Is Cusco safe? Peru travel risk
Is Cusco safe right now? Checked 16 October 2026
Cusco scores 54/100 on our travel risk index (Elevated). The US State Department rates Peru Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution, updated 4 Sep 2026); the UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country (updated 9 Oct 2026); Canada says: exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories). GDACS lists 1 minor (green) event within 100 km in the last 14 days. No change in government advice in the last 7 days.
Cusco scores 54/100 (Elevated). The score combines security, crime and scams, health and medical access, natural hazards and current alerts measured for this location and Peru (how it is calculated). The sections below are specific to Cusco: nearest emergency and transport facilities, 5-year natural hazard history within 100 km, frequently asked questions.
Driven by: security (67/100) and crime and scams (55/100).
A score of 54 is higher than the scores of 75% of the 241 countries we cover.
Consult the Peru travel risk page for nationwide security advisories, entry protocols, and consular warnings.
Geographic & Regional Coordinates
Positioned at 13.5250° S, 71.9722° W in Cusco, Cusco features an altitude of 3312 m. The settlement is located 572.9 km WNW from Lima.
Cusco
13.5250° S, 71.9722° W
3312 m
America/Lima
428,450
Emergency & Aviation Access
Nearby Towns & Settlements in Peru
Natural Hazard Calendar & History
5-Year Hazard Calendar (100 km Radius)
| Hazard | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floods | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Wildfires | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — |
| Droughts | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Most flood events within 100 km of Cusco happened in January (1 of 1 in five years).
Source: GDACS, USGS; five years to October 2026.
For consular advice on women's safety, LGBT+ travel, and local laws, see the Peru travel advice & laws.
Check the official entry requirements for your nationality before you travel. See the Peru entry requirements.
Evaluated Destinations in this Region
Questions travellers ask about Cusco
How safe is Cusco?
Cusco currently scores 54/100 on our composite travel risk index (elevated risk; lower is safer). It already includes the current US State Department advisory for Peru (Level 2 of 4). Official advice can change quickly, so check it again shortly before you travel.
Sources: Travel Risk Calculator — Cusco · Methodology
How bad is crime in Cusco?
Our crime score for the Peru country baseline (no city-level score yet) is 55/100 (elevated).
Sources: Travel Risk Calculator — Cusco
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