use one of the taxis registered at bus terminals
Kidnappings and hold-ups
Tourists, especially those travelling alone, are at risk of ‘express
What this page is
Built on official data.
Our rating above is built on the official government and police data on this page, checked Oct 20, 2026. It does not replace your government's advisory. Planning a trip here? A Nepsis kit turns it into an arrival plan you can carry. See the kits.