Street Scams in Machu Picchu, Peru
Pickpockets, distraction thieves, fake petitions, and street hustles in tourist areas. Below are the street scams scams reported in Machu Picchu — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Valparaíso, Mendoza, and Medellín.
Last updated: April 7, 2026
2
Street Scams Scams
8
Total in Machu Picchu
How it works
Women in traditional Quechua dress with llamas and alpacas position themselves at high-visibility photo spots along the approach to the citadel and near the Sun Gate. After a tourist photographs them, they demand payment and can become aggressive if the amount offered is deemed insufficient.
How it works
Vendors near the Aguas Calientes market and in Cusco's Plaza de Armas sell herbal "altitude remedies" and coca tea packets at inflated tourist prices, sometimes claiming proprietary formulas that do not differ from standard coca leaf products available at any market. Some push prescription-strength acetazolamide without medical consultation.
See all scams in Machu Picchu
8 total warnings across all categories
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