Key Takeaways
- The #1 reported scam is the The Alpaca Photo Hustle
- 1 of 6 scams are rated high risk
- Use app-based ride services (Uber, DiDi) instead of street taxis — avoid unmarked vehicles, especially at night
- Never accept unsolicited offers from strangers near tourist sites in Cusco
⚡ Quick Safety Tips
- Keep phones and valuables in secure pockets when in crowded areas
- Use only licensed taxis or app-based ride services
- Book tours and tickets through verified operators with online reviews
- Keep a copy of your passport separate from the original
Jump to a Scam
The 6 Scams
A woman in colorful traditional clothing stands with a baby alpaca or llama near the Plaza de Armas.
She waves you over for a 'free' photo. The moment you touch the animal or snap a pic, she demands 20-50 soles — and if you try to give her 5 soles, she physically blocks you while another woman tries to hand you a second animal. Suddenly you owe money for two photo ops you never agreed to. These women work in pairs and are extremely persistent.
Red Flags
- Women positioning animals near tourists at major landmarks
- No price discussed before the photo
- Second animal pushed into your hands immediately after the first
How to Avoid
- Agree on a price before touching any animal (1-2 soles is fair)
- Politely decline by not making eye contact and walking past
- Keep your hands at your sides — don't accept anything placed in them
Street vendors near the bus terminal approach you offering 'discounted' Machu Picchu packages for ...
Street vendors near the bus terminal approach you offering 'discounted' Machu Picchu packages for $80 when legit ones cost $200+. They promise everything: train tickets, entrance permits, hotel, guide. You pay cash and get a printed itinerary. On the day, nobody shows up. Nearly 80% of Cusco's tour providers lack proper licensing, and these pop-up operations use uninsured vehicles and uncertified guides — if they show up at all.
Red Flags
- Price significantly below market rate
- Cash-only payment with no official receipt
- No physical office or website you can verify
- Approach you on the street rather than you finding them
How to Avoid
- Book through your hotel or verified agencies with TripAdvisor reviews
- Never pay cash on the street for multi-day tours
- Verify the operator has a DIRCETUR tourism license
- If a deal seems too good to be true, it is
You pay for a 15-sol taxi ride with a 50-sol note.
The driver palms your real note and shows you a clearly fake one, claiming 'this is counterfeit, I can't accept it.' Now you have to pay again with a different bill — and he keeps your original. ATM fraud is rare, but counterfeit notes circulate heavily around markets and taxi stands.
Red Flags
- Driver or vendor claims your bill is fake after accepting it
- Quick hand movements when handling your money
- Insistence on cash payment only
How to Avoid
- Use small bills and exact change for taxis
- Take a photo or note the serial number of large bills before handing them over
- Use ATMs inside banks, not standalone machines
- Pay with Yape (Peru's mobile payment app) when possible
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Get Free Itinerary →A friendly local offers a 'free' walking tour of Cusco's historic sites.
The tour is actually quite good — 2 hours of history and stories. At the end, the guide delivers an emotional speech about supporting local families and suggests a 'voluntary donation' of 50-100 soles per person. When tourists give 10-20 soles, the guide makes passive-aggressive comments. The tour was never free; it's a pay-what-you-want model designed to guilt you into overpaying.
Red Flags
- 'Free' tour with no upfront pricing discussion
- Emotional pitch about supporting families at the end
- Pressure to donate more than you're comfortable with
How to Avoid
- Ask upfront what the expected donation is
- A fair tip is 20-30 soles for a good 2-hour tour
- Don't feel guilty — pay what you think it was worth
- Book official paid tours through your hotel instead
You're browsing sweaters at San Pedro Market and a vendor holds up a beautifully soft scarf, ...
You're browsing sweaters at San Pedro Market and a vendor holds up a beautifully soft scarf, rubbing it against your cheek. 'Baby alpaca, 100 percent,' she assures you, quoting 120 soles. It feels luxurious. You buy three as gifts. Back home, a friend who knits examines them and confirms they're acrylic -- synthetic fibers that mimic alpaca softness when new but pill within weeks. Genuine baby alpaca starts at 200+ soles for a scarf from a reputable shop. The street price should have been the giveaway.
Red Flags
- Price is under 150 soles for a 'baby alpaca' scarf or sweater
- Vendor only says 'baby alpaca' without showing a label or certification
- Fabric has a slight synthetic sheen under sunlight
- Multiple identical items in the same color -- real alpaca varies naturally
- Vendor becomes aggressive when you ask about the composition label
How to Avoid
- Real baby alpaca costs 200+ soles for a scarf at minimum -- if it's cheaper, it's not real
- Do the burn test: real alpaca smells like burnt hair, acrylic smells like plastic
- Shop at certified stores like Kuna or Sol Alpaca for guaranteed authenticity
- Check for a composition label sewn into the garment
- San Pedro Market is great for food but buy textiles from certified retailers
You step out of a restaurant in Plaza de Armas at 10 PM and flag a taxi.
The driver quotes 25 soles for a ride to your hotel near San Blas -- a 5-minute trip that costs 5-7 soles during the day. He claims it's the 'night rate' and that all taxis charge the same. Cusco taxis have no meters, so there's no official rate to reference. After midnight, some drivers demand 30-50 soles for rides within the historic center. Unlicensed taxis also operate after dark, posing additional safety risks.
Red Flags
- Driver quotes more than 10 soles for any ride within the historic center
- No company markings, roof light, or visible license number
- Driver refuses to negotiate or claims a 'fixed night rate'
- Vehicle is parked in a dark side street rather than at an official taxi stand
How to Avoid
- Use InDriver or Uber for transparent pricing in Cusco
- Ask your restaurant or hotel to call a registered taxi company
- Standard daytime fare within central Cusco is 4-8 soles
- At night, have your hotel arrange pickup rather than flagging taxis on the street
- Avoid unmarked vehicles entirely after dark
🆘 What to Do If You Get Scammed
📋 File a Police Report
Go to the nearest Peruvian National Police (PNP) station. Call 105. Get an official crime report — you'll need this for insurance claims. You can also report online at pnp.gob.pe.
💳 Cancel Your Cards
Call your bank immediately. Most have 24/7 numbers on the back of the card (keep a photo saved separately). Block any suspicious transactions before the thieves use your details.
🛂 Lost Passport?
Contact your nearest embassy or consulate. The US Embassy is at Av. La Encalada Cdra. 17 s/n, Surco, Lima. For emergencies: +51 1-618-2000.
📱 Track Your Device
If your phone was stolen, use Find My (iPhone) or Find My Device (Android) from another device. Don't confront thieves yourself — share the location with police instead.
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