Peruvians, like most Latin Americans, have an inflated reputation for dishonesty and a propensity for ripping off unwitting travellers. The reality is that for every dishonest con artists, there is a genuine Peruvian who wouldn’t dream of taking advantage of a visitor to their country.

The problem is, it’s almost impossible to tell who is who – until it’s too late.

But rather than viewing everyone through suspicious eyes (unfortunately common among travellers in Peru), there are some simple steps you can take to avoid paying “Gringo Price,” with the spare change going straight into some shyster’s pocket. The following points are worth bearing in mind when planning an overland journey in Peru.

Ask Around

Before handing over any cash, ask a local what the going rate should be. This works well for taxis, but also with bus companies – even those that appear reputable can inflate prices for unsuspecting passengers. Transporte Molina is guilty of this, and based on personal experience, they’re best avoided. Oltursa is a good, well priced alternative company.

Check your Ticket

Double check transport tickets before paying up – especially if you’re buying tickets for a future journey. Ensure the company name, travel dates and departure/arrival destinations are correct. It’s not unheard of for unscrupulous companies to sell tickets for non-existent buses but with a valid ticket you can at least insist on a refund. Threatening to bring a cop with you should encourage them to give you your cash back.

Get Receipts

Despite the misplaced warnings of most guidebooks, it’s fine to put baggage below in the trunk and expect it to still be there at your destination, but always make sure you get a ticket to reclaim your bag. Stuff going missing is a rare occurrence, but without a receipt you won’t be able to claim for anything when you get there.