Travel in Peru as a female solo backpacker

Many people – especially women, of course – wonder if it is safe to travel alone as a female solo backpacker in South America. Unfortunately, some Latin American countries do not have a great reputation (e.g., Colombia and Mexico). There are horror stories to be found on the internet, like “express kidnappings”, “armed robberies”, or “carjackings”, which you can stumble upon on the internet searching for “South America and safety“. Is it safe to travel in Latin America and in Peru as a female solo backpacker? How to be safe while traveling in Peru? Read our tips on travel in Peru as a female solo backpacker.

Peru is a popular tourist destination, and many backpackers and travelers of all kinds visit. But is it a safe country to visit?  Is Peru a good destination for solo travel? What do you need to look out for? What precautions do you need to take in Peru – especially as a female solo traveler? Especially for you and based on the experiences of our female travelers, we wrote this Advice on traveling in Peru as a female solo backpacker.

Top #10 safety tips for solo travel in Peru

1) Do not display expensive objects and keep them low profile.

Pickpockets are a serious concern in Peru. You do not want to attract attention by displaying your valuables in public. Conceal your wealth. In some areas of Peru – especially in Lima but also in crowded places in Cusco or Arequipa – you may better want to leave your expensive camera in the hostel. The same goes for places like (local) festivals, e.g., Inti Raymi in Cusco. The local people in Cusco know that during this kind of festivities, groups of ‘rateros’ travel to Cusco to do ‘business’.

2) Learn Spanish and know about the local customs.

This is probably one of the most important pieces of advice. I started my trip doing an intensive Spanish language course in Cusco, which was so worthwhile. Taking taxis, negotiating prices, asking for the way, buying or ordering food – it all becomes so much easier. And sometimes you may just want to be able to yell: „¡Señor circule más despacio por favor!“ to one of the many reckless drivers. Also, you may want to be prepared to be frequently approached by local men with „guapa“ or „bonita“. Just take it as a compliment, do not pay special attention, and walk on. In general, one could say that you look less vulnerable when you speak (at least some) Spanish.

4) Take care when hailing taxis in the streets – better call an Uber* or call a taxi

Express kidnappings when taking taxis may occur in some cities. This involves whisking passengers to far-off neighborhoods and holding them there while their ATM accounts are emptied. Therefore, it’s better to use ‘official taxis’ (the ones with a phone number that belongs to a company) and always track the taxi ride using, for instance, an app like maps.me to check that the driver actually heads in the right direction. In a big city like Lima, this will also help you to keep the costs down. (*Uber is not active all over Peru.)

5) Upon arrival, ask at the reception of your hostel about places that you should avoid, or that may be unsafe for you.

Normally, the hostel staff will tell you right away which areas of the city you’d better avoid, and they are happy to help you.

6) Do not walk home alone at night

I think this goes along for itself. However, especially in a small city like Cusco, where many travelers stay in hostels in or near the city center, backpackers often prefer to walk to their hostel to save a few soles (tips about Money in Peru). As long as you are in a group, you might be fine; you make yourself an easy target walking alone in abandoned and obscure places. (Tips about Nightlife in Peru).

7) Join organized groups or head out with your fellow travelers. Teamup!

Of course, it is much safer and sometimes also more fun to visit certain places* and go on hikes (e.g., Hikes to Machu Picchu) in a group.  Solo travel doesn’t mean you will do everything alone; the contrary! Having another pair of eyes watching over your belongings while you simply may want to go to the toilet can be so much easier. Also, just walking around in the city, not on your own but with travel mates, will reduce unwanted attention drastically. 🙂

* Note: the Sacsayhuaman ruins in Cusco were notorious for muggings at some point. If you plan on visiting them during sunset or sunrise because of the gorgeous view they offer, please don’t go alone, and remember that this is when the local banditos might be active. Always make sure you’re in a group when visiting these ruins, and it is better to go during the day.

*Note: Machu Picchu is safe. Since it is Peru’s most important tourist attraction, the citadel is well organized, and pickpockets cannot just enter.

8) Be careful in crowded places or public transport in Peru

Make sure that your wallet is not easily accessible, or use a money belt and stick it into your jeans. Also, grabbing may be an issue. You may want to spend more money on safe, comfortable transportation for long-distance travel. Remember not to put your bag with valuables in the overhead compartment of buses. Better store it between your feet.

9) If someone tries to stop you in the streets by asking for the time and you feel uncomfortable, do not stop and walk on.

This is an important piece of advice, and you shouldn’t feel bad about just walking on if this makes you feel safer. Unfortunately, these kinds of situations have been used a lot to distract tourists. Also, be aware of tricks and scams, such as substances being thrown at you, followed by the appearance of a helping hand. One of the main tactics of pickpockets is devising ways to distract tourists, such as an old woman asking for help, falling in front of you, or dropping something in front of your feet. Then someone else cuts your bag open with a razor, or simply swoops and grabs your entire bag, and you’re left penniless.

10) Always listen to your stomach and to your intuition.

Think twice before getting intimate with local people or fellow travelers, trust your gut, and watch your drinks in Peruvian bars. Be aware of the possibility of so-called drink spiking. Hallucinogenic plants have been used to render tourists senseless before a robbery or assault. Never leave your drink unattended, and you’d better not accept drinks you didn’t buy yourself, or at least see them being poured.

Bonus safety tips for solo travel and travel in general:

• When traveling by bus in Peru, choose a reputable bus operator – Sometimes the cheapest option isn’t the best one. Some of the cheap bus companies have the most reckless drivers and lots of breakdowns. Peru has some of the world’s worst traffic accident rates, so it pays off to pay a bit more for a bus ticket. Some of the better bus operators include Cruz del Sur, Oltursa, Civa, and Movil Tours.
• Make copies of your important documents, including your passport, identity card, and insurance card. Keep electronic copies as well and store them on your phone and laptop, or upload them to a secure cloud server. If you have expensive valuables, take photos of those too; this will help prove you owned the item in case you need to make an insurance claim.

Last but not least, always use your common sense, and you will be fine and ready to enjoy your beautiful trip in Peru. Peru is one of Latin America’s most popular travel destinations, and it truly is an amazing country. With some preparation and precautions while traveling in Peru, you will enjoy it all. You’ll meet great people, enjoy the nature, culture, and food, and have a safe and wonderful adventure in Peru.

Safe and happy (solo) travels :-)!

Read more:

Travel tips for Peru

Do you want to read this article in Dutch?

Reizen in Peru: veilige solo reizen als vrouw