Lima Travel Forum

Just returned from a three weeks trip to Peru. I was blown away by the poverty in that country. I saw people with one shoe, people with no shoes, dozens of kids roaming the streets in Cusco, hundreds of people (Cusco) lining up at Christmas in front of a church for a piece of sweet bread and a cup of hot chocolate. The Disneyland-like tourism of Machu Picchu is in stark contrast to this, they milk tourists like cash cows, you have to pay to use the bathroom...

The summer nights in Peru were a lot colder than expected.

Be aware of possible security problems! E.g. I used the HOSTAL ROMA in the very center of Lima, Jiron Ica 326, where the hostal staff stole money from me. (I am a hundred percent certain of this!). So be careful and prepared to face some surprises. Still there a great people in Peru there but the poverty drives some of them to extrem measures.... Has anybody had similiar experiences?

Iguana

Good alert post in the middle. Too bad for your experience, or perception based on the time your time there. Yes, the living quality is below 'western' standards but I hope you were able to touch or positively impact some of those children and people even if just for a few seconds and not think of it as a one sided vacation.

Tourist gouging, unmistakable in M.P., security problems as a blanket thru Peru, no, just be conscious.

Hi
Yes you should post a warning about that hostal. I was told to avoid staying in central Lima and I can see this was right (I stayed in Barranco).

On the poverty, it is of course endemic in Peru and Bolivia (can't comment on other SA countries) but I did not get the impression that people were starving in the same way that can be seen in certain African countries. This said, how do you measure poverty scales? I have seen farmers with a few alpacas, a handful of chicken and their own land that a Western European would classify as poor but who are well-off in comparison with others in Peru who cannot afford even shoes.

The best you can do is to be aware that you are carrying on your person things that would probably take a lifetime of savings for most Peruvian to acquire and act modestly. The best way of giving back I found, is not to hand out sweets or money to kids (encourages begging) but to stay in modest family-owned hotels or pensions rather than 5 stars international chains, eat in local restaurants and buy local handicraft at a fair price as souvenirs.

Some would say that even better would be to do some volonteer work but not everyone has the time or courage to do so.

One good trick is to go with clothes/shoes that you can leave behind. You can then give them to a charity during your last days and use the space in your luggage to cram with souvenirs such as carved gourds or alpaca jumpers.
A.

UHMMM..THIS IS WEIRD I SAW THE SAME TOPIC WITH THE SAME WORDS, BUT IN ANOTHER FORUM FROM ANOTHER WEB PAGE.

IT IS LIKE YOU ARE TRYING TO GIVE BAD RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT THAT HOSTEL OR ABOUT PERU?

UHMMM, THATīS NOT NICE AT ALL.

I KNOW LIMA IS DANGEROUS LIKE MOST OF THE CITIES IN THIS WORLD.I WOULD NEVER STAY IN LIMA , NO WAY, WHY DIDNT YOU GET BETTER INFORMATION BEFORE YOU TRAVELED TO PERU AND BETTER BUDGET TOO.

AND ABOUT THE POVERTY ,DONT YOU THINK YOU ARE OVERREACTING?? COME ON! I WAS THERE BY OCTOBER AND THE PICTURE WAS NOT LIKE YOU JUST SAID.

IF YOU DONT LIKE THE COUNTRY, DONT GO AGAIN, BUT STOP WRITING THIS KINDS OF TOPICS BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO REALLY ENJOYED THAT COUNTRY, COULD NOT LIKE THIS KIND OF TOPICS , IM SO THANKFULL WITH ALL THE PEOPLE OVER THERE, THEY GAVE ME BEST VACATION IīVE EVER HAD BEFORE.

Adeline: Very good and true words. I'm only planning my trip to Peru, but I can say the same about Tanzania.

Andex: Sorry for disillusioning you, but there are NOT DANGEROUSE cities at this planet :) Look for and you will find 'em.

P.

P.S. Iguana disappeared from the site right after registering, so doubtful it can see your good replies ;) lol

well poverty is seen pretty much all over the americas. you can also find poor people in the usa living in poor conditions. anyhow, peru is a wonderful country to be enjoyed by everyone. also, tourist are always targets all over the world so just be savvy and aware of your surroundings.