The U.S. State Department has updated its travel advisory for Peru, keeping the country at Level 2, “Exercise Increased Caution,” while flagging specific risks including violent crime, kidnapping, terrorism and dangers linked to traditional drug ceremonies.
The Sept. 4 advisory does not raise Peru’s overall risk level, but it warns that several parts of the country carry the more severe Level 4 “Do Not Travel” designation. Those include the Colombia-Peru border area in Loreto and the Valley of the ApurÃmac, Ene and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM), which includes Vilcabamba. The cities of Abancay, Ayacucho, Huancavelica and Huancayo are also under the Level 4 warning because of crime and, in some areas, terrorism threats.
Officials said popular tourist destinations such as Cusco, the Sacred Valley, the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu fall outside the areas covered by the “Do Not Travel” designation. Lima, the capital, is not included in the highest-risk zones either, though the advisory notes that crime risk rises outside the city and increases after dark.
Crime and ‘express kidnappings’
The State Department warned of “petty theft, carjackings, muggings, assaults, and other violent crime” that “often happen even in daylight hours and with many witnesses around.” It also described so-called “express kidnappings,” in which victims are taken to a bank and forced to withdraw money from their own accounts. Officials said these incidents are rare but “may occur.”
“The risk of crime increases at night. Criminal groups sometimes set up roadblocks to rob people in areas outside of Lima.”
The advisory also cited a broader “risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Peru,” and said kidnapping for ransom, while relatively uncommon, remains a security concern. Officials urged visitors to stay alert to their surroundings.
What travel experts say
Angel Castellanos, a California-based travel expert, told Fox News Digital that Americans traveling outside Peru’s main tourist areas should take the advisory seriously and research their destinations, while noting the warning does not apply to many popular sites.
“If you’re venturing outside those areas, that’s when the State Department invites us as responsible travelers to really investigate further and to look into these situations further.”
Castellanos said most visitors to well-known sites like the Inca Trail travel with a guide or tour operator rather than on their own. “A small percentage of travelers try to do everything on their own, especially when it comes to the most famous site, the Inca Trail,” he said. “You will have a guide. You will sign up for a tour operator or at least an independent guide that you may hire privately and hike up there.”
Warnings on ayahuasca, Kambo and coca
The advisory also flagged risks tied to ayahuasca and Kambo consumption centers found across Peru, including in tourist hubs like Cusco. The State Department said Americans should not take these substances, warning that “U.S. citizens have suffered serious illness and, in some cases, died after taking these drugs,” and that some have “also been sexually assaulted, injured or robbed while under the influence of these substances.”
Officials separately advised against coca products, including tea and candy commonly offered to travelers as a remedy for altitude sickness. Coca is considered a controlled substance and can interact with medications, the advisory noted.
Castellanos said such traditional experiences remain a draw for many visitors. “Herbal tourism is a big part of tourism in that part of the world,” he said. “Especially Peru, where people will go down and experience a traditional cacao ceremony, for example, or they’ll take part in [an] ayahuasca ceremony.” He recommended travelers research any substance beforehand and consult a doctor. “You definitely want to be careful, read up on it, do your due diligence, talk to your doctor before ingesting anything,” he said.
Fox News Digital said it reached out to the State Department for further comment and details.
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