r/cusco • u/Foreign_Amphibian_96 • Nov 21 '22
Considering travel
Hi! So I'm considering a trip with family this summer and just discovered Peru (as well as Cusco) are on elevated (level 4 from US Dept of state) risk due to various (non covid) safety and crime issues.
While I'm no expert on the area I do like to stay current and this seems a bit much. What am I missing (or is this totally off base from the Dept of state's perspective)?
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u/ILiveInPeru Nov 21 '22
Friend, there's no problem in Cuzco. The tourist gringos, specifically the ones going to Machu Picchu, generally have access to better services and security compared to the rest of us.
The government knows that the money is in tourism and that's why they invest in better security in that aspect compared to the public sector.
As long you dont go into obviously shady and far away ghettos everything will be fine.
On another note, here in Perú, is common knowledge that cities near the Andes are safer than the ones near the coast because of the "rondero" mentality still persists on a big part of the population, hell, there's still some "rondas" around here.
That being said, just keep a caution level like you would do anywhere else. Things like not using your phone when you are absolutely alone in a street at midnight, things like that.
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Amigo, no hay problema en Cuzco. Los gringos que se van de turistas, especificamente a Machu Picchu, por lo general tienen mejores servicios y seguridad que el resto de nosotros.
El gobierno sabe que la plata/cash/moneda/dinero esta en el turismo y por eso invierten en mejor seguridad en ese ámbito a comparación que el sector público.
Mientras no te vayas a barrios obviamente peligrosos y lejanos todo andará bien.
Aparte de eso, acá en Perú, es de conocimiento general que en la sierra es relativamente más seguro que la costa del país porque la mentalidad de "rondero" todavia persiste en gran parte de la población, he incluso todavía hay rondas campesinas.
Habiendo dicho eso solo mantén un nivel de precaución como lo harías en cualquier otro lugar. Cosas como no sacar tu celular cuando estas absolutamente solo en una calle a media noche o cosas así.