I Travelled Peru Solo as a Woman:
Here’s the Truth About Safety
Travelling Peru was a dream come true, however, many people told me to be careful and not to go solo before I went. There is a lot of negative information online about solo travelling South America as a woman, but how much of that is really true for Peru? Here is my experience!
Quick Guide to Peru
How to get to Peru?
Lima is Peru’s only international airport so you will likely start your journey here at Jorge Chavez International Airport.
Related article: What to Do in Lima in 36 Hours
The other way to get to Peru is by land, usually by bus. I personally came from Bolivia, more specifically Copacabana and got an overnight bus to Arequipa. I have written a full guide on bus travel in Peru for you here.
You could also enter from Chile, Brazil, Ecuador or Colombia by bus. For most crossing, you have to get out of the bus for border crossings and get stamped out of one country and another stamp to enter the new country.
Where to stay in Peru?
Choose accommodation in touristy areas! I stayed outside of the touristy areas twice and both times felt a little off. For Lima for example, the areas I would highly recommend are Barrancos and Milaflores. For Cusco, as close to central as possible. Choose accommodation with high reviews, especially from other solo, female travellers.
I have written accommodation guides for the main cities in Peru:
How to get around Peru
The absolute cheapest way to travel around Peru is by bus. You can also find flights between major cities, I would mainly recommend this for getting to/from Cusco and maybe Arequipe.
I have written a full guide on Bus travel in Peru, but the general rule is that the more local the buses are, the cheaper they are. That being said, it is important to balance safety with the cost. The bus companies I would recommend for travelling between cities are Cruz del Sur, Linea and Civa. Other companies are fine for shorter distances, but I would not recommend them for night buses.
Activities to check out in Peru:
My Experience as a Solo, Female Traveller in Peru
South America and Peru had been on my bucketlist for many years and yet, I had never dared to go there. I was scared by the things people would tell me and stories heard from the media. When I finally decided to stop listening to people (especially those who had never been there themselves) and listen to all my fellow travellers who have successfully visited that area in recent years, a true once-in-a-lifetime experience opened up.
In the end, I spent 5 weeks in Peru and even volunteered at a surf hostel in Huanchaco for a while because I loved it so much. Planned were about 2 weeks.
But what was my experience safety wise as a solo woman?
Well, I honestly felt much more safe than I had expected. That may seem prejudiced, but even those who have been say to be careful on night buses and when alone.
I had very little safety issues overall and took countless night buses. They did feel a little weird at times, but I tried to opt for the touristy ones and was picky about my seat selection (check out my full guide on bus travel in Peru here) and never had any concerns.
In Lima, I ended up staying outside of the touristy areas, which I would advise against, but even though it felt sketchy, it ended up being fine. Harassment wise, I also didn’t have any negative experiences. I found that it was mostly curiosity based on the fact that I look very different with my very light hair.
There are of course areas of Peru you should avoid like the areas near the Northern borders, especially to Columbia, as well as Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro River. It’s important to do your research on the updated safety advisory from countries like the UK, Germany and Australia on this.
However, when sticking to the touristy places, I personally had no safety issues. I also met SO MANY amazing other solo, female travellers who I am still friends with. Truly one of the countries where I bonded most with other travellers!
Related article:
Tips for staying safe in Peru as a solo, female traveller
Safest Places to Visit in Peru as a Solo Female Traveller
I stopped in countless places using the overnight buses in Peru and really enjoyed each of them. I would recommend to stick to ones that are still set up for tourists and have other visitors if you are travelling alone.
Some of the key ones are Arequipa, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Puno, Huaraz, Huanchaco, Huacachina, Lima and Iquitos. I have visited all of these (except Iquitos) and felt very safe in each of them.
For each new place, I would recommend asking your hostel or hotel which areas to avoid and any safety precautions you should be aware of on arrival. They will know best and be able to give good advice, e.g. in Lima you need to avoid Gamarra and Cerro San Cristóbal.
Related articles:
The Safest Ways to Book & Explore Peru
I personally booked all of my transport, hotels, tours, etc. on my own. Many of them were last minute, as I was adapting my journey based on recommendations from other people and areas I enjoyed. You of course need the luxury of time to do this, but it’s also more than possible to do this with a set itinerary.
For transport, I’d use flights if you are short on time, otherwise the night buses are a budget-friendly and efficient way to get around. There are also private transfer companies that can be useful for certain places like Arequipa, make sure to check reviews on several platforms (Tripadvisor, Google).
For buses, I always bought tickets directly with the bus company on their website or sometimes in person. The main ones are Cruz del Sur, Linea and Civa. Check out my full guide on picking the right bus here.
For hostels/hotels, I started with researching the area. Where is it touristy, where am I within walking distance to attractions and not down a weird side-alley. A good example is Cusco, where I accidentally booked a hostel that was up one of the hills which was brutal with the altitude.
Then, I check reviews across several platforms. I found in Peru they sometimes fake the reviews, so platforms like Booking or Hostelword are a good way to check for real reviews. Check especially for ones from other solo, female travellers.
Lastly, for tours, the same rules apply really. I tend to check out Get Your Guide and Viator to see options, but also research local operators on Google Maps and Tripadvisor. Reviews are my lifeline, especially from other women. Some cities have lots of operators with shops you can pop in where you can get better deals if you pay in cash, but do your research beforehand.
How to Get Around Peru Safely Alone: Night Buses, Taxis, & Uber
We have already talked about night buses, but general rules are choose touristy operators like Cruz del Sur or Linea. When on a night bus, always keep your valuables hidden on your body! Not in the overhead or below your feet. The only time I have heard of people having stuff stolen was the overhead.
I personally also always wore baggy clothes and hid my long hair under a cap when going on a night bus, just to blend in and avoid becoming an obvious target as a solo woman. Obviously people will still see you, but I have found that it does help with not drawing additional attention.
A big rule in Peru is that you should not walk around alone at night. Not under any circumstance really. Always go call a taxi, but never take a taxi off the street! Use the Uber or InDrive apps to order one. There have been reports of assault and robbery in Taxis that people hailed on the street, so just avoid it. I took countless Ubers and InDrives in Peru with no problem.
Should you expect street harassment in Peru?
I have already touched on this, but I personally did not experience any street harassment in Peru.
The most I had was in Huanchaco where a bunch of teens ran after me shouting about “blonde hair” in Spanish. Turned out they were just super curious as they hadn’t seen that kind of hair much before.
I have heard of other travellers who experienced cat calling and verbal harassment in bigger cities like Lima. I’d just always keep an ear open and be aware of your surroundings.
I also found that staying in hostels and meeting other travellers meant I wasn’t walking around alone as much, which probably helped prevent any harassment. But honestly, I had none while in Peru.
Hiking Solo in Peru: Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain, & Sacred Valley
My honest opinion on hiking solo in Peru is don’t do it.
Not fully solo anyway. Join a tour, there are countless ones for all major attractions, they are affordable and usually locally-run.
I joined pretty much all of my tours as a solo traveller, such as the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, the Colca Canyon Trek and more. These tours came with experienced guides, often food and accommodation included and just the safety of a group of travellers.
It also means you have someone around in case you get injured or experience something like altitude sickness (which I did unfortunately).
Huaraz is especially known for its hikes and I have heard of people doing it solo, but I personally wouldn’t alone. If you meet others in a hostel and go together for the easy hikes yes, but really do your research!
Emergency Numbers in Peru
Knowing the emergency numbers is key for safety. Also make sure you have an E-Sim (like Airalo) so you stay connected even on more remote tours. Even then, be aware that you may not always have connection. Hence why it’s best to join tours for remote treks.
Also make sure to save your travel insurance emergency number, as you will need to contact them should you need medical assistance.
Emergency numbers:
105 for the police
116 for the fire brigade
106 for an ambulance
911 will also put you through to the emergency switchboard.
Final Thoughts: Can You Travel to Peru Alone?
Yes, from my experience Peru is an incredible travel destination and safe for solo, female travellers. Just follow the safety precautions discussed here and trust your gut, and Peru will be a true bucketlist experience
Hi, I'm Bell
I’m a solo traveller, writer and designer. I created my blog to share the many different ways to travel the world. Learn more about me here!
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