Travel advisory: Visitors to popular South American mountain destination urged to ‘exercise increased caution’

NewsThe U.S. Department of State issued a Level 2 travel advisory for Peru due to crime, unrest, terrorism and kidnapping.Canva/Katherine RodriguezBy Katherine Rodriguez | NJ.comIf you are planning a trip to Peru, you might want to take some extra precautions.The U.S. State Department updated its travel advisory for Peru, urging travelers to exercise increased caution in the country, citing increased levels of crime, unrest, terrorism and kidnapping.Here’s what you need to know if you plan on traveling to Peru.ItemDetailStart DateSept. 4, 2026What’s changingUpdated travel advisory warning travelers to “exercise increased caution” in Peru due to crime, unrest, terrorism and kidnapping.What will happen?Travelers should buy travel insurance, stay aware of their surroundings, stay alert in tourist spots, do not physically resist any robbery attempt, keep a low profile, do not display signs of wealth, monitor local media for breaking news and adjust your plans based on the news, avoid demonstrations and crowds, communicate with your loved ones regularly, have a GPS system in place so you can be found in case of an emergency and have a plan to leave in an emergency that does not depend on U.S. government help. Who will it affect?Travelers to Peru.The State Department issued a “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution” advisory to Peru, citing crime, unrest, terrorism and kidnapping in the country.Crime is common in Peru and ranges from petty theft to violent crime.“Petty theft, carjackings, muggings, assaults, and other violent crime often happen even in daylight hours and with many witnesses around,” the State Department advisory says. “Although rare, ‘express kidnappings,’ where the victim is taken to a banking institution and forced to remove funds from their own accounts, may occur.” Demonstrations are also common and take place for political or economic reasons.These demonstrations often disrupt infrastructure without warning, resulting in road closures and transportation outages.What is the highest travel advisory?There are four levels of travel advisory, Level 1 through Level 4. When planning a vacation, travelers should check the current travel advisory for that destination before booking.Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions — This is the lowest level of advisory; it is advised that there is some risk in that area, and travelers should take precautions while on their visit.Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution — There is a heightened risk for safety and security in that area, and travelers need to take extra caution.Level 3: Reconsider Travel — There are serious risks to safety, and travelers are advised to reconsider their travel plans to this destination.Level 4: Do Not Travel — This is the highest level of advisory, and it is strongly recommended not to travel to any destinations with a Level 4 advisory, due to many factors, one of which is that the U.S. government might not be able to provide travelers any assistance in the event of an emergency.What should travelers to Peru do in light of this travel advisory?The State Department recommends travelers take the following precautions:Travelers should stay aware of their surroundings and be alert in tourist spots and at banks and ATMs.Buy travel insurance before traveling.Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.Keep a low profile.Do not display signs of wealth.Monitor local media for breaking news and adjust your plans based on the news.Avoid demonstrations and crowds.Communicate with your loved ones regularly.Have a GPS system in place so you can be found in case of an emergency.Have a plan to leave in an emergency that does not depend on U.S. government help.Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive messages and alerts from the U.S. Embassy and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for Peru.You can find more information and advice related to this travel advisory here.TSA will allow some passengers to bring water bottles through airport securityOver 866 flights delayed, 89 canceled amid widespread U.S. travel disruptionsOver 984 flights delayed, 111 canceled amid widespread U.S. travel disruptionsTravel advisory: Visitors to popular Asian country urged to ‘exercise increased caution’Over 777 flights delayed, 48 canceled amid widespread U.S. travel disruptionsKatherine Rodriguez covers national trending news for the consumer life, finance and money team. For 5+ years now, Katherine has covered trending topics such as travel advisories, TSA-related news, recalls, the...