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 | Lima Warnings or Dangers | Tips 1 - 10 of 65 |  |
Popular Warnings or Dangers | Miscellaneous Warnings or Dangers Tips | All Tips (65)  | |  |  | Short Pants are Forbidden on The Palace Tour!! | Tip Rating:   |  |  | |  |
My cousin who lives in Lima used his connections to get us a special, private tour of Peru's Presidential Palace. Unfortunately, one thing my cousin neglected to tell us was that short pants were not allowed. In fact, I had worried about that, but my slacks were very wrinkled from sitting in my luggage and Andrea suggested my shorts were more presentable. Well, not according to Palace Security, who feared that visiting dignitaries might see my legs and relations with Peru might deteriorate. They told me "No short Pants" and were ready to deny me the tour. I desperately asked if I could go out and buy some. I couldn't disappoint my cousin who had pulled a lot of strings. They said okay, but I needed to hurry. Frantically, I raced through the side alleys and streets around the Plaza de Armas. Unfortunately, it was still only 9:30 and that is too early for stores to be open in a country like Peru. The few places that were open were pharmacies, which didn't sell pants. I was about ready to give up when I noticed a fabric mall just opening its doors, so I wandered in to see three young girls opening one of the stores for the day. "I need pants" I said in my most desperate sounding Spanish" " We don’t have pants for men." they replied. "Me necessito. Ahora. No problema. (I need them. Now. No problem)" With that, they allowed me to look through their selection and directed me to an area of woman{s beach attire where some parachute-type pants were on sale. They were meant to be loose and breezy, and with a tie waist, they could fit me. They were tie-dyed orange, pink and pastel blue. I chose the most masculine -- the blue -- and sprinted back to the palace. As you can see from the photo, they let me take the tour wearing them, though not without the attractive female tour guide rolling over in laughter at my fashion crime. If you don't want to be laughed at, wear long pants for your Palace tour! Leave a Comment
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| | | | Petty Crime is Common in Lima | Tip Rating: | | | | |
Of course, no crime is petty when it happens to you, so take precautions against pickpockets and outright theft. Use your hotel room safe and carry your valuables in a money belt, with a decoy wallet containig a few soles for small transactions and to satisfy the armed robber. Don't go out in the city center at night and, in general, don't go out alone at night. Even in the nicest neighborhoods, like Miraflores in Lima, people live behind bars, barbed wire and electric fence. Glass recycling in Peru means turning bottles into shards that can be implanted on the tops of cement walls. With a vast gulf between the rich and poor, Lima will always be plagued by crime. All that said, we never had any problems. Check the embassy web sites for guidance on the latest scams. Leave a Comment
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Safety & Dangers Health Risks are few out of these tropical infectious diseases like malaria, yellow fever and hepatitis which are present in the Amazon Basin and Tumbes (malaria). If you are planning to visit the lowlands of the Amazon Basin is preferable to be vaccinated against yellow fever and malaria. Altitude mountain sickness, called soroche, happens at the higher andean areas. If you plan to bike for long distances, would be a good idea to have a rabies vaccination, because of the great number of dogs in each town and village. Travellers who follow the proper precautions will not have problems with food and drink. Crime & Violence Although physical violence in Peru is not as extreme in cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Bogotá or New Orleans, we cannot deny that it has problems with security. Thieves are "available" as pickpockets, muggers, bag and watch snatchers, razor-blade pack slashers and confidence tricky. Lima and big cities like Arequipa, Trujillo, Huaraz and Cusco are safe in average but offer their risks when care is not taken in account, especially in crowded, dark and lonely areas. There have been a border dispute with Ecuador since 1942 which have resulted in multiple military conflicts. The area in dispute was the Cordillera del Cóndor. The last conflict was held in the area of the Cenepa river in the border region. Lastly, Ecuador respected history and recognised the original borderline. On October 1998, Ecuador and Peru signed a peace treaty to end with the long dispute and complete the settlement of landmarks along the border. Leave a Comment
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Women There are a lot of women requiring information about travelling alone in Peru. In fact, there are no great risks besides the ones mentioned in the topic of Violence & Theft. But, to add to this, there have been some reports (some, we said) about rapes to women, which mainly happened in dark and isolated areas. The general rule is to avoid these areas and to have a minimum common sense to by pass these situations. Some travellers have commented that it is really a matter of bad luck than a risk. There is the strong belief that blonde hair attracts the attention of the southamerican men. This is partly true as they are not accostumed to see a blonde woman in their culture (only by TV). As long as visitors are increasing in number these fact would change in some years. But, this does not hide the matter that southamerican men are machist in great percentage (specially in lower classes). So, if you hear somebody throwing you a nice bouquet do not feel ashamed or get annoyed unless it is a bothersome one (also for men!). Anyway, it is a fact of our own culture that you should learn to accept. Drugs If you travel to Peru and think to recover your money by taking some "white stuff" to your country, please forget this, because these customs officers are the best hounds in the world!! The punishment for carrying, purchasing or using drugs (specially cocaine) is up to 15 years in a peruvian cold jail. Also, reject any intention of someone sending packs with you (to/from Peru), unless you know very well this person or what is inside the pack. Leave a Comment
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| | | | Thieve, thieves, thieves | Tip Rating:  | | | | |
I think every minute somebody is robbed in Lima. I have been a victim twice. These are my recommendations to avoid being a victim: Don't wear expensive wristwatches or sunglasses or hats. Don't count your money in public. Ladies, don't carry a purse, use a waistpack instead. And if you do have to carry a purse, hold it with both hands. Don't place your wallet inside your back pockets and don't place your backpack on your back, place it on you chest instead, because thieves have knifes and they can cut your backpack open. Always look around and see who's following you. Don't receive papers from strangers and don't go out to drink with strangers (they can drug you). Don't go to bad areas, remain in the good areas such as San Isidro, Miraflores, Monterrico, Surco, and La Molina. Unfortunately you can't avoid downtown Lima because of the attractions. So be alert while you're there. If possible, avoid taking buses and taxis on the streets. Ask your hotel to call a taxi for you. Inside the taxi, be alert. Sit in the back and don't roll down your windows. If somebody does something to you, don't expect the passersby to help you because they won't. In Lima, you're by yourself. If you need help, look for the cops wearing white shirts, they are the cops for tourists or go to your country's embassy. Leave a Comment
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| | | | A few good advice when going around ... | Tip Rating: | | | | |
When going by car, peruvians always have the side windows open. This makes it easy for thieves ... 1. Place your hand bags on the floor, do not have them on your knees. 2. Take off your watch, and place it in a trouser pocket. 3. Take off finger-rings, ear-rings, nose-rings or whatever you normally use. 4. Trouser pockets are more secure than jacket pockets. 5. If you must pass a zone that is considered riscy, close the windows, lock the doors from inside and follow advice 1-4. But remember that a car is no protection, a thief can easily smash the window and grab your things before you will be able to react by mere chock. 6. Be aware of the risks from "ambulantes" (merchants in the street) and other persons that will pass between the cars when it is red light. Most people of course are just trying to sell small things to earn their money and make no offence, but anyway, watch out! 7. When walking on the streets, grab your hand-bag firmly and have it in your front, not on your back. Always look around and keep control of your posessions and the persons in your group. I don´t know which advice i shall give you about your money, if you shall put "all eggs in the same basket" or not. Though it is a good advice, always have some small money easy available (and you shall know exactly where and what you have), then you can buy small things and make minor arrangement without taking out your big purse. (Taking out the purse, you shall only do when and where you have control of the persons around, not anywhere in the street). Ask the peruvians (hotel staff and such)where and when you can go. Also look for the Tourist police in the centre of Lima, they will gladly assist you. Local municipal police will also try to help you if you ask them to. So take care. Common sense will help you! Leave a Comment
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