Advantages of Traveling solo to Peru

Last Updated on April 22, 2021 by James Bustamante

If you want to come to Peru there is a lot to be said about travelling with friends or as part of a group, however traveling solo to Peru can also bring various benefits.  To some travelers, the idea of taking a solo trip to Peru can feel like a much more rewarding experience overall. Deciding to come to visit Lima, hike to Machu Picchu or fly over the Nazca lines as a single person traveler can be the next adventure you are searching for. 

Is Peru a Safe Destination for Solo Travel?

Indeed traveling to Peru solo is a safe activity. Peru is a safe destination for a solo traveler so the answer is yes. Just like any other metropolitan area, places like Lima will have its fair share of pretty crime, credit card fraud and muggings but in general even the capital is a safe place to visit.  If you compared it to places like New York city for example, the crime rate in places like Miraflores, Barranco or the city of Cusco are much lower. 

There are a few tips a solo traveler (or group travelers) should follow when coming to Peru. Make sure not to wear very expensive jewelry while out touring or exploring, don’t walk down unfamiliar areas or dark alleys and don’t share personal information with strangers, no matter how charming they seem. These are all rules that someone would follow visiting just about anywhere and not particular to Lima or the rest of Peru.

Make New Friends While You Travel

Travelling solo to Peru can make it easier to meet new people during your trip.  Some people tend to be introverts or naturally shy and that’s fine but if you are looking to change things up, traveling on your own can certainly do that. It brings up the opportunity to step out of your comfort zone to meet new people if they are part of a larger crowd. 

When travelling solo around Peru you will notice how easy it can be to communicate with new people, including other solo travelers as well as the “Peruanos”.  This can bring your travelling experience to new heights. 

The Freedom of Choice

One big advantage of travelling on your own across Peru is that it will undoubtedly allow you to choose the date and time of the activities without having to compromise.  When you travel with other people, you are put in a position where the complacency of the group will come first. 

Traveling solo gives you complete and utter freedom to tour  where you want, visit what you want and do whatever activity comes to mind.  Even rescheduling tours or planning new ones for your itinerary comes easily. 

Do you want to go out to a bar in the district of Barranco? Do it, Take the evening train to Aguas Calientes? Go for it! Hike and sit on the highest peak “Huayna Picchu”  while  taking in all the scenery as you practice your photography skills?

No problem, you can do it all, at your own pace. Plan your own itinerary without the hassle of what others want to do and take your preferences as priority. 

Traveling Alone is a Confidence Booster

This ultimately ties into the first point we made in this post. Venturing out into a foregin land with a different culture is a great way to gain more confidence. It’s a brand new place to visit with new situations, warm people and maybe even a new you. 

Getting out there and planning your own trip with your preferred activities, picking your destination and actually going through with it? That is for sure a good way to find a new perspective about yourself and what you can achieve on your own.

For instance, imagine taking a 5 day hike through the Andes mountains to finally arrive at the last stronghold of the Incas, Machu Picchu? The stories you’ll be able to tell your friends and family back home will be epic. On a regular basis we have solo travelers coming to Peru just to take the Inca trail or the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu. Almost every solo traveler we’ve had ended up making friends with the rest of the hikers on this adventure.

All The Llamas are Here for You

Let’s put it out there, one of the reasons people want to visit Peru is to see the llamas and Alpacas roaming around. Visiting peru on your own gives you the chance to pay a visit to the llamas, no sharing, no “take my picture while I hold her”, it’s just you and the camera with the llama.  ok, this was more of a joke, but to be honest there are people literally waiting in line at Machu Picchu trying to get a picture with llamas or Alpacas. Use the llamas as a metaphor when trying to figure out what works best for you during your trip…and of course get the llama shot.

Why Travel to Peru Solo? 

A 2020 survey which focused on Solo travelers had some interesting information. It had around 20,000 people who took the survey and it turns out a whopping 23% preferred an adventures style trip. This works out great with traveling to Peru solo since you can take trips like the Inca trail or hike Huayna Picchu, both adventure style activities. That’s 4,600 travelers out of the survey who want to take a trip all on their own. 

The survey also revealed that people generally travel solo because they either don’t know anyone that wants to travel or because they prefer the freedom of doing whatever they want during their trip. The great thing is that the data suggests a solo traveler will meet other solo travelers and that they are looking for similar aspects in a trip. 

Resource: https://solotravelerworld.com/reader-survey-results/

Conclusion

Travelling with a crowd, in pairs or as part of a large group is often portrayed as the way to go when it comes to visiting a new country.  In numbers it often feels easier to let loose and have fun in new surroundings. 

These are all valid points of course. There is also something to be said about a solo traveller coming into a brand new country with an exotic culture willing to dive head first into the unknown.

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