Is Puno Safe in September 2026?

Touts on Jirón Lima sell "authentic Uros homestay tours" at 200-400 soles above agency prices, claiming exclusive access. In reality the islands see thousands of tourists weekly and the "homestay" is on a staged island built for tour visits.

How to avoid: Book Uros + Taquile combo tours through established agencies (All Ways Travel, Edgar Adventures) at their offices. Prices are transparent and fall within a known range (70-120 soles for half-day).

Unlicensed taxi drivers congregate outside the Terminal Terrestre on Primero de Mayo Avenue and aggressively approach arriving bus passengers, particularly those arriving overnight from Cusco or La Paz. These pirate taxis frequently overcharge by 3–5 times the standard city rate, take unnecessarily long routes through unfamiliar neighborhoods, and in some reported cases have been linked to robbery when a second person is already in the vehicle. The risk is significantly elevated between 10 PM and 6 AM.

How to avoid: Arrange a taxi through your hotel in advance or use the official radio taxi companies such as Taxi Seguro. Agree on the fare before getting in and never get into a vehicle that already has a passenger.

Pharmacies and street vendors near the Puno main plaza and along Jirón Lima pedestre sell Soroche Pills (acetazolamide) and coca tea supplements at wildly inflated tourist prices. Some street sellers offer loose unlabeled tablets claiming to be altitude medication — these have no verified content and could be anything from glucose tablets to diuretics. At 3,830 metres above sea level, taking unverified medication while genuinely ill is a safety risk, not just a financial one.

How to avoid: Purchase altitude medication from licensed pharmacies (farmacias) with sealed original packaging only. Chain pharmacies such as Botica Arcángel on Jirón Lima charge standard local prices. Bring acetazolamide from home if you know you are susceptible.

Overnight buses from Cusco arrive at Puno terminal around 4-5 AM. Groomed teams work the unloading area, either distracting arrivals while bags are lifted from the cargo hold, or swapping claim tags.

How to avoid: Stay next to your bag until it is in your hand. Use taxis from the official terminal rank, not drivers who approach inside the terminal. Carry small cash in a separate pocket for early-morning emergencies.

Criminals monitor ATM users on Jirón Lima and around the Parque Pino area, following tourists who withdraw large amounts of cash and forcing them into a vehicle where they are held while additional withdrawals are made from their cards. This is a known pattern in Peruvian highland cities. Incidents are more common in the evening and have been reported to Puno tourist police. A variation involves a distraction team stealing the card first.

How to avoid: Withdraw cash during daylight hours at bank-premises ATMs inside BCP or Interbank branches on Jirón Lima. Withdraw only what you need for the day. Be aware of anyone watching you at the machine.