Written by Kara Folkerts
With over seven years of solo travel experience across the globe, Peru continues to stand out as one of my favorite destinations. From the vibrant culture, welcoming people, ancient history, and breathtaking natural landscapes, it’s no wonder so many people dream of visiting this sacred place. After spending nearly two months traveling around Peru, I continued to fall more in love with the country and also happily felt very safe for solo female travel in Peru.
However, there are a couple of things you should know ahead of time before you decide to travel to Peru as a solo female traveler.
Here are my top tips for solo female travel in Peru
Be extra cautious after dark
Sunsets in Peru by Kara Folkerts
Like any place, traveling alone at night as a woman is not always advisable. But when in a foreign country, where there may be a language barrier and there is an unfamiliarity to where you are, being extra attentive at night is very important.
The sun sets around 6:00pm in Peru throughout the year, so you may not even be out super late before dark comes. If you’ve met up with a friend for dinner, see if you can walk home together or text them when you arrive back at your place. Alternatively, let your accommodation know where you are going and plan to be back, for added safety.
Choose where you stay wisely
Eco-lodge in Peru by Ashley Blake
When looking at where to book your accommodation in Peru, ensure they have good safety measures. When coming into hostels, I like to check if they have safety lockers for my valuables, good security codes and 24/7 front desk staff. Especially when going on early morning excursions, it will give you a huge sense of relief knowing there is a trusted employee around at all times.
I also recommend doing some light research about different neighborhoods to make sure your accommodation is situated in a generally safe part of town.
Give your contact info to a trusted person abroad
Whenever traveling abroad as a solo female traveler, it’s advised to give your contact and location to a trusted person ahead of time. While I love to plan things on a whim I try to stay connected to my sister often and let her know my loose itinerary to check in. If I know I’m going to be offline during a multi-day trek, I let her know she won’t hear from me for five days, but make sure to check in when I’m back. I always let her know the name of the cities I visit, and may even give her my accommodations address. It’s not only a fun way to stay connected and share my travel experiences, but it also ensures greater safety as a solo traveler.
Inform a trusted local contact (such as your hotel manager) when you leave on excursions
Having a trusted contact at home is just as important as having a trusted local contact, especially when leaving for the day or going on an adventure. Spending almost two months in Peru, I built a few strong friendships with some locals in Peru. The support and sense of care I felt when going out on excursions and traveling through their country felt like an added insurance policy.
However, even if you don’t necessarily have this opportunity, there are still trusted locals you can inform of your plans. When staying at your accommodation, being in contact and continual conversation with the front desk staff or manager is a great way to ensure you have an additional level of care and someone to check in with.
Travel with a tour operator for certain excursions
When embarking on a solo trip it’s important to remember that there are some things that are better done with others. Whether it’s due to safety or based on the nature of the activity itself, sometimes going with a group may be the best option. When it comes to Peru, the bounty of tour operators available for just about any excursion brings so much ease to planning an adventure as a solo traveler.
Kara with local community
One word of caution is to do a bit of background research on the tour operators in Peru. There will be several people advertising their day tours from the streets and while they are often all so kind, it’s important always to use reputable tour companies with licensed guides. Looking at online reviews or having recommendations from tour operators from your hotel can ensure greater safety and get gear rental, transportation, and general tour quality.
At Traverse Journeys, we do this vetting process for you and only work with trusted tour guides, operators, hotels, and organizations for our Peru group and self-guided tours.
Learn some key words & phrases
A little bit of Spanish goes a long way when you’re traveling solo in Peru. Simple greetings, asking for directions or for help, being able to introduce yourself, and knowing a few keywords for restaurants and street signs are incredibly helpful. Not only will it allow you to get more help when needed, it can also raise your confidence as a solo traveler to have a bit better understanding of what is going on around you.
Whether it’s getting a bit of help from Google Translate or brushing up using language learning apps, the more familiar you are with Spanish, the more your adventure will be guided with ease.
Know where to go in an emergency - police station, hospital, etc.
Having a general idea of where some key emergency service locations are is always advisable. Even just knowing where the local pharmacy is in case you get sick, can give a little sense of security when traveling alone.
Maybe it’s my personal obsession with trails and maps, but becoming spatially aware and familiar with streets, maps and locations make me feel more comfortable and confident as a solo traveler. While it’s often more tied to knowing where the markets are, the local trails to run on, or beautiful outdoor parks, knowing where the doctor, police, and city centers are is just as important!
Machu Picchu by Kara Folkerts
Concluding thoughts about solo female travel in Peru:
Want to explore Peru but hoping to join in on a planned adventure? Traverse Journeys offers immersive and transformative travel experiences in small group settings that are the perfect stepping stone to experiencing a new culture and place in a safe and welcoming setting. Our trips are mindfully curated for friends, couples, and solo travelers alike and are the perfect way to meet new like-minded travel friends!
Disclaimer: I was a media partner with Traverse Journeys on this trip. I received a press discount in exchange for sharing a review of my experience.
More travel tips for you
If you’re looking for the best Europe trip packing list, look no further! In this blog post, we’re sharing our comprehensive guide to packing for Europe so that you can embark on your journey fully prepared. We’re here to make sure your luggage remains light and your experiences unforgettable.