Sponsored Listings:
I first stepped foot in Peru in June of 2006. Before I left home, I spent a day on the floor of a bookstore, travel guides sprawled out around me. Nearly every one I read had something terrible to say about Peru, and most especially Lima, a city I had just signed up to spend six months in. They said is was dirty, dangerous, with perils around every corner. As a 20-year-old female traveling alone, I was pretty terrified.
by: szeke flickr – Courtesy: Trip.com
Being a woman in Peru
I had only been in the country for a few days when, while wandering around the colonial downtown of Lima, a woman — shorter than me by at least half a foot, and older than me by at least half a century — stopped me in my tracks to scold me for so carelessly leaving my backpack on my… back. I should be carrying it in front of me, she exclaimed, so that no one could rob me from behind, slicing the bottom of my bag with a knife and grabbing its contents before I even had time to turn around.
Peru can be dangerous, especially for women. In my decade of traveling to and living in the country, I found that Peruvian culture, through TV, newspapers, and just word of mouth, likes to constantly remind you of how many ways there are to be robbed or kidnapped or get mixed up in a drug cartel. It’s exhausting. But actual stories of violent crime or robberies are much more anecdotal, and — whether by luck or hypervigilance, I’ll never know — I don’t have many unpleasant anecdotes of my own (in the colonial downtown of Lima or elsewhere), and, to the contrary, my time in Peru has given me some of my most treasured experiences.
by: Minamie’s Photo flickr – Courtesy: Trip.com
But while there are steps to take to try to avoid being the victim of the crime, being subject to machismo is an entirely different issue. That’s in part because Peruvian society is, unfortunately, still one that sees women as objects to be ogled. Nearly-naked women are everywhere, from the centerfolds of news magazines to bouncing around as props in bras and miniskirts on national TV. Many men think they have the right to mark you as a sexual object at the expense of your comfort. It’s a thing, and it makes it very hard to go unnoticed, especially if you look like a foreigner. There’s even a name — brichero — to describe the men who hang around in tourist centers like Cusco, waiting to charm women with their broken English and dusty-chic style.
When confronted with cat-calling, being followed or approached by men, or any other dealings with men that make you uncomfortable, my experience is that it is best to completely ignore it — no eye contact, no verbal communication — and move on.
So why go?
Despite some rough edges and the need to be extra vigilant, Peru is still a country that is easy to love. Peruvian culture and history is fascinating, and frankly some of the best preserved on the planet. And the food. Now recognized internationally, Peruvian cuisine is thriving in the spotlight, and there is no better place to try it than in its home country. (There are few better experiences in life than enjoying a ceviche and a cold pisco sour on the Peruvian coast.)
by: Alix F – Courtesy: Trip.com
The landscapes are stunning — from the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Lima to the towering peaks of Machu Picchu and the verdant jungle of the Amazon. And a personal favorite: Peru is one of the most ecologically diverse countries on the planet, a fact I most appreciate for the country’s amazing selection of adorable camelids (alpacas! llamas! vicuñas!).
Practical Tips:
- Even if you speak Spanish, pretend you don’t if you are approached by strangers you are uncomfortable with.
- Avoid sports events after dark, when gang activity is common.
- Don’t hail a taxi on the street if you can avoid it. There are local safe taxi companies — get the number of one from your hotel.
- When in a taxi, keep your things hidden. Put your purse on the floor under your feet and, if you have a suitcase, store it in the trunk.
- Don’t skimp on your inter-city bus ticket — those cheap companies don’t enforce basic safety rules, and the Andes are a notoriously dangerous place to drive. Also, when on a bus, don’t put any valuables in the stowed luggage compartment.
- When possible, carry only the amount of cash you will need for the day — leave your credit cards and extra cash in a safe in your hotel.
- Cross-body purses are best because it’s harder for someone to simply grab it and run.
- You can rent a cell phone from the airport, which is recommended especially for calling taxis. Store emergency numbers in it: 105 for police and 117 for an ambulance.
- Cell phones are easy targets for robbery. Check your surroundings before pulling one out, and put it away quickly.
- Hostel culture is really big in Peru, and they’re a great place to meet people and even join in on some group tours and nightlife outings.
by: archer10 (Dennis) 90M Views flickr – Courtesy: Trip.com
Ready to Go?
This is all to say: Definitely visit Peru — it is a country that is not worth missing out on. Be extremely vigilant in cities, take precautions, do your research. Even in the countryside and less populated areas where crime is less prevalent, keep your guard up. But don’t be so stressed out about it that it ruins your trip. The vast majority of Peruvians are incredibly kind and helpful and — like that elderly woman in Lima — concerned about your safety. Making human connections is one of the best parts of travel, and you wouldn’t want to miss out in a place as wonderful as Peru.
Source: gogobot.com