YouTuber’s terrifying journey reveals the daily nightmare of living in the ‘sketchiest place’ on earth

YouTuber Ammar Kandil from the popular channel ‘Yes Theory’ recently shared his terrifying journey to La Rinconada, Peru, dubbing it “the sketchiest place” he’s ever experienced. This remote city, perched nearly 5,000 meters above sea level in the Andes, holds the title of the highest permanent human settlement on Earth, but it’s also incredibly dangerous.

According to LADBible, Kandil, a seasoned traveler, ventured to La Rinconada to understand what life is truly like in this often-described “lawless” settlement. He immediately noticed the stark realities, witnessing fights breaking out regularly on the streets with no one stepping in to stop them. While the atmosphere was often tense, he also encountered surprisingly friendly locals who offered insights into their daily struggles.

The dangers intensified after dark. Kandil was explicitly told by security to stay indoors at night because things in the city would “completely change” once the sun went down. This advice was underscored by the sounds of gunshots he could hear echoing through the city at night, creating a truly unsettling environment. He even had his own exploration cut short when someone attempted to rob him.

This is a city where danger lurks around every corner

Locals revealed the harsh realities of working in the nearby gold mine. Miners often toil for 30 days without pay, with their only recompense being a single day when they’re allowed to keep any gold they manage to find. The risk isn’t just financial, however; residents told Kandil they had recently seen someone shot dead in the city, highlighting the extreme violence that can erupt.

Kandil isn’t the only one to brave La Rinconada’s perilous conditions. Italian traveler Zazza also visited the place, encountering a similar landscape of danger. He documented his experience on YouTube too. Zazza observed numerous private security firms and criminal gangs, all openly carrying firearms. He even saw chilling signs that declared, “shoot to kill order, do not stop.”

Zazza learned about snipers who would take positions on a nearby glacier, reportedly shooting anyone who lingered in certain areas for too long. His security team admitted that efforts to catch these snipers consistently failed. Zazza described La Rinconada as an “entire, immense slum” home to around 50,000 people, where criminals often evade capture by simply dressing as miners, making them incredibly difficult to identify among the population.