Peru. Is it dangerous?

[dunch]

Hola Amigos,
I've just caned it from Uyuni to Tocopilla on the Chillean coast and I'm going to head north tomorrow hopefully reaching Peru in the next couple of days.
I keep hearing horror stories about riding Peru, mostly robberies. I'm told not to ride at night and keep to the mountains as much as possible.
Well, my bike (and me) doesn't like altitude much and I was intending to go up the coast to Nazca before turning inland to Cuzco.
Is this a completely foolish thing to do? Can anyone offer any advice to an idiot abroad?

Thanks,
Dunc.

[markharf]

You've been misinformed. Quit worrying and keep doing whatever you've been doing to keep safe (which surely includes trying not to ride at night, right?).

The PanAm into Nazca from the south is fine. The route from Nazca to Cuzco is wonderful (but try not to underestimate how far it is).

enjoy,

Mark

[zaplaje]

Peru is cool, people is mostly great and the places are stunning. Don't you dare to miss Cusco, try to go to Chivay, you can go there from Arequipa by a dirt road going north all the time, I did it 5 years ago, it was a bad road but it's totally doable (I suck in the dirt and I did it with out any problems), and if you are in Tocopilla, go north by the Pan de Azucar national park, is amazing and you can go by the coast to Antofagasta and then Iquique. Good Luck!

[ptrouw]

Just been in Peru for 3 weeks, From Tacna to Puno, to Cusco, to Lima, to Pucallpa and left via the Amazon river to Columbia. Peru is great and save and very friendly people. The only challenge sometimes are mudslides on the road and some river crossings due to the rain sessions. Have fun.

[charapashanperu]

Well YES there were land slides! You travelled in the rainy season!

I love Peru and ahve spent more than 30 years there, mostly in Pucallpa, but have motoed the length and bredth (sp?) of the whole country. Sounds like you might have to come back as you missed the whole north central Peru!

Cheers! Toby

[dstehouwer]

we were there 4 months ago, and it was fine.
Only the cops were bloody corrupt, but we bluffed our way out of everything.
Nice game ;-), cool stories afterwards.

By the way, if you don't mind offroading: take the border crossing through the jungle and visit Kuelap-ruins... very nice and not very touristy.

[ta-rider]

Hi

Peru was great and as i was traveling on a 125ccm bikes the police did not realize i was a tourist and when they did i was allready passd them and friendly waved back :P

The Oasis 200km south of Lima was the nicest place for me:



Motorcycle trip through Peru - Machu Picchu - part 3
Greetings, Tobi

[Barcelona Pat]

Dunc
I´m out of Peru and into Ecuador now mate. Didn´t have a single issue in Peru - more the opposite. All smiles and waves - when stopped, a couple of basic questions and that was it - no search, no documents shown, no requests for cash etc.

Was chatting to a taxi driver in Lima who said that the traffic cop who featured in the YouTube corruption vid had been suspended. He seemed to think they were taking it very seriously - is that why all the officials were being so cool (perhaps that´s not fair, I´m sure the majority are always like that).

I loved Peru mate - and already thinking about going back in a few years when I have more time (perhaps on a hire bike) - and also taking in Bolivia.

Have fun - and hope the XT is alive and well again.
Pat

[brclarke]

Originally Posted by dunch

I keep hearing horror stories about riding Peru, mostly robberies. I'm told not to ride at night and keep to the mountains as much as possible.

Peru is safer than a lot of places in the so-called "developed" world.

Not riding at night is good advice in most anywhere; all those damned animals on the road!

[kito]

if you are scared my advice is never ride a moterbike ever .stay in your house with thick steel doors and never open them . but then if you speek to some one from a hospital they will tell you how many acidents the are in the home .so what should we do ?? NEVER listen to dooom mungers . just ride and enjoy some real nice roads and meet the nice local people. good luck and enjoy

[othalan]

Personally, I have long thought that the advice "don't ride at night" must be the most redundant ever in Latin America. So many animals, rocks, potholes and trucks without lights (!!!), it is already dangerous and should be minimized. (but yes, I still do it sometimes).

But ignoring that, I have been in Peru two weeks (I think?) so far and it is fantastic. Great people, no hint of trouble, no warnings at all when I ask police about potential problems. A few bored police who ask for my documents, I think mostly as an excuse to chat with the traveler for a bit.

[charapashanperu]

If you want to avoid corrupt police or other dangers in Peru (all countries have some danger), stay away from the coast and Lima!

Ride up the center (or east in the jungle) and you will NEVER have these issues. People are honest and friendly away from Lima. I know. I've lived and ridden there for years..

It DOES help to know the language and NOT be arrogant.

Enjoy,

Toby