I would recommend renting a car when planning on visiting countries such as Peru. The country is so large, so if you don't rent a car it may be more difficult to see a lot of places. 

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I know safety may be a concern when visiting some South America countries. In Peru, we did not have any issues and I felt safe at all times. Of course, always use common sense and make sure to do research on dangerous neighborhoods to stay away from in the big cities such as Lima. 

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If you are renting a car, make sure you always bid by the local driving laws, and if you ever get pulled over for a reason that you seem is unfair or might be a little shady, tell the officer "I need to call my embassy about this". (we did have a problem like this, but it worked out fine and did not take away from any experiences!). 

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A lot of places in South America are at a high altitude, do NOT underestimate this! Make sure you bring along electrolytes, drink plenty of water, and relax for the first 1-2 days of entering a high altitude!

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South America is so diverse with everything from desserts, to glaciers, to beaches, to jungles, to mountains, and more! There is truly something for every kind of traveler!