Peru

Peru is a country in South America.

Safety

TAXI

To take a taxi first you will need to negocite the price, taxi drives are going to kown easily that you are a turist, they will put a high price, normaly 3 to 5 Soles (local currency) maybe you can ask to a local how much is the normal price for a taxi, it depens of the distance.

NIGHT TAXIS CAN BE DANGEROUS. STRONG ADVICE

There are some fake-taxis, most of the time at night, that kidnap people, turist or locals, always be carfull of which taxi you are gonig to take. There is no way to recognize a good taxi, so here some advices:

1.- Always ask for the security guys from the clubs, pubs, bars, restaunrant, hostels, bus station, they could ask a taxi for you. This people kown good taxi drivers, you will be safe.

2.- Ask for a remise taxi. You can get some numbers from well educated and middle upper social class in Perú. There are a lot of remsise taxis but just a few are safe. You are going to see that all the taxis have their phone numbers or the company they work for, they can be fake numbers or fake companies.

In Arequipa I strong recomend:

431313 AEROTAXI
202020 TAXI ANGEL

3.- In Peru, there are many types of cars for taxi, you are going to find some really small and funny ones, this cars are TICOS and they are the most popular type of taxi in most of the cities. Do not take a TICO unless someone trustfull recomend it. Take always a big car.

4.- Never take a taxi alone, I strong recomend this for girls, ask someone to join you when you need to take one.

5.- Negociate the price before get inside the taxi and get sure the taxi driver knows the direccion of the place he is going to go. While you talk whit the driver check out inside the car, drivers must have an ID, unit mumber, some accesories whit the logo of the company they work for. Serious taxi companies demand they drivers wear formal, it means shirt and tie.

6.- When you get inside of the taxi, sit in back sit, behind the driver, put the lock to every door and pay atencion where is he driving.

7.- From the bus station, only take the taxis that are in the parking area (inside the bus station) do not take a taxi on the street. Terminal-Terrestre & Terrapuerto are perfect places for fake taxis kidnap people.

8.- If you drink to much, do not take a taxi alone, you wont be able to control the situation. Ask someone trusfull to take you home. Be always alert.

====GIRLS WAS RAPE AND KILLED=====

Happend before can happen in the future.

Please follow this advices. Kidnap taxis are very comon in Peru, this happend as locals as tourist thats why we want to share this information whit the CS comunity.

If you want more information or have some questions can contac whit:

Lucho007 or/and Payo in CS website.

Tips and trivia

Most people live with their parents until marriage. If you're CouchSurfing this means you will stay with a family, which is a great experience.

How to be a good guest

it is good to consider that the average income in Peru is very low compared to developed countries. So life is very cheap and people is generous but sometimes they can not afford giving you things that might not look expensive for you though they are for them. Most people can't afford travelling through their country as frequently as they would like, so if you cover their expenses and they have time, some of them might become veritable tour guides for you showing you special places almost for free, compared to travel agencies, specially in the Andean region. Nevertheless, watch out for thieves, try to go inadverted.

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wikitravel:Peru