Your Guide to Female Solo Traveling in Peru
Your Guide to Female Solo Travel; Going alone or travelling solo is certainly on the rise. For women travellers, we need to keep our wits about us, especially when travelling by ourselves, as is the case with any travel destination. Peru is quite possibly one of the safest places I have travelled alone. Here are a few tips for solo female travelers to keep you and your belongings safe whilst “on the road” in Peru.
Is Peru Safe for Solo Females Traveler?
In short, yes. Due to Machu Picchu and many other fantastic spots, Peru has an excellent tourist infrastructure. In fact, it’s one of the best in all of South America. Because of this, it’s fairly easy to get around, and locals are used to seeing visitors everywhere.
There are still a few issues, which arise more in the evenings on buses and in unlicensed taxis. Just make sure you are always alert and aware of what surrounds you. Take the same precautions as you would at home and you shouldn’t have any issues at all.
Where to Visit in Cusco When Alone
There are plenty of trips with tour companies you can go on that allow you to make friends along the way. The treks to Machu Picchu are great for this! There’s no doubt you’ll be heading there when you’re here, so why not make it an opportunity to socialize while you do it?
The Sacred Valley is a wonderful place and there are a few towns that are well worth the visit. Try to at least make it to Pisac and Ollantaytambo, as well as a handful of the villages in between. You can feel the magic of the place and it’s just adorable and very quaint.
In the city of Cusco itself, there are many museums to visit as well as trying out some of the local chocolate or very tasty Peruvian coffee. We also recommend that you try a new eating spot each day as there are hundreds of great places to choose from.
You can visit virtually anywhere in the city when you’re alone. Just be wary when heading away from the center and check with locals that it’s ok to head to certain areas before you go. Your host or the person at your hotel reception should have some good advice.
Learn the local lingo.
Even a few basics in Spanish will help you go a long way and also add to your confidence when you actually have a decent grasp of what is going on around you. With all the Spanish Apps available download the best one for you and have it handy if you need to ask a question.
Common sense and lots of it! The basics of solo female travel in Peru are a must and should be engrained in the brain! Keep your valuables close, only carry the money you need each day on your person, avoid storing valuables in easily accessible pockets of clothing or backpacks, keep your passport in the hotel safe and carry a photocopy with you, avoid wearing expensive jewellery, are only some of the practical, common sense things to do. Dress casually and err on the side of the conservative dress for less attention, don’t wander around dark areas or deserted streets and especially if you have a had a drink, check-in with family members regularly, and always be aware of your surroundings. Cell phones, tablets or laptops should never be left at a table unattended.
The view of Machu Picchu
Plan ahead and know where you are going, in advance.
This is especially useful for taxis and knowing where you want to go. Taxi drivers earn commissions from hotels to take travellers to certain hotels and they may sometimes be almost too eager to take you somewhere you don’t want to go. Having a hotel name or at least a street /block name can be a lifesaver. Also, stick to official taxis-ask an airport or bus station official if you are unsure.
Unwanted admirers.
Always follow your gut… if a situation feels “off” then it usually is. Whether you are walking down the street or in a bar, there will be some unwanted attention and one of the best ways of dealing with it is ignoring it totally, or avoiding eye contact. I stick out like a sore thumb being 1.75cm and blonde, in a Latino community so my “male, imaginary friend” is always a great companion to have for the over-eager Latin “lover”.
Get Off the beaten track.
Cusco for example has a million and one travel agencies looking for people to join a group. Go with an organised group and get out into the countryside. There are so many beautiful treks both 1 day and multi-day to keep you busy, such as the Salkantay trek. Family homestays in rural locations tend to be much safer than bigger cities and the smaller towns of the Sacred Valley can often be a lot safer than Cusco itself, with all its security.
Contemplating the Salkantay trekking
Choose a reputable tour company.
A lot of Peruvians are employed as “jaladores” which means they get a commission by pulling in tourists of the street. They could be the nicest person on the planet as this is their job, however, the integrity of the travel agency is an unknown. Always choose a travel agency that has a decent reputation or a personal recommendation or usually from a reliable guidebook who usually have a list of recommended tour companies.
Look for other female travellers.
If you are looking for company on your adventure, keep an eye open for other women traveling alone in Peru, they will usually be in similar locations as yourself and may also be looking for a travel partner for certain adventurous activities.
Make friends with a Peruvian family.
This is where the level of Spanish will help. If you are alone and feel uncomfortable at any point in a given situation, strike up a conversation with a family or group of Peruvian women, 99% of the time they will take you under their wing and be fascinated by you and where you are from. Who knows, you may become friends forever as Peruvians, on the whole, are warm, genuine and extremely friendly by nature.
Greeting the inhabitants of Machu Picchu!
DON’T Google “is Peru Safe”!
This is the best way to make sure you never leave your home! There is so much misinformation that it is easy to fall into the trap of not travelling at all! Or at least make sure that you will be a little ball of paranoia on your trip. Follow the above recommendations and you will have a blast! I have lived here for 20 years and have had the most amazing time and could not even see me living anywhere else on the planet. Be bold, be safe and most of all be your beautiful self!
