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I can already tell in advance that this guide to solo travel in Peru is going to be a monster. I spent 6 weeks in Peru (as part of a 9-month Central and South America trip) and travelled the country fairly thoroughly, although there’s always more to do and see!
In fact, I’m already plotting to return for some hikes I missed in the north. But, for now, I’m content reliving my backpacking adventures by writing this blog post and hopefully helping you have the best possible trip in this wonderful nation full of Inca ruins, abundant wildlife and some of the world’s best hikes.
What is it like travelling in Peru?
There are countries in Latin America like El Salvador best for adventurous off-the-beaten-path travel, and Costa Rica better suited to nature vacations on a high budget. The tourism in Peru is a real mix so it really depends on you.
For example, Cusco and Machu Picchu are full of Western tourists on comfortable vacations, many of them retired or with kids. The region suits this type of traveller.
On the other hand, the remote hikes in Huaraz are better suited to adventurous backpackers, and the region as a whole doesn’t receive mass tourism.
Personally, I did it all and adapted to the changing prices and levels of comfort that the different regions brought.
Cusco may be the most popular region of Peru but I do encourage you to travel further afield if you have the time!
Is Peru safe for solo female travel?
Absolutely! I found this one of the safest countries in South America (and I’ve travelled alone to almost all of them).
In places like Cusco and Arequipa, I felt comfortable walking alone in the evenings, something I wouldn’t do in many places in Latin America.
Like anywhere in the world, there are dodgy areas, of course. Be careful in Lima outside of the Barranco and Miraflores areas; even in the historic centre, it can be hectic and overwhelming. Tuck away your valuables and use Uber at night.
Overall, I wouldn’t give the topic of solo female travel safety too much thought in Peru. Go and enjoy it!
Is Peru suitable for first time solo travellers?
I don’t see why not!
To be honest, I rarely recommend Latin America as a first-time solo travel destination as you need to be more careful (and ideally know a bit of Spanish) compared to travelling in Europe and Southeast Asia.
But, if you haven’t travelled alone before and you’re really keen on Peru, I think it’s doable, alongside destinations like Guatemala and Costa Rica that are generally a bit easier than, say, travelling alone in Colombia or Brazil.
Good things about solo travel in Peru
- Advanced infrastructure – compared to some countries in Latin America (even Bolivia next door), there are excellent hostels, comfy bus networks and plenty of organised tours
- Relatively easy to get by with English compared to neighbouring countries (though obviously I’m not suggesting you make no effort with Spanish!)
- Easy to make friends thanks to group multi-day hiking tours and other shared activities.
Bad things about solo travel in Peru
I found Peru a very suitable destination for solo travel and I didn’t have any problems whatsoever. However, here are some general issues I encountered in Peru…
- Issues around mass tourism – in the Cusco region, it’s difficult to visit places like Rainbow Mountain and Sacred Valley without a tour, making every attraction crowded as all the buses visit at the same time. If you’re an independent traveller, this can be annoying
- LONG journeys – for example, it’s 25 hours by bus from Lima to Cusco. Luckily, there are affordable internal flights if you’d rather
- Many early starts – I had to get up at 4am for the Salkantay Trek, Rainbow Mountain, Huaraz hikes and the Colca Canyon (actually that was 3am!). I was exhausted by the end!
Do you need to know Spanish?
Honestly, I’m never going to tell you to visit a Spanish-speaking country and only speak to people in English. However, I will say that Peru is very touristy and certainly an easier destination for English speakers than Colombia, Ecuador and even Mexico.
Ultimately, it’s up to you how much Spanish you want to learn in order to respect, befriend and learn from the locals. And make life easier for yourself when getting around, of course.
My favourite Spanish-learning methods are taking online classes and watching shows with Spanish subtitles.
If you don’t have time before your trip, a fun idea could be a Spanish school in Cusco. These are great value and double up as a way to befriend locals and other travellers. I didn’t do one myself (but have in Guatemala and Colombia), but I’ve heard good things about Mundo Antiguo School.
How to get around Peru alone
Local buses – these are safe and comfy. There are various companies at different price points and it can be worth paying a little extra for a nice one; on the 8-hour ride from Lima to Huaraz, I appreciated the generous leg room of the Linea bus network (booked on the redBus website).
Note – in Lima, some of the stations are really far away, like Terrestre Norte which took 45 minutes in an Uber from Barranco. Budget for this or see if anyone on the Hostelworld chat wants to buddy up. Check routes and stations on the redBus site.
Peru hop bus – this company lets you buy passes for various routes in Peru and collects you at the door of your accommodation. It’s more expensive than taking regular buses ($219 for an 8-stop pass, similar to what I spent on a combo of local buses and 2 flights). I didn’t see the value myself but some solo travellers in Peru might like the convenience; you can also book activities through them.
Internal flights – much as I try to travel by bus for environmental reasons, it was too tempting in Peru when the flight between Lima and Cusco was $90 including bags and the bus was 25 hours! I also skipped an overnight bus by flying between Cusco and Arequipa as it was only $40.
Budget airlines include Sky Airline, Jetsmart and LATAM.
Train – unless you walk between Aguas Calientes and Hidroeléctrica (3 hours along railway tracks) for a bus service connecting Cusco, the only way to Machu Picchu is a pricey train departing Ollantaytambo. It’s $70+ each way (including the transfer between Cusco and Ollan) and overrated in my opinion, but who’s going to skip MP?!
Within cities: Uber (or InDrive which is usually cheaper though requires cash payment) / Metro / buses in Lima. Other cities are small enough to explore on foot, although I took the odd Uber at night in Arequipa and Cusco (especially when I was staying at the top of a hill in Cusco!).
Best places to travel alone in Peru
There are so many places to visit in Peru; I spent six weeks visiting them all. I recommend…
Lima – 6/10 (just another city for me)
As a city-loving gal, I wasn’t blown away by Lima. It’s certainly no Mexico City or Buenos Aires, my favourite big cities in Latin America!
Still, it’s hard to visit Peru and not visit because you’re likely to enter and exit via Lima. In fact, I had to stay overnight an extra time en route between Huaraz and my next destination of Cusco.
I suggest solo female travellers in Peru stay in the safe Miraflores and Barranco areas. I preferred Barranco as it was cooler and quirkier. I loved the crumbling old mansions and the many cool cafes.
Things to do in Lima:
- Take a free walking tour in the city centre – and stay afterwards to visit San Francisco Church (a guided tour includes the spooky catacombs), eat Peruvian churros stuffed with chocolate and, if you’re feeling brave, wander bustling Chinatown to see local life
- Visit the Huaca Pucllana pyramid and Larco Museum for culture, and MALI gallery for art
- Walk the Miraflores boardwalk to watch surfers brave the cold waters, and meet furry friends at the cute cat park nearby
- Enjoy the coffee shops of Barranco including La Panetteria, spot quirky architecture and wander from the Bridge of Sighs to the coast while browsing cool concept stores
- Experience the food scene by visiting some of the world’s top restaurants (though you need a ressy well in advance) or Netflix featured Al Toke Pez, or take a cooking class / foodie walking tour – there’s even a free one!
Where to stay in Lima: the Viajero Hostel in a stunning ex-mansion is a social option. I was feeling tired and antisocial after a busy few weeks so opted instead for cosy, family-run Bereja Hostel with a homemade breakfast each day. Both are located in cool Barranco.
Huaraz – 9/10 (underrated hiking paradise)
The best hiking I’ve done in my life! I found Huaraz, in the north of Peru, MORE stunning than Patagonia, not to mention a quarter of the price. The town isn’t much to speak of but it’s a decent launching point for the region’s wild nature.
Hikes I personally did:
- Laguna Wilcacocha – an easy and free warm-up hike, best done on your first day to adapt to the altitude. The only cost is the local bus (around $2 return)
- Laguna Rocotuyo – perhaps the most stunning lagoon I visited, although it’s only a 1.5-hour hike; the rest of the day is spent on a very long bus journey which isn’t ideal (I took a day tour for $15)
- Laguna Cherup – a gorgeous hike (600m elevation gain) that can be DIYed on public transport; no tour needed. It’s of moderate difficulty, I suggest doing it between Wilcacocha and…
- Laguna 69 – my favourite hike (800m elevation gain) with the most stunning views and emerald blue lake. Public transport is convoluted so I recommend an organised tour with (very!) early pick up; this was only $12.
There are SO many more day hikes if you’re game; I heard good things about Lagunas 513, Llaca and Shallap (can be DIYed) and Laguna Paron and Pastoruri Glacier (easiest with tours).
Huaraz works as a destination for solo travel in Peru because it’s easy to join day hiking tours if you don’t want to hike alone. But everyone is there to hike so it’s easy to find people in hostels to buddy up with.
As I was saving my energy for the 5-day Salkantay trek from Cusco, I decided against a multi-day hike in Huaraz but now I’m regretting it and plotting when I can return to Peru! The main two are the 4-day Santa Cruz hike and the 9-day Huayhuash routes; they’re affordable with local trekking companies. Watch this space!
Where to eat in Huaraz: Raices and Salme, Anden Verde and Calima for upmarket (but affordable) Peruvian food, Shimei and Auri for Asian food, the Pizzero for pizza (nothing gourmet but it was conveniently near my hostel and filled a gap after hiking), Muruwa and Siula for coffee.
Don’t miss the local market for the cheapest fruit I’ve had in my life. A kilo of strawberries for 60 cents? Yes, please!
Where to stay in Huaraz: I liked family-run Kame House. Dorms start from $8 but I treated myself to a private ensuite for $17 including breakfast and tea. There’s a decent kitchen and a roof terrace with beautiful mountain views.
Huacachina & Nazca Lines – 7/10
There’s nowhere like this tiny desert town surrounded by sand dunes. The huge green lagoon at its centre makes it a shimmering oasis. The main activity is the iconic sandboarding: companies take you up on a buggy and you zoom down at speeds of up to 36mph.
To relax after all that adrenaline, you can enjoy the nice cafes in town or party at Wild Rover hostel.
Personal note – I visited 15 years ago as a teenager and, having heard in 2025 that Huacachina has become overcrowded due to mass tourism, I decided to skip it this time around. Do some research and decide what’s best for you!
Not far from Huacachina (accessible as a day trip) are the historic Nazca Lines: enormous, mysterious Inca murals best viewed from the skies. Book a ride in a small plane.
To reach Huacachina, first catch a bus to nearby Ica in 17 hours from Lima.
Cusco & the Sacred Valley – 8/10
Cusco couldn’t be more different from modern, urban Lima. This small historic city is surrounded by well-preserved Inca ruins, making it a history lover’s dream. Foodies and coffee lovers will also be in heaven.
It’s the launching point for the Sacred Valley, Rainbow Mountain, Machu Picchu and the Amazon.
While travelling alone in Peru, I spent almost 3 weeks in the region including the 5-day Salkantay trek and a 4-day Amazon trip.
Things to do in Cusco:
- Inca archaeological sites near the city like Koricancha and Sacsayhuamán can be reached on foot or via an organised tour
- Museums like the Centre of Traditional Textiles and Pre-Colombian Art
- San Blas – enjoy this hilly, arty area of the city with quaint architecture, boutiques, third-wave coffee shops, city viewpoints and a local market with excellent food
- Soak up the culture at bigger San Pedro market. There’s everything from hot food to fresh groceries, medicinal herbs, clothing and souvenirs. Buy warm layers for upcoming hikes.
- Massages – a well-deserved reward after hiking! I paid $20 for an hour at Wellness Inca by the main square but there are so many places.
Where to eat in Cusco:
- Peruvian food – I loved La Perla Criolla, Soqa and Something Special
- Cheap eats – the best sandwiches ever at Desayunos Anita Cleo in San Blas Market, and anything in San Pedro Market
- Coffee – I visited both Three Monkeys and Florencia & Fortuna mentioned on the world’s best coffee shop list.
- Brunch – I liked Avocado Toast & More (what it says on the tin) and Flora (I had the best matcha latte and carrot cake with great views)
Read next: my complete Cusco restaurant & coffee guide
What to eat in Peru? Don’t miss:
– Aji de gallina: translating as chicken in chilli, this is similar to a curry (creamy and not too spicy)
– Cuy: guinea pig may be a delicacy eaten since Inca times but I’m not convinced. There’s not much meat and also, they’re so cute!
– Alpaca: I can’t even contemplate eating my favourite animal but apparently the meat is delicious
– Ceviche: the most famous Peruvian dish comprises raw fish marinated in lime juice
– Lomo saltado: a beef dish with tomatoes and onions.
Machu Picchu – 9/10
Somewhere that needs no explanation! The 15th-century Inca citadel of Machu Picchu (meaning Old Peak in the indigenous Quechua language) is a New 7 Wonder of the World and THE most visited place in Peru.
I visited at the end of the 5-day Salkantay trek. I hiked with Machu Picchu Reservations who book your MP entry ticket and train ticket back to Cusco; very convenient (be sure to book a few weeks in advance).
If you’re not hiking, you can reach Aguas Calientes town by train OR bus to Hidroeléctrica, a 3-hour walk away along railway tracks. Stay overnight and visit the ruins early. If you don’t have a pre-booked ticket ($57-75), line up at the agency in town.
Yes, the site is PACKED and everything is overpriced from the bus up the hill ($24 return or climb 1,600 stairs) and the return train starting from $150 (two hours) from Cusco but… MP is iconic. You can’t visit Peru and miss it!
Sacred Valley – 7/10
Relics of Inca society in the Andean highlands can be easily accessed from Cusco – with a caveat.
Many people visit as day trips from Cusco and, although tours are cheap, I’d advise against it unless you’re really pushed for time. You visit each stop at the same time as hundreds of other tourists and feel a) rushed at the incredible attractions and b) bored at the forced shopping stops. At least I was!
Read next: how to visit the Sacred Valley without a tour
The main sights in the Sacred Valley are Ollantaytambo ruins, Pisac Ruins, the Salt Mines of Maras and Moray circular terraces. Here’s some more info about visiting each…
Pisac
After Machu Picchu, my favourite Peruvian ruins are located on the mountain above this quaint town. I suggest taking a taxi up and hiking down. I loved browsing the authentic local market in the square and visiting all the cute cafes (don’t miss Masa Mamita for coffee and Mamacocha for lunch).
Pisac is also known for its spiritual scene (like San Marcos in Guatemala) but I found this inauthentic, run by pretentious foreigners.
How to visit Pisac without a tour: I took a local minibus from Calle Puputi in Cusco. It’s easy as a day trip but I have no doubt it would also be pleasant to stay overnight, plus you could reach the ruins before the crowds.
Ollantaytambo
This pretty town is home to some of the best-preserved Inca ruins, a last stronghold against the Spanish. The Incas even defeated them here once!
There’s not loads else to ‘do’ in Ollantaytambo but some nice places to eat are Chullpi (fancy Peruvian food), El Abra (brunch), Latente (coffee and the best kimchi toastie of my life) and Sunshine Cafe (cakes and ruin views).
How to visit without a tour: take a minibus from Cusco in 2 hours. Ollantaytambo is where the Machu Picchu train arrives and departs so you could consider staying overnight after your trip like I did.
For ease and convenience, I did a half-day tour from Cusco to the following two places for $15 but found it a bit rushed. I’d recommend visiting independently if you can but it’s a faff especially for solo travellers in Peru not splitting taxis with anyone…
Moray Circular Terraces – these layered terraces created different microclimates for the Incas to cultivate food products.
Salt Mines of Maras – these striking layered salt terraces are a valuable livelihood for the locals. They can’t be bought; you can only acquire one by marrying into the family that owns it.
One way to visit Moray and Maras without a tour is from Urubamba (take a bus there from Cusco) and hike or take local taxis to the sites.
About the Sacred Valley tickets – the Partial Tourist Ticket (including all Sacred Valley attractions except the Salt Mines) costs 70 soles. It’s valid for 2 days but you can’t reach them all in that window without a day tour.
So, I suggest getting the General Tourist Ticket (130 soles / $36) as it lasts 10 days and includes other attractions near Cusco like Sacsayhuaman and selected museums. Buy it on arrival at your first attraction (cash only).
Rainbow Mountain – 4/10
Not to be that tourist complaining about tourists, but my day trip to Rainbow Mountain was the most hectic and crowded day of my life!
Yes, the colourful mountain discovered in 2015 (due to melting snow) is stunning, but I could barely move at the viewpoint, let alone get a photo of myself with the mountain.
Arriving by public transport is convoluted so, if going again (which I wouldn’t), I would choose a tour departing Cusco at 3am. Departing at 5am meant I arrived at peak time.
I heard some tours depart Cusco late morning and have the viewpoint to themselves. However, you don’t have time to hike further to the striking Red Valley which I thought was stunning and well worth seeing.
Arequipa – 10/10
My FAVOURITE city in Peru and one of my favourites in Latin America (if you like Mexico’s Oaxaca, I think you’ll be a fan, too). After lots of hiking and early starts, I was thrilled to spend a week relaxing in the pretty city of Arequipa with stunning architecture, sunsets and cafes galore.
As a bonus, it’s warmer than Cusco, too!
What to do in Arequipa
- Colca Canyon hike (2-3 days) – one of the highlights of my solo Peru trip! Keep reading as I’ll share all the details in my ‘best experiences’ section below
- Mundo Alpaca – not exaggerating, I went here every day for a week! It’s an informative centre covering the history of ‘camelids’ (alpaca, llamas, vicuña and guanacos) and the weaving trade in Peru, but the highlight is the cute animals you can pet and feed! Entry is free
- Shop at San Camilo Market – an atmospheric local market with some of the freshest fruit I’ve tried. Snack on local street food like the popular ‘papas rellenos’ (stuffed potatoes) outside for about 30 cents
- Tour historic sights like Monasterio de Santa Catalina and Plaza de Armas
- Sunset views from rooftop bars around Plaza de Armas
- Walk to panoramic views like Mirador de Yanahuara and Carmen Alto Chilina.
Where to eat in Arequipa
- Masamama – a divine bakery with excellent croissants and sourdough. The smoked trout sandwich is a MUST
- Eco Brunch (above) – one of the best brunches of my life; order the pancakes with Nutella and berries. The portions are huge!
- Kao Thai and Peruvian Cuisine – some of the best food I had in Peru with an Asian twist. Special mentions to the trout in red curry and all the desserts
Read next: Arequipa restaurant guide
Where to stay in Arequipa: I loved Econunay hostel from $8. Bunks have individual curtains, lamps and chargers, plus there are free activities from Spanish classes to salsa and Pisco sours workshops. Included is a basic breakfast.
I booked my Colca Canyon hike via the hostel; their partner company was good.
About Lake Titicaca
If you have time, I highly recommend hopping over the border to visit from Bolivia instead. Tourism to Lake Titicaca from the Peru side is centred around day tours where you oggle at people in local dress and rush between attractions.
From Copacabana in Bolivia (a 4-hour bus ride from Puno), you can catch a 1.5-hour ferry to Isla de Sol either as a day or overnight trip. I stayed a couple of nights on this slow, sleepy island and loved spending a day hiking through local villages.
However, this is a time-consuming side quest from Peru (and some nationalities like the US have to pay for a Bolivian visa). If you visit Titicaca from Puno in Peru, read the reviews of tour companies visiting the popular Uros Islands to get the best from your trip.
Also, Puno is not a particularly exciting city and there are no great hostels. I spent one night at Kantaya Hostel while en route to Bolivia; it did the job.
You could also consider staying overnight in a homestay on islands like Amantani and Taquile.
Read next: Solo travel in Bolivia
My best experiences during solo travel in Peru
These were memorable life experiences I’ll never forget…
The Salkantay hike to Machu Picchu
I’d never done a multi-day hike before the 5-day Salkantay but now I’m planning tons more and want to make hiking a bigger part of my future travels! Beforehand, I doubted if I could do it but it showed me I’m more capable than I previously believed.
Another option is the Inca Trail. Here are the differences between the two popular hikes:
Salkantay
- 75km
- 5 days
- Challenging
- From $290
- Book weeks in advance
- Good for nature lovers.
Inca Trail
- 43km
- 4 days
- Moderate
- From $600
- Book months in advance
- Good for history lovers (route of the Incas).
Guided or unguided? I heard from people who went without a tour that the Salkantay Trail was easy to follow and there were plenty of accommodations along the way. However, as a solo traveller in Peru, I felt more comfortable going with a tour. It was great to bond with the group, too.
If you haven’t booked in advance, you can probably book a last-minute guided tour in Cusco but, if there’s a company you especially want to go with (Machu Picchu Reservations are popular), book weeks ahead.
Machu Picchu tickets: MP Reservations book your MP ticket (and train back to Cusco) so you don’t need to line up in Aguas Calientes. This was very convenient as I hear horror stories of people having to line up overnight to get a ticket days in advance (but maybe that was just in the busy summer season).
Accommodation: with MP Reservations, we stayed in cute domes (pictured above) on nights 1 and 3, a more basic wooden hut on night 2, and a basic hotel on night 4. Solo travellers share with another hiker of the same gender.
Read next: my complete Salkantay Trek review
Amazon multi-day trip
Another of my favourite experiences from Cusco (and my whole trip) was a 4-day Amazon Rainforest adventure. I chose to visit Manu National Park as it’s within driving distance from Cusco and the return transport was included in the tour price.
However, the Tambopata region is also popular and well-connected to Cusco by quick, affordable budget flights. Further away, the region of Iquitos is another popular jungle region where you can embark on multi-day boat trips to Colombia’s Leticia.
Highlights of the trip in Manu included:
- Seeing adorable animals like monkeys, capybaras and scarlet macaws
- Taking nature walks in the jungle with our knowledgeable guide and learning how local people use plants for food and medicine
- Riding boats down the Amazon River and taking a small barge down peaceful waterways
- Staying in remote resorts only accessible by riverboat.
I did plenty of research choosing a company to avoid unethical animal tourism. I picked Amazon Trip Peru (visit their agency or find their WhatsApp number on their Google pin linked) costing $350 for 4 days. Well worth it, and the food was great!
Colca Canyon hike
The other main hike I did in Peru following the 5-day Salkantay adventure was a 3-day hike of the Colca Canyon near Arequipa. This is another hike you can do unguided but the tour price was so reasonable ($30 a day incl. nice accommodation and three daily meals) that I didn’t see a reason to travel solo.
You can do the hike in either 2 or 3 days but I chose the longer version as it was more leisurely with more time to soak up the incredible canyon surrounds. Generally, you hike in the mornings and have the afternoons to relax, whereas the 2-day hike requires hiking again after lunch.
This route is completely different to the snowy, mountainous Salkantay hike. Highlights include soaring condors and sweeping vistas peppered with cacti and tiny villages in the canyon basin.
The only hard bit is the 1,300m ascent beginning at 4am on the final morning. A workout but worth it!
I booked the 3-day hike through Oasis Palmera Travel but if you’d prefer the 2-day, this hike is highly rated. There are also Colca Canyon day tours but there’s no time to hike as much of the day is spent travelling.
Solo Peru itinerary
This itinerary took me 6 weeks so I’ll leave it to you to shave it down if you have less time…
2 days in Lima – I thought Peru’s capital was just ok. Stay in Barranco or Miraflores (don’t miss the cat park!) and take a free walking tour in Centro.
5 days+ in Huaraz – a few days is enough time for the key day hikes like Laguna 69 and Cherup but you could stay weeks if doing the multi-day Santa Cruz and Huayhuash hikes.
3 days+ in Cusco – visit museums, enjoy the food scene and take day or overnight trips to Sacred Valley destinations like Ollantaytambo and Pisac.
4 days in the Amazon – either Manu or Tambopata.
5-day Salkantay hike or 4-day Inca Trail. Non-hikers can visit Machu Picchu in 2 days by spending the night before in Aguas Calientes town.
2 days in Arequipa – or more if you want to relax there like me!
2-3 days in Colca Canyon – I liked doing the more leisurely 3-day guided hike.
1-2 days in Puno – to see the floating islands.
How to meet people & make friends in Peru
This is easily done in Peru; I met more people than I did in Bolivia, for example. This was down to:
- Multi-day tours – I met great people on the Salkantay trek and we got to bond on a deeper level than you do in brief hostel interactions. Of course, it’s always a gamble – my group in the Amazon were mainly antisocial couples which was kinda awkward!
- Hostels – the obvious one! From modern party hostels like the Viajero chain (their Lima hostel is in a stunning ex-mansion) to cosy family-run ones (I liked Kame House in Huaraz and Bereja in Lima), there’s plenty of choice
- Classes & activities – from cooking classes to Pisco sours workshops and bar crawls, there are plenty of fun activities, especially in Cusco and Lima
- Peru hop bus – I didn’t take this myself but I hear it’s a more social option than regular public buses.
Stay connected with SIM cards
Physical CLARO SIMs – I got a Claro SIM in almost every country in Latin America. The process in Peru was a little more formal than in some places; I had to visit the official store in Lima’s Miraflores (you can also do this in other cities) with my passport to register.
I paid $10 for 20GB of data; tourist SIMs in convenience stores were 2-3x more.
e-SIMs – although these are more expensive than local SIMs, you can’t deny the convenience of being able to toggle them on when you land. On shorter solo trips where I’ve wanted the convenience and security, I’ve used Airalo in several countries. Browse their Peru packages from $4.
Cost of solo Peru travel
Although Peru can be affordable, it was one of the countries in Latin America where I spent the most money (an average of $63 per day), I think because the guided Salkantay and Amazon tours pushed up my daily budget, and because there was so much delicious food and coffee in Cusco and Arequipa that I was constantly treating myself!
One thing to note is that the north (Huaraz) is so much cheaper than the Cusco region. My daily budget for this section of the trip was just $43 per day.
Average costs in USD:
- Bed in a dorm – $8-15
- Private room – $15+
- Cheap meal in a local restaurant – I had 3-course menu del dias for 12 pesos ($3)!
- Nicer meal in a tourist restaurant – around 50 pesos ($12)
- 8-hour bus – $15+
- 5-day Salkantay hike guided (incl. train and MP ticket) – $370
- 4-day Amazon tour (guided) – $350
- 3-day Colca Canyon tour (guided) – $100.
Travel insurance for Peru
I recommend True Traveller which I use myself. I pay around £30 (€40) a month when getting a year’s plan. As well as pre-existing health conditions, they’ll cover you if you’re already travelling and/or don’t yet have your flight home booked.
The claims process is easy; I’ve done it twice and received the money within days. Click to get a quote.
Note – check the altitude of the hikes you’ll do because the basic ‘True Value’ package includes hiking up to 3000m so you’ll want the ‘Traveller’ pack for the Salkantay.
True Traveller is just for European residents (including the UK) so, for other nationalities, I recommend Hey Mundo and for long-term digital nomad travellers, I suggest Safety Wing.
Thanks for reading!
More solo travel guides to South America:
- Solo travel in Colombia
- Ecuador solo travel
- Solo female travel in Bolivia
- Chile solo female travel
- Travelling alone in Patagonia (Chile & Argentina)
- Argentina solo travel guide
- Is Brazil safe for women travelling alone?
Central & North America:
- Solo female travel in Belize
- Is Guatemala safe for solo travel?
- Nicaragua solo travel guide
- Travelling alone in El Salvador
- Costa Rica solo travel guide
- Guide to solo travel in Panama
- Solo female travel in Mexico
- Is Mexico City safe for solo travel?
- 3 days solo in New York
- Tips for travelling solo in Cuba as a woman
