To paraphrase, “It Happens”. If you are traveling independently things won’t always go according to plan on your Peru vacation and often the best you can hope for is that the disaster happens to someone else. However, you can always reduce your chances of being the unwilling star of an unfolding travel nightmare by learning from other people’s experiences or by having a Tour Operator take the strain. If you decide to go DIY here are 4 classics horror stories and advice to help you avoid a similar fate.

Please remember that 99 percent of people never encounter problems but as with any foreign country, forewarned is forearmed!

Horror story number 1. Peru moto-taxis – vehicles from hell

If a force of evil was ever represented through vehicles, it would probably look a lot like a moto-taxi. Many people think that the whole experience is thrilling and funny but for others it may not be. Speeding recklessly through traffic and polluting the air as much as four to five real cars, there is very little reason for their existence. To add to the fun, one unlucky traveller fell foul of a scheme where drivers partner up with thieves. A taxi drove past him slowly with two people inside; one hopped out and robbed him, afterwards jumping back into the moto-taxi which sped off.

How to avoid the horror: Tourists can avoid problems like these by traveling in authorized taxis taken from your hotel or the airport, having taxis pre-organised by your restuarants, staying clear of bad neighbourhoods and keeping valuables hidden in transit.

Horror story number 2. Peru Border crossings – from the frying pan into the fire

Another classic location for scams is when crossing between countries. In a common example, one couple was scammed crossing the border from Peru to Ecuador. They were told by someone who said he was from the only bus company that could take them across the border. He added that he could help them get the bus and the company was sending people to pick up travellers from the bus stations. Instead they were led on a merry dance to a market, then to a car park. Finally the scammers were ‘picked up by the police’, after which the couple had to pay the scammers several hundred dollars in order to ‘cover fines’.

How to avoid the horror: With the benefit of hindsight, the advice is to never trust or follow a stranger in a border area, and to make all decisions at a border slowly and cautiously, asking for opinions of multiple people. Better still have an organized crossing with a guide and your own transport.

Horror story number 3. Peru Hotel Experiences – the fine art of Peruvian customer service

Arriving late one night at the bus station an arranging to stay at a hotel with a double room, private bath and toilet, a couple were treated to a fine example of the dark side of Peruvian service. They arrived at the hotel and there was no room for them. They were forced to sleep on the floor of the common area with no privacy, take showers in the filthy workers room, and use the public restroom that had no mirror, soap, or light. They complained to the management, but it was no use. The owner said she did not speak English but during the conversation hid behind her associate and translated the conversation, saying in English at the end, “You are only two, millions come here.”

How to avoid the horror: Use websites such as tripadvisor.com to check out the real stories behind the glossy hotel brochures or select a travel agent to do the work for you. If you end up having a bad experience, you can take your revenge on the same pages to warn the “millions of others”. If you choose to book through a tour company that has well-established relationships with hotels, you will add that extra level of guarantee.

Horror story number 4. Climbing mountains the unpleasant way

One couple hired a guide to climb the volcano Chachani near Arequipa along with two other people. The mountain has a height of 6,000 meters and people need to acclimate themselves. The guide claimed to be of an international standard. However, the climb, which should have taken eight hours took them fourteen as the guide climbed extremely slowly and did not pay attention to the two other people who were not trained to climb such a height. He did not listen to the explanation of their struggles, and was very rude. This will definitely ruin your holiday!

How to avoid the horror: Ask other travellers for recommendations when selecting guides, or only hire guides from respected agencies. Also try to avoid the temptation to cut costs, especially if you are undertaking a potentially dangerous activity such as mountaineering or remote trekking. A better-paid guide will generally provide a better level of service.

Many of these problems come from independent travel, trying to move around too quickly with little preparation and trying to bring costs down to accommodate a small travel budget. A good alternative if you’re short on time is to book through a tour agency with a good level of local knowledge and a strong network of trusted tourism contacts. This way, you’ll only be reading Peru vacation horror stories, instead of writing them.