Health & Safety

Health & Safety

Health Mountain towns and Lake Titicaca are home to soroche (altitude sickness). Temporary cures include mate de coca (coca tea) or chancaca (crystallized pure cane sugar). Drink lots of bottled water and forgo alcohol.

Safety Colca Canyon is safe as are Arequipa and Puno. However, don't walk alone at night, know where your money is, and educate yourself on the good and bad parts of town. Police presence has increased in Arequipa. Use only recommended taxi companies or have someone call you one. But walking around the Plaza, even at night, is safe in Arequipa. Hiking El Misti alone is not recommended. Puno is generally safe in the tourist areas, but at night the port and the area in the hills are not safe.