Originally Posted by
hobarthoney
I found Cuzco a very safe place and a city I want to visit again. If you stay around the city center I am sure you will be fine. As for Lima the hotel I stayed in near the airport would not let us out of the mini van until we were inside the gates. I went out onto the balcony and herd loads of screaming and unpleasant sounds. I asked the hotel staff about going for a walk and they said it is not safe enough. Like all cities in the world I am sure there are safe and unsafe places. I picked an unsafe one!
Callao (the area around the airport) is definitely not a safe zone, especially after dark. You are much better off staying in one of the hotels in the nicer areas of San Isidro and Miraflores. Avoid Callao, except transit to and from the airport.