US updates travel advisory to Peru amid rise in drugs, crime and kidnapping

The U.S.State Department recently updated its travel advisory for a tourism-heavy South American country — flagging risks ranging from violent crime and kidnapping to terrorism and dangerous drugs.Peru’s Level 2 “Exercise Increased Caution” advisory was just updated, though officials said the overall advisory level did not change.Americans are warned about crime, unrest, kidnapping and terrorism across the country, while several areas carry the more severe Level 4 “Do Not Travel” designation.Angel Castellanos, a California-based travel expert, said Americans venturing beyond Peru’s major tourist areas should take the warnings seriously and research their destinations — while pointing out the advisory does not apply to many popular tourist areas.“If you’re venturing outside those areas, that’s when the State Department invites us as responsible travelers to really investigate further and to look into these situations further,” Castellanos told Fox News Digital.Officials say there are risks of “petty theft, carjackings, muggings, assaults, and other violent crime” that “often happen even in daylight hours and with many witnesses around.”The State Department also warned of “express kidnappings,” in which victims are taken to a bank and forced to withdraw funds from their own accounts.Officials said that, while rare, such kidnappings “may occur.”“The risk of crime increases at night,” the Sept.

4 advisory added.“Criminal groups sometimes set up roadblocks to rob people in areas outside of Lima.”Americans are advised not to travel to the Colombia-Peru border area in Loreto or the Valley of the Apurímac, Ene and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM) — which includes Vilcabamba.The cities of Abancay, Ayacucho, Huancavelica and Huancayo are also under a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory due to crime and, in several areas, threats of terrorism.Peru draws tourists to destinations including Cusco, the Sacred Valley, the Inca Trail ...