Practical Information for visiting Peru

Peru uses the sol (PEN). Cards work in Lima, Cusco and larger hotels and restaurants; markets, small towns, taxis and most rural transactions are cash, and small denominations are genuinely useful.

Use ATMs inside banks or shopping centres. Check notes for damage — torn or heavily worn notes are frequently refused by businesses, which catches visitors out.

Tipping is modest: rounding up, or about ten per cent in a tourist-facing restaurant. Trekking guides, cooks and porters are tipped, and on the Inca Trail this is an established and significant part of their pay.

Coverage for mobile networks is good in cities and along main roads, absent in much of the Amazon and on high trekking routes. Peru is outside European roaming arrangements; local SIMs are cheap and sold at the airport and in any town.

Wi-fi is standard in accommodation. Domestic flights cover the long distances, and the Lima-to-Cusco route is the busiest; overland bus services are extensive and the better companies are comfortable, if slow, given the terrain.

Peru's major tourist circuits — Lima's tourist districts, Cusco and Machu Picchu — are visited safely by millions each year. But the country carries a high degree of caution overall for crime and for the social conflicts and strikes that occur across it, and there is real regional variation.

Where the lines are drawn. All travel is advised against in parts of the VRAEM — provinces of Abancay, Andahuaylas and Chincheros in Apurímac, Huanta and La Mar in Ayacucho, and the districts of Pichari, Quimbiri and Vilcabamba in La Convención, Cusco. Non-essential travel is advised against to the Upper Huallaga River Valley, for domestic terrorism and drug trafficking, robbery, kidnapping, extortion and raids; to within 20 km of the Colombian border, for gang violence and organised crime tied to drug trafficking and illegal mining; and to within 20 km of the Ecuadorian border, because of landmines and unmarked minefields — except the Tumbes crossing and the Panamerican Highway. Remnants of the Shining Path remain active in some of the main coca-growing areas.

Counterfeit money in both sol and US dollars is a growing and serious problem and is widely distributed, including by banks, casinos and local stores. Avoid street moneychangers, who may carry fakes or work with pickpockets.

Theft occurs frequently in crowded public places, with Arequipa, Cusco, Lima and Puno named. Do not travel alone, especially after dark; be particularly vigilant at bus terminals and in taxis; be careful accepting rides or invitations from strangers or recent acquaintances; and if robbed, hand over cash and valuables without resistance. Withdraw cash from ATMs inside banks during service hours.

Taxis and fake officials. Criminals posing as taxi drivers often rob tourists on the routes to and from the main airports, including Lima's Jorge Chávez International, and at bus terminals, and thieves also pose as police officers to win a victim's confidence. Use authorised cabs from inside airport terminals and bus stations, or a reputable company or app; do not hail on the street. Express kidnappings involving tourists have occurred — usually a few hours, forced ATM withdrawals, mostly at night but also in daylight.

Trails. Assaults have occurred along the Inca Trail and in the Huaraz region of the Cordillera Blanca — hike in groups. Each year hikers and climbers suffer serious and sometimes fatal accidents in the Andes: trails may be steep, slippery and poorly marked and maintained, and some hikers have become lost on trails around Machu Picchu. Stay on marked trails, consider a registered guide from a reputable company, know the symptoms of altitude illness, dehydration and heatstroke, and share your itinerary.

Water. There have been several recent white-water rafting accidents and drownings involving tourists, particularly on the Urubamba River near Cusco. Companies, guides and equipment may not be held to the standards you are used to, and rescue services are limited.

Strikes occur frequently, often with little or no notice, and expand quickly from one region to another. They disrupt transport and services and can cut your ability to travel to or leave isolated destinations such as Machu Picchu; trains are also disrupted by derailments. Protests happen in Lima's historic centre and in Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cusco, La Libertad, Madre de Dios and Puno.

Altitude is a real risk above 2,500 metres, and in many Peruvian tourist areas it changes quickly — Ayacucho, Cusco, Huaraz, Puno, Lake Titicaca and the Colca Canyon are named. It can be life-threatening and may require immediate medical evacuation.

Natural hazards: Peru is seismically active, and the Amazon's rainy season brings flooding and disruption to river-dependent areas.

Emergency numbers: 105 police, 116 medical assistance and fire.

Altitude is the main health issue in Peru and is frequently underestimated. You are at risk above 2,500 metres, and in many areas of Peru — including tourist areas — altitude changes quickly: Ayacucho, Cusco, Huaraz, Puno, Lake Titicaca and the Colca Canyon are all named. Cusco is at about 3,400 metres and Puno higher still. You are more at risk if you ascend quickly, or exercise or drink alcohol before you are used to the altitude. Altitude sickness affects fit and unfit people alike. It can be life-threatening and may require immediate medical evacuation — seek medical attention at a lower altitude if symptoms develop. Coca tea is the local remedy and is legal here. Serious cases require descent, not endurance.

Medical care varies sharply. Private hospitals and clinics in urban centres are well staffed and equipped; public hospitals and rural facilities lack basic resources and supplies, access to mental health services is limited even in cities, and most healthcare providers speak only Spanish. Serious injury or illness in a remote area may require evacuation to the nearest adequate facility within the country, and the provider often expects immediate cash or card payment, or confirmation of payment from an insurance company. Comprehensive insurance covering evacuation and hospital stays matters here more than in most places, given the altitudes and the distances.

Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for Amazon travel and required by some neighbouring countries afterwards. Hepatitis A and typhoid are commonly advised.

Zika is present, is spread mainly by mosquito bite but can also be sexually transmitted, and can cause serious birth defects; anyone pregnant or planning a pregnancy should discuss the risks before travelling.

Do not drink tap water. Take care with raw food outside good restaurants, though ceviche in a reputable place is fine.

Coca leaf is legal in Peru and widely used; carrying it across borders, including home, is not, and it will test positive for cocaine metabolites.

Removing archaeological material is a serious offence, and antiquities may not be exported.

Ask before photographing people, particularly in the highlands, and expect that people in traditional dress posing near tourist sites do so for a fee, which should be agreed first.

Machu Picchu has strict rules: timed entry, set circuits, no re-entry, no large bags, no drones, no walking poles without rubber tips. They are enforced.

Watch what you are paid in. Counterfeit sol and US dollar notes are widely distributed, including by banks, casinos and local stores, and street moneychangers may carry fakes or work with pickpockets. Refusing a suspect note is normal here, not rude.

Not everyone in a uniform is in one. Thieves pose as police officers to gain the confidence and cooperation of potential victims, and criminals pose as taxi drivers on the airport routes. Use authorised cabs from inside terminals.

Peru does not use a single number. 105 reaches the national police and 116 covers medical assistance and the fire service. English-speaking operators are not guaranteed.

The tourist police are the practical first contact for theft, lost documents and disputes, and larger tourist centres have an office. There is a tourist police WhatsApp line on +51 980 122 335.

Medical. Private hospitals and clinics in the cities are well staffed and equipped; public and rural facilities lack basic resources, and most providers speak only Spanish. Serious injury or illness in a remote area may require evacuation to the nearest adequate facility in the country, and clinic, hospital and evacuation costs can be high with immediate cash or card payment, or confirmation from your insurer, expected.

Altitude. Above 2,500 metres you are at risk, and in many tourist areas altitude changes quickly. High-altitude illness can be life-threatening and may require immediate medical evacuation; seek medical attention at a lower altitude if symptoms develop rather than continuing up.

On treks, rescue is arranged through your operator rather than a public service, which is one reason to use a reputable one and to carry insurance that covers evacuation. Stay on marked trails, consider a registered guide, and share your itinerary with someone.

Strikes and blockades start with little or no notice and spread quickly between regions, and they can cut access to isolated places including Machu Picchu. Check before committing to a fixed date.