travel news peru

Security Alert May 17, 2024

Worldwide caution, update may 10, 2024, information for u.s. citizens in the middle east.

• Travel Advisories |
• Contact Us |
• MyTravelGov |

Find U.S. Embassies & Consulates

Travel.state.gov, congressional liaison, special issuance agency, u.s. passports, international travel, intercountry adoption, international parental child abduction, records and authentications, popular links, travel advisories, mytravelgov, stay connected, legal resources, legal information, info for u.s. law enforcement, replace or certify documents.

Share this page:

Peru Travel Advisory

Travel advisory november 15, 2023, peru - level 2: exercise increased caution.

Last Update: Reissued with updates to crime information.

Exercise increased caution due to  crime, civil unrest, and the possibility of kidnapping . Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Do not travel to:

• The Colombian-Peruvian border area in the Loreto Region due to  crime .
• The Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM), including areas within the Departments of Ayacucho, Cusco, Huancavelica, and Junin, due to  crime  and  terrorism .

Country Summary : Crime, including petty theft, carjackings, muggings, assaults, and other violent crime, is common in Peru and can occur during daylight hours despite the presence of many witnesses. Kidnapping is rare, but does occur. The risk of crime increases at night. Organized criminal groups have been known to use roadblocks to rob victims in areas outside of the capital city of Lima.

Demonstrations occur regularly throughout the country. Public demonstrations can take place for a variety of political and economic issues. Demonstrations can cause the shutdown of local roads, trains, and major highways, often without prior notice or estimated reopening timelines. Road closures may significantly reduce access to public transportation and airports and may disrupt travel both within and between cities.

U.S. travelers participating in Ayahuasca and Kambo ceremonies should be aware that numerous persons, including U.S. citizens, have reported that while under the influence of these substances, they have witnessed or been victims of sexual assault, rape, theft, serious health problems and injuries, and even death.

Currently, U.S. government personnel cannot travel freely throughout Peru for security reasons . Read the  country information page  for additional information on travel to Peru.

If you decide to travel to Peru:

• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Monitor local media for breaking events and adjust your plans as needed.
• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program  ( STEP ) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter .
• Follow the U.S. Embassy on  Facebook  and  Twitter .
• Review the U.S. Embassy  webpage .
• Review the  Country Security Report  for Peru.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .
• Visit the CDC page for the latest  Travel Health Information  related to your travel.

Colombian-Peruvian border area in the Loreto Region – Level 4: Do Not Travel

Drug trafficking and other criminal activity, combined with poor infrastructure, limits the capability and effectiveness of Peruvian law enforcement in this area.

The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens as U.S. government personnel are restricted from traveling within 20 kilometers of the border with Colombia in the Loreto region, except on the Amazon River itself, without permission. This includes travel on the Putumayo River, which forms most of the Peru-Colombia border.

U.S. government personnel must receive advance permission for any travel to the Peruvian-Colombian border.

Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM) includes areas within the Departments of Ayacucho, Cusco, Huancavelica, and Junin – Level 4: Do Not Travel

Remnants of the Shining Path terrorist group are active in the VRAEM. The group may attack with little or no warning, targeting Peruvian government installations and personnel.

Drug trafficking and other criminal activity, combined with poor infrastructure, limit the capability and effectiveness of Peruvian law enforcement in this area.

U.S. government personnel are restricted from traveling in the VRAEM except for certain areas during daylight hours. U.S. government personnel must receive advance permission for any travel to the VRAEM. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens due to these travel restrictions.

Visit our website for  Travel to High-Risk Areas .

Travel Advisory Levels

Assistance for u.s. citizens, search for travel advisories, external link.

You are about to leave travel.state.gov for an external website that is not maintained by the U.S. Department of State.

Links to external websites are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as an endorsement by the U.S. Department of State of the views or products contained therein. If you wish to remain on travel.state.gov, click the "cancel" message.

You are about to visit:

Are you sure you want to close the session?

La cuenta ya se encuentra activa

Or enter your e-mail:

Recover your offer

We will send you a 4-digit code shortly

Enter the 4-digit code and your new password

Enter your search here

Credit: Shutterstock

Every experience is uniquely special

Cultural history.

Experiential

Entertainment

What is the most remarkable vestige of the past in Latin America?

The obvious answer would be Machu Picchu… And, of course, it certainly is. But we believe there are many more. Throughout Peru you can find marvelous vestiges of the past that astonish the world’s travelers. Machu Picchu is a must-see destination, but Peru is also home to Kuelap and Chavin de Huantar, Caral and Chan Chan , the Nasca Lines and Sipan … and we could name even more!

City tour in Cusco’s historic center

Visit the magical sights of the imperial city

Lima city tour + museums

Lima’s museums

The Moche Route tour

Where ancestral knowledge seems boundless

These are the most searched destinations!

Where the Inca empire was born

Where tradition is today’s trend

A desert, all experiences

Living empire

Fascinating volcanic land

Peru around the world

Be amazed by the diversity of our natural, cultural and historic richness.

The latest updates from Peru: Everything you need to know

Learn about the new circuits of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu ...

The Peruvian Wonder will also have a new ticket sales channel, as well as a larger c ... ...

Arequipa stands out for its gastronomic tradition at National Geographic Travel ...

The specialized website emphasized the large tradition and legacy of the culinary cu ... ...

Peru, the best international destination in the world ...

The second edition of the 2024 National Geographic Traveler Readers Awards rec ... ...

Peru will present its best tourist offerings at ITB Berlin ...

The Peruvian charm once again reaches Europe. ...

This site uses cookies: Learn more

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes

Peru's Machu Picchu Is Making a Big Change for 2024 — Here's What Travelers Need to Know

The change is effective Jan. 1, 2024.

Rory Fuller/Travel + Leisure

Peru's famous Machu Picchu is an iconic destination in South America. Dubbed "the lost city of the Incas," the 15th-century citadel was discovered in 1911 by American explorer Hiram Bingham and was later designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. The ruins only allow a maximum of 3,800 visitors per day, but that's slated to change in the new year.

Local government officials recently announced that Machu Picchu will accept more visitors — as many as 4,500 guests per day — starting Jan. 1, 2024. According to Peru's Ministry of Culture , on some days, the site will welcome up to 5,600 daily visitors.

The goal is to help revive Peru's tourism after the pandemic. For reference, Peru reportedly welcomed 4.5 million visitors in 2020 before the pandemic. The country is expected to only have 2.2 million visitors by the end of 2023. (It should be noted that Peru experienced civil unrest earlier this year and officials closed Machu Picchu. As of last month, the U.S. Department of State had a level 2 advisory on the nation.)

According to the officials, conserving the site remains a priority.

“The state-owned Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is an integral part of Peru’s national protected areas system and enjoys protection through several layers of a comprehensive legal framework for both cultural and natural heritage,” UNESCO shares in the description of Machu Picchu . 

The Ministry of Culture also shared on social media that they would increase the enforcement of proper entry times and other rules to protect the integrity of the historical sites. As part of the entry timing system, the tourism office recommends purchasing tickets in advance on the official website , which costs approximately $42.

Related Articles

Learning Peru's Hidden History, From the Cloud Forests of Amazonas to the Volcanic City of Arequipa

By Megan Spurrell

These Ancient Ruins in Peru Have Reopened After More Than a Year's Closure

By Rachel Chang

On an Amazon River Cruise, Slowing Down to the Beat of Nature's Ever-Changing Rhythm

By Lale Arikoglu

Making My Way Through Peru's Sacred Valley—and Bypassing Machu Picchu

Protests in Peru: With Machu Picchu and Airports Closed, What Travelers Need to Know

This Is the Best Restaurant in Latin America

An Intimate, Joyful Look at Daily Life in the Peruvian Andes

A Local’s Guide to Peru

By Chadner Navarro

Recapturing Home on Annual Family Trips to Lima

By Carina Chocano

Some of Peru's Oldest Ruins Are Right in the Middle of Lima

Where To Eat in Peru, According to Gastón Acurio

How Gastón Acurio Transformed Peru Into a Culinary Destination

Your Next Surf Spot Should Be Peru

By Catherine Elton

Machu Picchu Train Crash Injures Dozens

By Meredith Carey

Road Trip: 5 Days in Northern Peru

By Stanley Stewart

Flight Deal: Boston to Peru from $389 Round-Trip

By Sebastian Modak

Bye-Bye, Bucket List: These Trips Don't Have to Be 'Once in a Lifetime'

By Rebecca Misner

Peru's Unlikely Tourism Campaign: These Beautiful Suitcases

By Ryan Craggs

This Travel Photography Workshop In Peru Is Study Abroad For Adults

By Fan Winston

Photography by Gentl & Hyers

How to Hike Peru's Machu Picchu in One Day

By Jordi Lippe-McGraw

'The most nerve-wracking moment': Stranded tourists in Machu Picchu escape deadly protests

Hundreds of tourists who have been stranded in Machu Picchu after Peru launched into violent political unrest last week are being evacuated by the Peruvian government.

Transportation to and from the UNESCO World Heritage Site has been paused since Dec. 15 because of demonstrations in the country.

On Saturday, emergency trains  between the famous tourist attraction and Cuzco, where there is an airport, resumed operations for evacuees, according to PeruRail. Train services are the main way to access Machu Pichcu.

Four helicopters were scheduled to pick up "the most vulnerable foreign tourists" from Aguas Calientes, considered the city for the Machu Picchu ruins, on Saturday, according to the U.S. Embassy in Lima. U.S. citizens were told to visit the Casa de la Cultura in the village by Friday and show their passports if they wanted to flee.

Travel safety: 17 CIA tips on how to think like a spy and stay safe while on vacation

'You always think it won’t happen to you': What is needle spiking, what travelers should know

How were travelers evacuated?

Most travelers stuck in the remote village of Machu Picchu hiked nearly 20 miles by foot to the town of Ollantaytambo. From there people tried to find a driver to take them 45 miles to Cuzco, hoping to get a flight out to Lima or to their final destination.

Tony Hepburn, a real estate agent from Canada, arrived in Machu Picchu on Thursday and was one of the foreigners stranded. Though he was "aware of the political climate" before he left for his trip, he "had no idea it would escalate to that degree," he told USA TODAY. 

When Hepburn and his group arrived in Aguas Calientes, they noticed train station gates being welded closed and boulders on the train tracks. They decided to try to leave the next morning. 

At 5:30 a.m., Hepburn and his group started the trek to Ollantaytambo and persuaded a local to give them a ride before being stopped by a protest barricade. Hepburn said their driver was then attacked by about 50 protesters, which he said was "the most nerve-wracking moment." Hepburn and his group walked down the road to find a new driver and resume their journey.

On the way to Cuzco from Ollantaytambo, which seemed "virtually deserted," Hepburn recalled seeing "boulders, trees and debris strewn all over the roads." 

Hepburn bought flight tickets back to Canada from Cuzco for Monday and Tuesday but "took a gamble" and managed to get flights leaving Sunday night to arrive in Montreal on Monday.

Is the US government assisting in the efforts?

According to a State Department spokesperson, the agency is in touch with U.S. citizens in Peru and is "monitoring the situation closely." The agency also said it's unaware of additional U.S. citizens needing assistance to evacuate Machu Picchu as of Monday.

On Dec. 15, the State Department issued a Level 3: Reconsider Travel advisory  for Peru because of tcrime and civil unrest. 

Political unrest: Peru’s protests have turned deadly

In Peru's Cuzco: COVID-19 pandemic devastates tourism and economy

What is the situation in Peru?

Peru’s new government declared a national emergency Wednesday as it struggled to calm violent protests over President Pedro Castillo's ouster. It suspended the rights of "personal security and freedom" across the Andean nation for 30 days.

Acts of vandalism, violence and highway blockades with thousands of Peruvians in the streets "require a forceful and authoritative response from the government," Defense Minister Luis Otarola Peñaranda said.

Peru has been rocked by nearly a week of political crisis and unrest. At least seven people have died in protests across the country, and 200 police officers have been injured, according to The Associated Press. 

Contributing: Franklin Briceño in Andahuaylas, Peru, and David Pereda and Regina Garcia Cano in Lima for The Associated Press

Travel News from Peru, Cusco and Machu Picchu

If you are planning to come to Peru, Cusco and Machu Picchu are the most popular places to visit. They are known for their Inca Legacy, culture, and stunning scenery. Consider these recommendations during your trip:

Machu Picchu:  It is an ancient Inca citadel located in Peru's highland forests. Machu Picchu is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage site. You can reach it by taking a train from Cusco, and once you get to the town of Aguas Calientes, you can hike uphill or take a bus to the site entrance. The tour takes from 2 to 4 hours.

Entry Requirements: Most visitors require a valid passport with at least six months of remaining validity. Depending on your nationality, you may also require a visa before your trip. For up-to-date information, contact the Peruvian embassy or consulate in your home country for advice.

Trekking and Hiking: The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is one of the most famous trekking routes in the world. You will need to obtain your permits in advance because they sell out quickly. Therefore, it's recommended to make arrangements through an authorized tour operator. Some alternative trails, like the Salkantay Trek or Lares Trek, are more accessible and might suit your interests better.

Altitude Considerations:  Appropriate acclimatization is recommended because Cusco and Machu Picchu are at high altitudes. To avoid altitude sickness, take your time adjusting, drink plenty of water, and consult your healthcare professional if you have any previous medical issues before arriving.

We recommend verifying the current travel situation, restrictions, and any pertinent facts from official sources or travel agencies when planning to travel to Peru. It's also good to check the Peruvian government's and relevant authorities' travel advice and health protocols beforehand.

Inti Raymi 2024 tickets in Cusco SOLD OUT

Cusco to host the 2024 international tourism summit.

Machu Picchu tickets 2024: Available until the end of the year

Festivals in Cusco 2024: 150+ activities to celebrate in June

Festivity of Corpus Christi in Cusco: Why is it so important?

Peru showcases handicrafts and tourism at the Australian Fair

Cusco expects 150,000 tourists for Inti Raymi 2024