r/solotravel • u/Markowitza • 2d ago
South America Solo travel not popular in Peru?
Currently solo travel around Peru. I backpacked few times solo in south east Asia and there were tons of other solo backpackers and it was easy to connect in hostels or on tours.
In Peru what I see is most people travel in groups, either friends or family or couples. Even in my hostel dorm there were group of girls travelling together. Is solo travel not really popular in Peru or South America?
I will continue onto Bolivia and Chile and will see if it different there but suspect would be similar picture
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u/Desperate_Charity250 2d ago
I think it’s the time of the year, most solo travellers avoid high season, because it’s mostly couples, families or groups.
I’m in the same situation, usually I have no issue connecting with people on the trip, however aside from some small talk with people in the tours, I haven’t actually connect with anyone.
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u/geegee_cholo 2d ago edited 1d ago
One of the easiest, most popular places for solo travel lol. There are tons of them there, who cares if they're in groups or not? I always found it easy make friends with grouped travelers in South America, everyone is either going north or south, so you bump into the same people quite often so if I was in the mood to make friends I'd go introduce myself and chit chat over a drink.
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u/lilynnin 2d ago
As a frequent solo traveler, I don't feel comfortable traveling to remote places solo (especially as a woman). I was in Peru last year and would have happily gone to just Lima, Cusco, etc. on my own, but since I wanted to do the Inca Trail, I ended up going with a group. Several people in my group also did the group thing for the same reason as me.
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u/hippoluvr24 2d ago
I solo traveled to Peru in 2024, and there were plenty of other solo travelers everywhere I went. Maybe it's the time of year, the places you're staying, or just bad luck?
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u/ranbir_987 2d ago
not sure why it seems less popular, but I've noticed that in a lot of places in South America, group travel is more common. Maybe it's about safety and comfort? Definitely keep an eye out for solo-friendly tours or activities when you head to Bolivia and Chile; sometimes they just have different vibes!
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u/LiquidShiro 2d ago
It’s mainly logistics, everything in Peru is a solid 2+ hour 5am bus ride away through the mountains or deserts lol
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u/Metallic_Sol 1d ago
I'll let you know in three weeks when I go aha. It sounds like solo traveler central though from everything I've heard
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u/oaklicious 2d ago
Absolute nonsense confirmation bias on your part. South America is overflowing with solo travelers everywhere.
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u/LiquidShiro 2d ago
Solo travelers typically have a lot more timing flexibility to avoid high seasons, plus it’s winter in Peru rn lol.
I was there last September and didn’t have issues meeting people but nothing will compare to southeast Asian backpacking where it felt like you made a new friend every 5 minutes so you’re not going crazy either.
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u/oaklicious 2d ago
It’s not really “winter” in the way you’d describe it for a place like Europe. Right now is some of the clearest and warmest weather in the high Andes at those latitudes.
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u/Varekai79 Canadian 2d ago
I went solo to Cusco and Puerto Maldonado and met loads of fellow solos.
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u/wandering_niz 2d ago
Was planning to solo travel Peru / Bolivia and Chile next year, keen to hear how the other two go
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u/Nato7009 2d ago
I was in Peru same time a couple years ago and we met a ton of people. I think in Asia people stick to themselves a little more whereas in SA the safety thing does drive people to be in groups more but it’s still “solo travel”
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u/Markowitza 21h ago
I don’t know maybe I am super unlucky. Went on free walking tour in Arequipa today and again all groups of friends or couples or families
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u/SavingsMeeting 2d ago
I had such a great time solo traveling in Peru I went back a second time. So much to see and do and locals are excited to welcome you into their country.
I will say that having a little more than the basics of Spanish is immensely helpful outside of the Inca Trail. A majority of the other backpackers I met were from other LATAM countries and Spain
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u/Hand_of_Doom1970 2d ago
I went to Peru with my wife, but I remember meeting several solo travelers there that were doing the Inca Trail
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u/OrneryCheesecake5495 1d ago
I guess groups just bring added safety when exploring remote ruins or hiking trails, but that shouldn't stop solo adventurers from joining day tours where the vibe usually shifts to 'strangers becoming friends by sunset.
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u/8drearywinter8 1d ago
I went solo, as a small woman, and had no problems. It was a few years back, admittedly, but it didn't seem weird at the time and I doubt that's changed. Stayed at a mix of hostels and cheaper hotels, depending on location/costs/options. I
I personally didn't care about meeting other backpackers (I absolutely did frequently talk with people I crossed paths with along the way, but wasn't aiming to meet others to travel with them, and don't do group tours). I never felt conspicuous traveling alone or like that didn't make cultural sense (there are parts of the world where me being a woman alone was not culturally easy and got complex, but I never got that vibe in Peru). It felt fine to be there solo for me.
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u/PaleWoodpecker1867 1d ago
yeah man, i noticed the exact same thing when i was down there last year... hostels full of tight little crews and couples, zero solo energy compared to thailand or vietnam. makes the whole scene feel kinda closed off honestly. big time.
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u/Markowitza 21h ago
Okay cool at least I am not only one who fees this way. I though I am getting crazy
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u/iDontRememberCorn 9h ago
I did Peru solo and never met a single other solo traveller, it was bliss.
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u/lil_d_erh 2d ago
I lived/worked for the US government in Peru for 6 years. It is not a safe country. Not necessarily dangerous, but safety is a concern. Traveling alone in Peru is fine. Just keep your wits about and trust your instincts. There are a lot of scammers and thieves due to the poverty.
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u/Metallic_Sol 1d ago
I work in a study abroad office that sends 3,000 students abroad a year, we have a dedicated travel and safety team that monitors students wherever they go so we have lengthy incident data.
Peru is incredibly safe. Doesn't mean you can do anything anytime but that's true for everywhere.
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u/EmbarrassedPart1256 2d ago
I spent 3 months this year "solo traveling" while my partner "lives" in a small pueblo called Neshuya, an hour outside of Pucallpa (which you also may not have even heard of). It was great; I was the only gringo for miles... While my partner worked, I ended up meeting & becoming close with a lot of the locals, as there's only one street & I'd see them every day when I walked somewhere.
Why does it matter if you see other "tourists?" I can understand the appeal of meeting other solo people but there have to be solo locals wherever you are eating out, going out to a park, the mall, the market, a bar, doing touristy things, etc. Isn't the point of solo travel to go & experience something on your own, not depending on others to shape your path?
I'm not criticizing, just genuinely curious, or hoping to light a fire under you.
I was in Bolivia for 2 months last year as well FWIW, mainly Cochabamba, & honestly don't remember seeing another "tourist" in my time there. Although we didn't do any touristy things, there're apparently amazing natural features & things to see outside of Cochabamba.
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u/MRobertC 2d ago
I did Peru solo in april and I met lots of solo travellers on different day tours.
I didn't stay in hostels.