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IN Jan and Feb of 2005. My friend and I will travel to Peru and
Bolivia. Is it safe to carry my back pack on my back. How great is the
chance that someone may come up behind me and cut open me backpack?
Any tips on how to stay safe traveling in Peru and Bolivia. I
understand that not many places take travelor checks or credit cards.
Is there any thing other than cash.we can use?

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"kokko00" <kokko00@hotmail.com> wrote:

>IN Jan and Feb of 2005. My friend and I will travel to Peru and
>Bolivia. Is it safe to carry my back pack on my back. How great is the
>chance that someone may come up behind me and cut open me backpack?

Pretty good chance -- especially in Lima and Cuzco, or when using
public transportation. Violent assaults to get your valuables are more
of a problem in Peru (especially Lima) than Bolivia. On buses in both
countries, the ladrones are famous for handing packs out the window to
cohorts -- always keep your pack within reach (preferably between your
legs with a strap looped to a leg) and never let it be put in luggage
racks on the top of the buses. Beware of distractions in any public
place and never be alone in tourist areas with your valuables.

>Any tips on how to stay safe traveling in Peru and Bolivia.

We didn't have any problem in two extended visits through both
countries, but we avoided cities and didn't often depend on public
transportation. Read the warnings in the travel books, an be a savvy
and cautious traveler. The ill-prepared are just as likely to be
victimized in Peru and Bolivia as they are in New York or Rome.

http://travel3.his.com/travel/trave...s/cis_1069.html
http://travel3.his.com/travel/trave...is/cis_998.html

Do not go to bars, and don't accept drinks (or drugs) from anyone.

>I understand that not many places take travelor checks or credit cards.
>Is there any thing other than cash.we can use?

In cities, credit cards are taken in tourist places (Visa cards are
widely accepted) but they will often add on a special 10% service
charge for doing this. American Express travelers checks can be cashed
at banks, but *not* at American Express offices. Beware of counterfeit
US dollar notes. Take local currency and keep your big bills in a
money belt.


Caveat

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"Caveat" <caveat@bogusaddy.com> wrote in message
news:ubl5t01j3b757rblqiqo0u87hvqbrimotm@4ax.com...
> "kokko00" <kokko00@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >IN Jan and Feb of 2005. My friend and I will travel to Peru and
> >Bolivia. Is it safe to carry my back pack on my back. How great is the
> >chance that someone may come up behind me and cut open me backpack?
>
> Pretty good chance -- especially in Lima and Cuzco, or when using
> public transportation. Violent assaults to get your valuables are more
> of a problem in Peru (especially Lima) than Bolivia. On buses in both
> countries, the ladrones are famous for handing packs out the window to
> cohorts -- always keep your pack within reach (preferably between your
> legs with a strap looped to a leg) and never let it be put in luggage
> racks on the top of the buses. Beware of distractions in any public
> place and never be alone in tourist areas with your valuables.
>
> >Any tips on how to stay safe traveling in Peru and Bolivia.
>
> We didn't have any problem in two extended visits through both
> countries, but we avoided cities and didn't often depend on public
> transportation. Read the warnings in the travel books, an be a savvy
> and cautious traveler. The ill-prepared are just as likely to be
> victimized in Peru and Bolivia as they are in New York or Rome.
>
> http://travel3.his.com/travel/trave...s/cis_1069.html
> http://travel3.his.com/travel/trave...is/cis_998.html
>
> Do not go to bars, and don't accept drinks (or drugs) from anyone.
>
> >I understand that not many places take travelor checks or credit cards.
> >Is there any thing other than cash.we can use?
>
> In cities, credit cards are taken in tourist places (Visa cards are
> widely accepted) but they will often add on a special 10% service
> charge for doing this. American Express travelers checks can be cashed
> at banks, but *not* at American Express offices. Beware of counterfeit
> US dollar notes. Take local currency and keep your big bills in a
> money belt.
>

I used twice a long distance bus in Peru. The backpacks were in the bottom
storage of the bus. All were tagged and you get a tag to get your backpack
back at the end of the trip. The seat is reserved on your ticket.

In the cities (Cuzco, Lima), I didn't feel unsafe. I was in Peru during the
presential elections in 2000 and there were several demonstrations, but they
were never threatening.
Only be warned about the ketchup trick : Somebody puts ketchup (or something
else) on
your daypack and 'helps' you to clean it. Afterwards, the weight of the
daypack will be less ;-).
There is lot of police presence to prevent trouble.

In general I felt more safe in downtown Lima and Cuzco as in some cities in
the USA.

Jan

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"Caveat" <caveat@bogusaddy.com> wrote in message
news:ubl5t01j3b757rblqiqo0u87hvqbrimotm@4ax.com...
> "kokko00" <kokko00@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >IN Jan and Feb of 2005. My friend and I will travel to Peru and
> >Bolivia. Is it safe to carry my back pack on my back. How great is the
> >chance that someone may come up behind me and cut open me backpack?
>
> Pretty good chance -- especially in Lima and Cuzco, or when using
> public transportation. Violent assaults to get your valuables are more
> of a problem in Peru (especially Lima) than Bolivia. On buses in both
> countries, the ladrones are famous for handing packs out the window to
> cohorts -- always keep your pack within reach (preferably between your
> legs with a strap looped to a leg) and never let it be put in luggage
> racks on the top of the buses. Beware of distractions in any public
> place and never be alone in tourist areas with your valuables.
>
> >Any tips on how to stay safe traveling in Peru and Bolivia.
>
> We didn't have any problem in two extended visits through both
> countries, but we avoided cities and didn't often depend on public
> transportation. Read the warnings in the travel books, an be a savvy
> and cautious traveler. The ill-prepared are just as likely to be
> victimized in Peru and Bolivia as they are in New York or Rome.
>
> http://travel3.his.com/travel/trave...s/cis_1069.html
> http://travel3.his.com/travel/trave...is/cis_998.html
>
> Do not go to bars, and don't accept drinks (or drugs) from anyone.
>
> >I understand that not many places take travelor checks or credit cards.
> >Is there any thing other than cash.we can use?
>
> In cities, credit cards are taken in tourist places (Visa cards are
> widely accepted) but they will often add on a special 10% service
> charge for doing this. American Express travelers checks can be cashed
> at banks, but *not* at American Express offices. Beware of counterfeit
> US dollar notes. Take local currency and keep your big bills in a
> money belt.
>

I used twice a long distance bus in Peru. The backpacks were in the bottom
storage of the bus. All were tagged and you get a tag to get your backpack
back at the end of the trip. The seat is reserved on your ticket.

In the cities (Cuzco, Lima), I didn't feel unsafe. I was in Peru during the
presential elections in 2000 and there were several demonstrations, but they
were never threatening.
Only be warned about the ketchup trick : Somebody puts ketchup (or something
else) on
your daypack and 'helps' you to clean it. Afterwards, the weight of the
daypack will be less ;-).
There is lot of police presence to prevent trouble.

In general I felt more safe in downtown Lima and Cuzco as in some cities in
the USA.

Jan

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"Caveat" <caveat@bogusaddy.com> wrote in message
news:ubl5t01j3b757rblqiqo0u87hvqbrimotm@4ax.com...
> "kokko00" <kokko00@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >IN Jan and Feb of 2005. My friend and I will travel to Peru and
> >Bolivia. Is it safe to carry my back pack on my back. How great is the
> >chance that someone may come up behind me and cut open me backpack?

In 8 months in Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile we did not have even 1
problem.
Most buses in Peru and Bolivia have windows that cannot open far enough to
get a pack out,
this being due to lack of maintenance.
Most bus services have a ticket for your baggage, if they don't, then get
off the bus at every stop
and watch what is happening. This is no big deal.
In our experience, a brightly colored, rip stop nylon bag with your pack
inside it is not going to
be easy to walk off with.
Don't get paranoid about it.
At your accom, ask about the safe boundaries from there and at what time you
should be inside

> Pretty good chance -- especially in Lima and Cuzco, or when using
> public transportation. Violent assaults to get your valuables are more
> of a problem in Peru (especially Lima) than Bolivia. On buses in both
> countries, the ladrones are famous for handing packs out the window to
> cohorts -- always keep your pack within reach (preferably between your
> legs with a strap looped to a leg) and never let it be put in luggage
> racks on the top of the buses. Beware of distractions in any public
> place and never be alone in tourist areas with your valuables.
>
> >Any tips on how to stay safe traveling in Peru and Bolivia.
>
> We didn't have any problem in two extended visits through both
> countries, but we avoided cities and didn't often depend on public
> transportation. Read the warnings in the travel books, an be a savvy
> and cautious traveler. The ill-prepared are just as likely to be
> victimized in Peru and Bolivia as they are in New York or Rome.
>
SNIP

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Caveat <caveat@bogusaddy.com> wrote:

<snipped>

Sorry, the cited URLs in my post appear to be dead links, so here's a
summary of the US State Dept. crime warnings for Bolivia and Peru:

BOLIVIA:

"Street crime, such as pick pocketing and theft from parked vehicles,
happens with some frequency in Bolivia...Thefts of bags, wallets and
backpacks are a problem throughout Bolivia. Most thefts involve two or
three people who spot a likely victim and wait until the bag or
backpack is placed on the ground, often at a restaurant, bus terminal,
Internet café, etc. In other cases, the thief places a disagreeable
substance on the clothes or backpack of the intended victim, and then
offers to assist the victim with the removal of the substance. While
the person is distracted, the thief or an accomplice will grab the bag
or backpack and flee... All visitors should avoid being alone on the
streets, especially after 6:00 PM. "

PERU:
"Violent crime, including carjacking, assault, and armed robbery, is
common in Lima. Resistance to violent crime often provokes greater
violence, while victims who do not resist usually do not suffer
serious physical harm... In downtown Lima and suburban areas
frequented by tourists, the risk of street crime is high...
Street crime is also prevalent in cities in Peru's interior, including
Cuzco, Arequipa, Puno and Juliaca, and pickpocketers frequent the
market areas in these cities. In Cuzco, "chokehold" or "strangle"
muggings are common... These assaults have occurred during both
daylight hours and at night..."

To read the full text of the US Consular warnings, try these links:

http://travel3.his.com/travel/cis_p...s/cis_1069.html
http://travel3.his.com/travel/cis_p...is/cis_998.html

Take these with however many grains of salt as you wish; YMMV.


Caveat

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