I have lived and traveled in Peru for 3 years and yes the place is horribly corrupt. the police at every level are corrupt not because they are poor but because they are immune from prosecution. corruption is a desease of the society I have had to pay police on at least 20 occasions , one time A police man stole my passport ( Irish) and ransomed it back to me for 50 soles 150 being the first request ( $60), i have also payed goverment officials in the tourist ministry the ministry of the interior and RENIEC, the agency that controls Permits and Residency and I D. always it is because ”there is a problem” and documents are lost or the process is complicated and the ”honest” ( don’t make me laugh) official needs to ”pay someone else”, Politicians, local goverment and judges are corrupt. Your land is likley to be re zoned or re registered under a different name by a corrupt judge. Anyone in Peru who holds a position of influence and has an opportunity to delay or stop a process will use this authority for personal gain. And the people do nothing they just accept it! because it is the culture.

in short trust no one, do not pay the first price, half it and understand that tourists are seen by Peruvians as easy targets for explotation and fraud, not as welcome guests of the country. However peruvians are not racist they are as likley to defraud or force another peruvian to pay a bribe with equal enthuasiasm.!!! all in all a profoundly corrupt people who need radical value change.