A solicitor representing Michaella McCollum - one of the two women held on suspicion of drug-smuggling in Peru - is flying out for a preliminary court hearing.
Peter Madden says he expects to spend at least a week in Lima.
Ms. McCollum, from Dungannon in Co. Tyrone, and Melissa Reid from Scotland have been accused of trying to leave the country with €1.7 million worth of cocaine in their luggage.
The solicitor says says she totally denies committing any offence.
Mr. Madden says while he wants to reassure her, it could be a long time before she is back in Belfast.
The Irish Times was earlier reporting that the two women could come before a judge as early as tomorrow after an initial hearing yesterday was postponed.
They will likely be held at Santa Monica low-security prison where people sleep on floors and prisoners must establish a position in the hierarchy within their first days.
According to the Times, Michaella's brother and lawyer are flying from Northern Ireland as well today to liaise with her local legal team.
