According to the UK Foreign Office, the extension to the alert in Pataz province in La Libertad region began on Friday (18 August).

Travellers and Brits in Peru have been advised the protests can lead to road blockades, suspension of train services, disruption in immigration services of land borders and airport closures – often without prior notice or estimated reopening timelines.

"Protests can be unpredictable, can include violence, and can spread and escalate quickly," the FCDO travel advisory reads. "Clashes between protestors and the security forces have resulted in casualties in the past."

Peru’s protests centre on opposition to president Dina Boluarte, who is accused of illegally removing and jailing her predecessor Pedro Castillo last December, just as the country’s tourism industry was getting back on its feet.

Protesters are calling for Boluarte to resign and for elections to be held, despite the country already having had seven presidents in the past six years.

The extension comes after Latam announced plans to re-establish a direct link between the UK and Peru in December when the airline is due to launch services.

In response to the plans for the new route, The Latin American Travel Association (Lata), said the direct flight will further open up the destination to UK travellers.
 
Martin Johnson, chair of Lata, said: "This new flight route is really exciting and proves the region’s commitment to growing the UK market. I am sure this will be a popular route across the Lata membership and am confident a direct flight will encourage even more visitors."
 

Meanwhile, Ecuador’s tourist officials recently moved to quieten concerns about political violence in the country surrounding the forthcoming general election on 20 August.