Common Tourist Scams in Cusco (and How to Avoid Them)
Plaza de Armas and pickpocketing
- Pickpocket teams work the Plaza de Armas at peak afternoon hours, especially around the cathedral entrance and the picture-taking spots. Phone in front pocket.
- "Photo with a llama" scams: women in traditional dress with llamas approach for a "free photo," then demand 20-50 soles. Agree the fee beforehand (5-10 soles is fair).
- "Where are you from?" + extended conversation: most are genuinely friendly. A few are setups for shop-redirect or "let me show you a special bar" pitches that end at clip-joints.
- Fake Machu Picchu tickets sold by touts. Buy only at the official MINCETUR ticket office in Aguas Calientes or via the official online portal.
- "I'll get you a cheap Inca Trail permit": permits are limited and sold months in advance. Anyone offering a "last-minute" permit is selling fake or stolen.
FAQ
- What's the biggest scam to avoid in Cusco?
- Fake Machu Picchu tickets and Inca Trail permits from touts in Plaza de Armas and around San Pedro market — Machu Picchu permits are only sold via the official MINCETUR portal (tuboleto.cultura.pe) and the official window in Cusco/Aguas Calientes, and Inca Trail permits sell out 4-6 months ahead so any 'last-minute' offer is fake or stolen. Use reputable Inca Trail operators (Llama Path, Wayki Trek, Alpaca Expeditions, SAS Travel). Other recurring patterns: 'photo with a llama' women in traditional dress demanding 20-50 soles after the photo (agree 5-10 soles first); unmetered street taxis at Cusco Airport (use Uber/InDriver); and ATM skimming at outdoor machines (use bank-branch ATMs in daylight).
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