A volcano erupted on White Island, New Zealand on 9 December 2019. Follow the instructions of local authorities. Updates are available from the New Zealand Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management.
Call 116.
Call 117 or go direct to the hospital.
Call 0800 22221 for police who speak English.
Exercise a high degree of caution in Peru overall.
Exercise a high degree of caution in Peru overall due to the high risk of violent crime.
Reconsider your need to travel within 20km of the border with Colombia and areas bordering Ecuador in the regions of Loreto, Amazonas and Cajamarca.
Reconsider your need to travel
Full travel advice: Safety
Full travel advice: Health
Full travel advice: Local laws
Full travel advice: Travel
Full travel advice: Local contacts
Violent crime is common in Peru, particularly in the cities of:
Violent crimes include:
You could encounter:
If you're sexually assaulted, report it to police immediately. You'll be examined at a clinic for the investigation. Local authorities may examine you closely if you delay reporting the incident.
Travellers using unlicensed taxis have been victims of robbery, assault and rape.
Criminals also target people walking alone after dark, especially leaving bars or nightclubs.
To protect yourself from road-based crime:
Petty crime, such as pickpocketing and bag snatching, is common. Thieves are often well dressed.
Hotspots for thieves include:
Smash-and-grab attacks are common. Thieves snatch items from cars stopped at traffic lights. This is common on Avenida de la Marina and Avenida Elmer Faucett near Lima's Jorge Chavez International Airport.
If you plan to go on a cruise, check the company has adequate security before booking.
Travellers in Peru can be victims of:
To protect yourself from crime:
Travel to the region within 20km of the border with Colombia is dangerous.
Drug traffickers operate in:
Armed guerrilla forces from Colombia sometimes enter Peru's remote areas.
Ayahuasca tourism is a growing industry in the jungle regions of Ecuador and Peru. Shamans perform psychedelic rituals of spiritual cleansing.
Ayahuasca is not illegal, but some participants have been assaulted and robbed.
Ceremonies often take place in remote areas with no access to medical or mental health resources and limited communication with local authorities.
Most facilities lack basic first aid or emergency plans for people who suffer physical or mental effects after ceremonies. Participants report symptoms from being more alert but out of control through to amnesia.
If you decide to take part in ayahuasca tourism:
Public protests and events that draw large groups of people can turn violent.
National or regional strikes can be called at short notice. They can disrupt domestic air travel, public transport and road networks.
Local authorities can call a state of emergency in response to unrest or crime.
This gives the armed forces responsibility for law and order. Some civil rights may be suspended.
Protests and roadblocks may disrupt travel around:
Disruptions may affect rail services to Machu Picchu.
There are occasional advances into Peruvian territory by armed guerrillas from Colombia.
The Peruvian army patrol and monitor this area.
To protect yourself during periods of unrest:
If you're near a demonstration, leave if it's safe to do so.
More information:
Members of a local terrorist group may still be in isolated areas in the Southern Highlands.
Take care if you travel to:
These places may harbour members of the Shining Path terrorist movement.
To protect yourself from terrorism:
If there's an attack, leave the area as soon as it's safe. Avoid areas affected in case of secondary attacks.
Terrorism is a threat worldwide.
More information:
Australians have died from injuries sustained in adventure travel accidents in Peru.
Rafting, diving and sand-dune buggy-riding operators don't always don't always follow safety and maintenance standards.
The Inca Trail closes in February each year for maintenance. Some companies will still operate.
Heavy rainfall can make parts of the trail impassable and dangerous.
If you plan to do an adventure activity:
If proper safety equipment isn't available, use another provider.
To reduce your risks:
Peru can experience natural disasters and severe weather, such as:
To protect yourself if a natural disaster is approaching:
More information:
Peru has a variety of climates. The rainy season is from November to May.
Flooding and landslides are common in the Andes during this period.
Rail and air services may be disrupted.
Heavy rain can cause flooding and landslides in the Andes mountain range, affecting:
This can result in travel delays.
Peru is in an active earthquake zone. Earthquakes and tsunamis might occur.
A tsunami can arrive very soon after a nearby tremor or earthquake.
Be alert to warnings.
If you're near the coast, move immediately to high ground if advised by local authorities or if you:
Don't wait for official warnings, such as alarms or sirens. Once on high ground, monitor local media.
More information:
Several volcanoes in southern Peru are active. Ubinas and Sabancaya erupted multiple times in 2016.
Eruptions can occur at any time and without warning.
Exposure to volcanic ash, dust and toxic fumes can harm your health, especially if you have existing respiratory problems.
To protect yourself if there's an eruption:
If you need to go outside, avoid contact with ash. Wear a disposable face mask and change it frequently. Wear long clothing and goggles.
Seek local advice on recent volcanic activity before hiking or trekking near active volcanoes.
More information:
Get comprehensive travel insurance before you leave. Your policy needs to cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation. The Australian Government won’t pay for these costs.
If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. This applies to everyone, no matter how healthy and fit you are.
If you're not insured, you may have to pay many 1000s of dollars up-front for medical care.
Confirm:
Consider your physical and mental health before you travel, especially if you have an existing medical condition.
See your doctor or travel clinic to:
Do this at least 8 weeks before you leave.
More information:
Not all medication available over the counter or by prescription in Australia is available in other countries. Some may even be considered illegal or a controlled substance, even if prescribed by an Australian doctor.
If you plan to bring medication, check if it's legal in Peru. Take enough legal medicine for your trip.
Carry a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor stating:
More information:
You’re at risk of altitude sickness if you travel above 2500m. The risk is greater if your ascent is rapid.
Altitude sickness can be life threatening and can affect anyone, even if you're healthy.
You're more at risk of altitude sickness if you:
Many areas of Peru are above 2500m, including:
See your doctor for specific advice.
Check your insurance covers emergency evacuation from altitude and related medical costs.
Yellow fever is widespread in Peru. Yellow fever is a potentially fatal virus spread by mosquitoes. It's prevented by vaccination. Get vaccinated before you travel.
Zika virus is also widespread across Peru. If you're pregnant, the Australian Department of Health recommends that you:
Other common insect-borne diseases include:
Dengue is particularly common around Iquitos.
To protect yourself from disease:
Consult your doctor about how to prevent malaria.
Get medical advice if you have a fever, muscle pain, rash or severe headache.
Waterborne, foodborne, parasitic and other infectious diseases are common. These include:
Serious outbreaks sometimes occur.
To protect yourself from illness:
If you're bitten or scratched by an animal, get medical help straight away.
Get medical advice if you have a fever or diarrhoea.
More information:
Medical facilities are adequate in major cities but limited elsewhere.
Doctors and hospitals often require payment before they will treat you, including for emergency care.
If you become seriously ill or injured, you may need to be evacuated to a place with suitable facilities. Medical evacuation can be very expensive.
You're subject to all local laws and penalties, including those that may appear harsh by Australian standards. Research local laws before travelling.
If you're arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you under our Consular Services Charter. But we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Penalties for drug offences are severe. They include long prison sentences. Don't carry or use illegal drugs.
Trained staff use technology to detect illegal drugs at Lima's International Airport and throughout Peru.
Australians have been jailed for long periods for drug offences.
Local authorities sometimes invoke a state of emergency. The gives the government special legal powers in response to civil unrest, crime, health concerns or natural disasters. Peru's armed forces take control of law and order alongside the police. Some civil rights may be suspended and curfews imposed.
If a state of emergency happens in an area you're visiting:
You must carry photo ID in Peru.
If you don't want to carry your passport, a notarised copy of the photo and visa pages is acceptable. Get it from the Australian Embassy in Lima.
It's illegal to photograph:
Indecent behaviour, such as not showing respect at cultural, historical or sacred sites, is against the law. Australians have been detained for this.
It's illegal to export handicrafts or goods of cultural or historical significance. If you want to buy or export copies of these, you'll need permission from Peru's National Institute for Culture. Call (+51 1) 226 4162.
It's also illegal to export antiques and artefacts from pre-colonial Peru. If you want to buy and export a reproduction, use a reputable dealer who has the right documents.
Some Australian criminal laws still apply when you’re overseas. If you break these laws, you may face prosecution in Australia.
More information:
Dual nationals aged under 18 years must travel with both passports.
A child travelling alone or with 1 parent will need certain documents.
More information:
Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders.
Make sure you meet all entry and exit conditions. If you don't, the Australian Government can’t help you.
Tourists don't need a visa. You can get a permit to stay for up to 6 months when you arrive.
In other situations, you'll need to apply for a visa through an embassy or consulate of Peru.
Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. You can contact the nearest embassy or consulate of Peru for the latest details. They'll tell you about visas, currency, customs and other travel requirements.
You must get an entry stamp in your passport when you arrive. This is the case even at land borders where immigration offices are hard to find or not always open.
If you don't get an entry stamp on entry, you'll need to apply for one from the National Superintendent of Immigration in Lima immediately. This process could take several weeks.
If officials decide not give you an entry stamp, you'll have to apply for an expulsion order before being allowed to leave. This could also take several weeks. You may be fined and barred from entering Peru for up to 5 years.
Only cross the border at official checkpoints. Make sure you get an exit stamp from the country you're leaving.
If you're travelling through the US, you must meet US entry and transit requirements.
Check your visa requirements with a US embassy or consulate well in advance of your travel.
More information:
You may need a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate to enter Peru. Some airlines may want to see one when you leave.
If you've visited Peru in the previous 6 days, you'll need a valid certificate to enter Australia.
Find out about returning to Australia after exposure to yellow fever.
More information:
Some countries won’t let you enter unless your passport is valid for 6 months after you plan to leave that country. This can apply even if you’re just transiting or stopping over.
Some foreign governments and airlines apply the rule inconsistently. Travellers can receive conflicting advice from different sources.
You can end up stranded if your passport is not valid for more than 6 months.
The Australian Government does not set these rules. Check your passport’s expiry date before you travel. If you’re not sure it’ll be valid for long enough, consider getting a new passport.
Your passport is a valuable document. It's attractive to people who may try to use your identity to commit crimes.
Some people may try to trick you into giving them your passport. Always keep it in a safe place.
If your passport is lost or stolen, tell the Australian Government as soon as possible:
After you contact the Australian Embassy in Lima, visit a Peruvian Immigration Office to get an entry stamp in your new passport. Check Superintendencia Nacional de Migraciones (Spanish) to find the nearest office.
The local currency is the Peruvian Nuevo Sol (PEN).
Declare all amounts more than of $US10,000 in any currency on arrival. This covers all forms of currency, not only cash.
ATM facilities are widely available.
Credit cards are usually accepted.
Beware of counterfeit currency scams from unofficial money changers.
Landmines are being removed but remain a threat in some regions, including:
Cross the Peru-Ecuador border at official checkpoints.
To drive in Peru you need both:
You must obtain your IDP before leaving Australia.
You're 2.5 times more likely to be killed in a motor vehicle accident in Peru than in Australia.
Driving hazards include:
Fatal traffic accidents are common and often involve intercity buses.
Travel by road outside major cities after dark is dangerous due to the risk of criminal activity. This includes bogus roadblocks or checkpoints.
If you plan to drive:
More information:
Your travel insurance policy may not cover you when riding a motorbike, quad bike or similar vehicle.
Always wear a helmet.
Travellers using unlicensed taxis have been victims of robbery, assault and rape.
To stay safe when you arrive in Peru, either:
To protect yourself if you're travelling by taxi:
More information:
Intercity buses are often involved in road accidents. They're also targeted by criminals.
Use a reputable transport or bus company to reduce risks.
Check the safest intercity bus companies with the Peruvian Ministry of Transportation (Spanish).
More information:
Armed criminals target river boats in the Amazon region.
Foreigners, including Australians, are assaulted and robbed every year on boats.
Check your cruise company has adequate security arrangements before booking.
A number of international cruise liners visit Peru.
More information:
Light aircraft and helicopter flights may be hazardous due to a variety of conditions. These include changeable weather and harsh geography.
Before you book a scenic flight over the Nazca Lines check the airline company:
DFAT doesn't provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths.
Check Peru's air safety profile with the Aviation Safety Network.
More information:
Depending on what you need, contact your:
The Peruvian government has 24-hour i-Peru offices in major airports and cities. Call 574 8000.
Call 116.
Call 117 or go direct to the hospital.
Call 0800 22221 for police who speak English.
Visit the nearest police station or tourist police office. There are tourist police at the International Airport and popular tourist spots.
Always get a police report when you report a crime.
Your insurer should have a 24-hour emergency number.
Contact your provider with any complaints about tourist services or products.
Call the 24-hour consumer protection agency INDECOPI helpline on (+51 1) 224 7777. English-speaking operators are available.
Read the Consular Services Charter for what the Australian Government can and can't do to help you overseas.
Contact the Australian Embassy in Lima for consular assistance.
Avenida La Paz 1049, 10th Floor
Miraflores, Lima, 18, Peru
Phone: (+51 1) 630 0500
Fax: (+51 1) 630 0520
Email: consular.lima@dfat.gov.au
Website: peru.embassy.gov.au
Facebook: Australia en Perú y Bolivia
Check the Embassy website for details about opening hours and any temporary closures.
In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:
Be the first to know official government advice when travelling.