Other Tourist Scams in Cusco, Peru
Timeshares, fake police, charity fraud, and miscellaneous scams targeting visitors. Below are the other scams scams reported in Cusco — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Buenos Aires, Lima, and Medellín.
Last updated: April 2, 2026
2
Other Scams Scams
11
Total in Cusco
How it works
Pharmacies and street sellers near Cusco's main plaza sell fake or substandard altitude sickness medication (acetazolamide/Diamox) to desperate tourists. Placebos leave travellers seriously ill at altitude.
How it works
Pharmacies and "altitude clinics" near the Plaza de Armas charge tourists $30–80 for altitude sickness medication (acetazolamide/Diamox) and oxygen that costs a fraction of that price at regular pharmacies.
See all scams in Cusco
11 total warnings across all categories