Lima And Callao State Of Emergency Extends Into December

Published on Nov 24, 2025, 8:40 am CST

9 min read

Key points

Peru has extended the state of emergency in Metropolitan Lima and Callao for 30 days from November 21 to December 21, 2025 to tackle violent crime and extortion
The measure keeps armed forces supporting police patrols, checkpoints, and ID checks on key routes, including corridors to Jorge Chávez International Airport
Travel advisories from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia highlight higher crime risk, frequent protests, and possible disruption to transport links
The emergency applies to Lima and Callao only, but past protests and strikes elsewhere in Peru have at times disrupted access to Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu
Visitors staying in districts such as Miraflores, San Isidro, and the historic center should avoid protest focal points and allow extra time for airport and intercity transfers

Impact

Where Impacts Are Most Likely: Expect the most visible security presence and checks along airport access roads, main arteries into central Lima, busy districts like Miraflores and San Isidro, and around protest prone plazas
Best Times To Travel: Plan airport transfers and cross town journeys outside weekday rush hours, and build in at least 60 to 90 minutes of buffer for trips between the airport and central districts
Onward Travel And Changes: If you are connecting in Lima to domestic flights, long distance buses, or trains toward Cusco and Machu Picchu, keep generous connection times and avoid separate tickets wherever possible
What Travelers Should Do Now: Confirm hotel locations and transfer plans, monitor local news and embassy alerts for protest dates, avoid large gatherings, and keep identification handy for checkpoints
Health And Safety Factors: Stay in well reviewed areas, use licensed taxis or trusted car services, keep valuables discreet, and follow local advice if crime or protests flare near your accommodation

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City breaks and transit nights in Lima now sit under an extended security umbrella, because Peru has prolonged the Lima Callao state of emergency that began in October, rolling it forward for another 30 days from November 21 to December 21, 2025. The measure covers Metropolitan Lima and the neighboring port province of Callao, where Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) is located, and keeps soldiers on the streets alongside police to confront violent crime and extortion. For travelers, this means more patrols, checkpoints, and identification checks on key routes, plus a lower tolerance for large gatherings during the early December high season.

In practical terms, the extension means the state of emergency in Lima and Callao, first declared by President José Jerí and approved by the Council of Ministers on October 22, will no longer expire toward the end of November but will remain in effect until at least December 21, overlapping peak international arrivals and many Christmas season trips.

Background, what the state of emergency does

Under Peru's emergency framework, the government can temporarily suspend some constitutional rights, including freedom of assembly, and authorize the armed forces to support the National Police in maintaining public order. The original Lima and Callao decree responded to a sharp rise in homicides and extortion, and followed weeks of street protests in which one person was killed and more than 100 were injured in the capital.

The extension is formalized in Supreme Decree No. 132 2025 PCM, published in official gazette El Peruano, which explicitly prolongs the emergency for 30 calendar days starting November 21, 2025. The text states that the National Police keeps primary control of internal order, with the armed forces in a supporting role, and allows security forces to define intervention zones based on intelligence, crime statistics, and mapping tools to focus on areas most affected by shootings, contract killings, and extortion.

Notably, the current decree does not impose a blanket curfew in Lima or Callao. Local coverage and observers emphasize that nightlife and cultural events are still operating, but under a heavier security presence and with a more assertive approach to dispersing unauthorized marches.

Where the emergency applies, and where it does not

The emergency zone is limited to Metropolitan Lima and the Constitutional Province of Callao. This includes central and coastal neighborhoods familiar to visitors, such as Miraflores, Barranco, San Isidro, parts of the historic center, and the airport and port corridors in Callao. It does not automatically extend to other regions popular with tourists, such as Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Arequipa, or the Amazon, although those areas can have their own regional restrictions or security alerts.

For travelers, the most noticeable friction will likely appear on the ground links between Jorge Chávez International Airport and hotel districts, on major urban highways, and in protest sensitive areas around central plazas and government buildings. Expect random checkpoints, vehicle stops, and ID checks, particularly at night and around dates when labor groups or student movements have announced demonstrations.

The decree also reinforces security around the Port of Callao, Peru's main container and cruise gateway, which can matter for passengers on repositioning voyages or South Pacific itineraries that include Lima as a call or changeover point. Freight operators report that security measures around port access have already tightened, with closer inspection of trucks and containers, which can spill over into traffic congestion on connecting roads.

How advisories frame the risk for tourists

The United States categorizes Peru as Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, citing crime, civil unrest, and kidnapping risk, with separate higher level warnings for some regions. Canada tells travelers to exercise a high degree of caution due to high levels of crime and the possibility of social conflicts and strikes across the country, and explicitly notes the state of emergency in Lima and Callao aimed at curbing violent crime.

The United Kingdom's travel advice highlights the emergency and warns that protests in Lima often center on the historic district but can spread to other neighborhoods, while strikes and demonstrations elsewhere have at times disrupted train services to and from Machu Picchu. Australia's Smartraveller urges a high degree of caution overall in Peru due to violent crime, with more restrictive guidance near some borders and a broad reminder that protests and roadblocks can flare with relatively little notice.

Taken together, these advisories do not tell tourists to avoid Lima or cancel trips outright. Instead, they push visitors to pay closer attention to neighborhood choice, local news, and the logistics of getting in and out of the capital safely.

Airport access, transfers, and timing

Jorge Chávez International Airport remains operational. Airlines have not announced schedule changes tied directly to the state of emergency, and the decree does not interfere with airport operations, airline security procedures, or normal immigration and customs processing.

The main stress point is likely to be the journey between the airport and city districts. Visitors should expect more visible police and military patrols along Avenida Elmer Faucett, the Costa Verde, and other primary routes, along with occasional vehicle checkpoints where officers may ask to see identification and may briefly question drivers or passengers. These controls can be tighter after dark and on days when protests or high profile events are scheduled.

As a baseline, travelers should schedule airport pickups with trusted providers, such as hotel arranged cars, reputable transfer companies, or well reviewed app based services that operate legally in Lima. Independent taxis can be more vulnerable to scams or opportunistic theft, particularly at night, and are a less attractive option while security forces are running targeted checks on certain corridors.

Because checkpoints and protest related detours can slow traffic, it is sensible to add at least 60 to 90 minutes of buffer beyond your airline's recommended airport arrival time for journeys between central districts and the terminal, especially for rush hour departures or long haul flights with tight onward connections. If you are connecting in Lima between an international arrival and a separate domestic ticket to Cusco or another city, a three hour or greater gap is more prudent than a same day sprint.

Neighborhood choice and daily movement

Miraflores and San Isidro remain the most common bases for international visitors, with a dense mix of hotels, restaurants, and coastal walks. Under the extended emergency, these areas will likely see more patrol vehicles and occasional ID checks, but daily life has continued, and most businesses have stayed open. Protest activity is more concentrated in parts of central Lima near Congress, the presidential palace, and major plazas, which is one reason many embassies recommend keeping a degree of separation between lodging and the core political zone.

If you want to visit the historic center, it is wise to go during daylight hours with a clear route in and out, and to leave any area where crowds begin to gather or where police presence suddenly thickens. During active demonstrations, authorities may temporarily close metro or bus stops, set up fencing, or block streets, which can strand vehicles or make it harder to reach your hotel until the situation calms.

Standard urban safety practices matter more than ever. Keep phones and wallets out of sight in crowded areas, use hotel safes for passports when practical, and carry a copy or digital image of your passport and entry stamp for casual ID checks. At night, favor licensed taxis or ride hailing over walking long distances, particularly in unfamiliar neighborhoods or near transport hubs.

Knock on effects beyond Lima

The state of emergency extension is focused on the capital and Callao, but Peru's broader pattern of unrest is relevant for travelers planning multi stop itineraries. In recent years, and again in 2025, protests have periodically shut down roads and rail links to Machu Picchu, leaving hundreds of tourists temporarily stranded in Aguas Calientes or forcing authorities to close the site until negotiations restore normal service.

Canadian, British, and other advisories explicitly mention that social conflicts and strikes can disrupt intercity buses, domestic flights, and tourist trains, even when the main headline events are centered in Lima or other urban hubs. That context is why many tour operators and embassies advise keeping itineraries flexible, avoiding extremely tight same day connections across different modes, and staying alert to local announcements about marches or roadblocks.

If you are using Lima as a gateway to Cusco and the Sacred Valley, or onward to destinations such as Arequipa, Puno, or the Amazon, think of the capital as a potential friction point rather than a reason to abandon plans altogether. Building in at least one night in Lima at the start or end of the trip, using flexible hotel and flight fares where possible, and staying in touch with your airline or tour operator can create more room to adjust if a protest, strike, or security operation slows transit.

What this means for upcoming trips

For most visitors, the extended state of emergency in Lima and Callao will show up as extra uniforms, more ID checks, and a slightly slower airport to hotel commute rather than as a direct threat to personal safety. The underlying crime problem is serious, and the politics around the emergency powers are contested. However, the practical takeaway for travelers is to treat Lima as a big city that requires situational awareness and realistic timing, especially in the run up to Christmas and New Year.

Budget more time for transfers and airport formalities, choose accommodation in well connected districts, avoid protests and large gatherings even if they look peaceful, and lean on official and reputable local sources when assessing any new flare ups. With those precautions, Lima can still function as a workable gateway for trips across Peru while the state of emergency continues through December 21, 2025.