The State Department alerts U.S. citizens to the torrential rainfall that has triggered flooding and landslides in selected regions of Peru.

Peru’s meteorology service expects heavy rains to continue through the end of March and into April. The Government of Peru declared a state of emergency for the Carretera Central affecting various districts in multiple provinces, including in Lima province. The northern and central mountains have also been affected by the rains. U.S. citizens should avoid Travel to areas under a state of emergency. This Travel Alert expires on April 30, 2017.

The City of Cusco, the archaeological site of Machu Picchu and the tourist areas surrounding Lake Titicaca have not experienced flooding at this time. An interactive map from the Government of Peru showing the affected districts is available at https://goo.gl/N4mhEO. 

You are encouraged to carefully review the safety situation of your destination before travel. Visit the link above for the latest information.

Heavy rains have resulted in extensive damage to homes, water supply facilities, schools, hospitals, roads, and bridges in rural Lima and northern coastal areas. Additionally, there is extremely high demand for flights and potable water in the affected areas. 

Travel to impacted areas is likely to be delayed and may be dangerous due to bad road conditions and the possibility of severe flooding or other natural disasters. Commercial air service to and from some flooded areas can be suspended with little to no warning. If you experience delays in travel, contact local authorities at IPeru (01-574-8000; [email protected]), which maintains offices in cities around the country and regularly updates information on local developments affecting travelers, including alternative methods of transit. 

Listen to travel alerts and safety instructions from local authorities and avoid flooded areas. Establish a plan for maintaining contact with family and friends and keep them informed of your itinerary. 

Official U.S. government travel to and along areas of the Carretera Central will only be allowed on a case-by-case basis. U.S. government employees have been encouraged to avoid personal travel to the coastal Departments of Piura, Lambayeque, La Libertad, and Tumbes. Peace Corps volunteers in the regions of Piura, Lambayeque, and La Libertad will relocate to other areas of Peru or the United States. Volunteers throughout the remainder of the country will remain in their sites.

For further information:

• See the State Department’s travel website for the Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Country Specific Information for Peru.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
• Contact the U.S. Embassy in Peru, located in Monterrico, a suburb of Lima, at Avenida La Encalada, Block Seventeen. You can call the Embassy at 51-1-618-2000 during business hours, 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday, or dial the same number to reach a duty officer for after-hours emergencies.
• Call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).