We obviously do not want to discourage anyone from Peru, but any crowded tourist area will raise safety concerns and you need to be careful about pickpockets. This means carrying your wallet in your front pocket, rather than your back pocket, and always keeping a purse zipped and hung tightly over the shoulder. This is true in transportation centers, such as train and bus stations, major city centers in Lima, as well as large political gatherings or demonstrations.
We have written here about the importance of having a guide in Peru. This is because there have been instances of tour groups having trouble out in the wilderness. However, it’s important to understand that these are rare and just to stress the importance of taking adequate precautions. Certain areas are worse than others, but the areas that are the most popular to tourists are safe due to the number of visitors and increased safety precautions.
Again, we want to make it clear that a trip to Peru will be safe, but these are concerns you should have when visiting any foreign country. Other issues that you should be aware of: don’t take photographs of military installations and don’t wear Indian clothing, as this could come across as insulting to natives. Remember, you are a visitor in the country so you should treat the country and its people with respect. If you do, you’ll be sure to have a safe trip throughout Peru that may be the best vacation of your life.