5 Tourist Scams in Arequipa

You hail a taxi on the street near Arequipa's Plaza de Armas after dinner.

The driver seems normal at first, but takes an unexpected turn. Another man gets in, and suddenly you're being driven to multiple ATMs, forced to withdraw cash at each one while threatened with violence. Some victims have been bound and held for over 24 hours. This is not an exaggeration — the U.S. Embassy has prohibited all government personnel from hailing street taxis in Arequipa due to express kidnappings. Redditors on r/peru confirm multiple documented cases targeting tourists.

You're in Arequipa and every second storefront seems to sell Colca Canyon tours.

A street vendor offers a two-day trip for $30 when legit agencies charge $60-80. You pay cash and get a photocopied itinerary. On departure morning, nobody shows up. Or worse, a rattletrap minibus arrives with no insurance, an uncertified driver, and a 'guide' who reads from a pamphlet. Redditors on r/peru report agencies like Trek The Colca collecting money and simply never showing up, leaving tourists stranded with no recourse.

You arrive at Arequipa's Terrapuerto with your backpack and are stepping off the bus when two ...

You arrive at Arequipa's Terrapuerto with your backpack and are stepping off the bus when two people rush to 'help' you with the step or offer to carry your bags. While you're focused on them, a third person unzips the side pocket of your daypack and lifts your phone and wallet. Another variant: someone tells you your bus has been switched to a different platform and leads you to a fake counter that charges a 're-booking fee.' Redditors on r/solotravel describe these coordinated crews operating during peak arrival times.

You pay for a 10-sol taxi ride with a 50-sol note.

The driver palms your genuine bill and produces a fake one with a practiced hand, telling you 'this bill is counterfeit, I can't accept it.' You now owe him another bill, and he keeps your original. Peru produces an estimated 60% of the world's counterfeit U.S. dollars, and fake soles are equally prevalent. Redditors on r/peru warn about this switch scam happening frequently in Arequipa taxis and market stalls where vendors handle bills quickly and confidently.

You're walking back to your hotel at night when a man in plainclothes flashes a badge and claims to be police.

He says he needs to check your passport and bag for a routine drug inspection. If you hand over your documents, he disappears into the night with your passport and wallet. In another version, he 'finds' something suspicious and demands an on-the-spot fine. Redditors on r/peru confirm that fake police document checks happen in Arequipa, especially targeting tourists walking alone after dark in the streets near Plaza de Armas.