Information only. Not legal advice. Laws change and enforcement varies — consult a qualified attorney for your jurisdiction before acting.
What's Illegal inPeru?
The rules that get visitors to Peru in trouble are rarely the obvious ones. Of the 22 common items and activities tracked here, 6 are outright illegal and 9 are restricted or conditional. The strictest area for Peru is recreational substances, which is the first place to check before you travel.
Coca leaves legal but cocaine isn't. Don't bring coca products across borders.
DO NOT BRING
Exporting antiquities · Damaging heritage sites
What to know before you go to Peru
The single thing worth knowing first: Coca leaves legal but cocaine isn't. Don't bring coca products across borders. It is the kind of rule that looks minor at home and becomes a serious problem at the border or in public, which is exactly why it tops this page.
Within recreational substances, Peru treats Cannabis and Cocaine as off-limits. Carrying or doing any of these can mean confiscation, fines, or detention depending on the case — and a foreign prescription, habit, or "I didn't know" rarely helps once you are stopped. Each entry below links to the official source it is checked against, with the verified ones marked.
Two things travelers regularly get wrong about Peru: Coca tea or leaves cannot be carried across most international borders, where they are treated as cocaine precursors; and Ayahuasca ceremonies are legal in Peru but the brew is a Schedule I substance in most home countries on return. Assumptions like these are how otherwise careful visitors end up in trouble, so it is worth checking the specifics rather than guessing.
One important caveat: Coca leaf chewing and tea are legal nationally and culturally embedded in Andean regions, especially Cusco and Puno. Laws and their enforcement can shift between regions and over time, so treat this page as a sourced starting point and confirm anything borderline against the official links before you rely on it.
BEFORE YOU GO TO PERU — 3 STEPS
Confirm the rule with an official Peru source
Laws change. Before you pack, verify anything borderline against Peruvian Customs — the official source we cite for Peru.
Open Peruvian Customs →Carry proof for anything restricted
If you're bringing prescription medication or a regulated device into Peru, carry the prescription, original packaging, and a doctor's note. For controlled medicines, check whether an import permit is required.
Have a backup if something gets held at the border
Know who to call and keep your travel insurance and embassy details handy in case an item is seized or questioned at customs in Peru.
General guidance, not legal advice. How we verify.
COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS
- Coca tea or leaves cannot be carried across most international borders, where they are treated as cocaine precursors.
- Ayahuasca ceremonies are legal in Peru but the brew is a Schedule I substance in most home countries on return.
JURISDICTION NOTES
- Coca leaf chewing and tea are legal nationally and culturally embedded in Andean regions, especially Cusco and Puno.
- Lima and Arequipa enforce stricter open-container and public-drinking ordinances than smaller Andean towns.
OFFICIAL SOURCES
IN-DEPTH GUIDES
Information only. Not legal advice. Laws change and enforcement varies — consult a qualified attorney for your jurisdiction before acting.