r/Travel_Safety

UPDATE Just realised my laptop was stolen!

This morning I witnessed pickpockets on the Amazona bus in Baños. There was one man who was asking people to move to the back of the bus with their belongings "because of the police". He then sprayed their belongings with something and was rushing round opening windows. Another man was sat quietly at the back of the bus. The two men left the bus and a woman said her phone and money had been stolen...

Just a heads up for anyone if they see something similar happening.

Hi everyone!

I just wrapped up a trip through Peru and wanted to share some updated money and payment tips for May 2026.

💰 Currency & Exchange Rates (May 2026)

The Peruvian Sol (PEN) is stable. You don’t need to worry about "black market" rates like in other neighboring countries.

• Current Rate: $1 USD ≈ 3.43 PEN | €1 EUR ≈ 3.71 PEN.

• The Spread: Exchanging cash usually involves a 2–5% spread. You’ll see rates around 3.40–3.50 PEN per USD at official houses.

• Where to Exchange: Use authorized "cambistas" (street exchangers with official vests) or casas de cambio in Lima/Cusco. Avoid airport booths—their rates are significantly worse.

• USD Quality (Crucial!): Bring crisp, new, unbent USD bills. Peruvian banks and exchangers are notorious for rejecting bills with even a tiny tear, ink mark, or heavy fold.

🏧 The ATM Situation & Fees

ATMs are plentiful in cities but can be a "fee trap" if you aren't careful.

• The MultiRed Hack:Banco de la Nación (MultiRed) is still the only one with zero local fees for international cards.

◦ The Catch: Limit of 400 PEN (~`$117 USD) per session. You can repeat sessions, but read the next point!

• ⚠️ Watch Your Own Bank Fees: This was my biggest mistake. Even if the ATM says "S/ 0 Fee," your home bank might charge an International Withdrawal Fee. After 5 withdrawals at MultiRed, I realized I’d wasted €15. Check your bank's app before doing multiple small sessions!

• Other ATMs: BCP, BBVA, and Scotiabank charge between S/ 18 and S/ 36 (`$5–10 USD) per withdrawal.

• Rural Warning: Coastal surf villages (Máncora, Chicama) and remote Andean towns often have zero working ATMs. Stock up on cash in big cities first.

💸 Western Union: The Alternative

If you don't want to carry a stack of cash or deal with ATM limits:

• Rates: Often very competitive (approx. 3.37 PEN).

• Fees: Low or even zero transfer fees depending on your country of origin. It’s a solid backup if you need a large amount of cash at once without the S/ 400 ATM limit.

Cards vs. Cash

• Cards: Widely accepted in mid/big shops, rentals, accomodations (especially in bigger cities/towns).

• The 5% Surcharge: Many local businesses add a 5% fee for card use. Always ask: “¿Hay un recargo por pagar con tarjeta?”

• Cash is Mandatory for: Small "tiendas," local rentals (surfboards, bikes), street food, and taxis.

💡 Quick Summary Tips

1. Always carry "Sencillo" (Change): Breaking a 100 PEN bill in a taxi is impossible. Keep 10s and 20s.

2. Decline the Conversion: If the ATM asks to charge you in your "Home Currency" vs. "Local Currency (PEN)," always choose PEN. Your bank’s rate is always better than the ATM's rate.

3. Cash Discounts: You can often negotiate a small discount at hostels or for tours if you offer to pay the total in cash (PEN) upfront.

Also I gave a try to TUTAI app (someone mentioned it in a group - thank you!) and I must say it provided me some real-time safety alerts and cultural payment tips that were quite useful and saved me a few headaches.

Safe travels! If you have questions on this topic feel free to ask. I will post some other points soon, especially bargaining tips since I am testing a few methods on the field to see what works best.

I’m seeing a mix of info online, and seemingly the official websites are t accurate.

We’re planning to travel from Salta to Uyuni by bus on 11/5 - doing a tour in Uyuni after this for 3 days, then travelling Uyuni to La Paz 16/5 (roughly), ~ a week in La Paz, then La Paz to Cusco 22/5. We are doing the Salkantay hike on the 25th, so won’t have much time to play with if we’re stuck. We were going to bus, but very happy to fly La Paz to Cusco if need be.

We can go from Uyuni to Chile if La Paz isn’t an option, but we would love to see La Paz if possible!

I know it’s still a week or so away, so might be hard to tell right now. However, does anyone have any info on these routes at the moment?