Is Peru safe for a 25 year old girl to travel alone? ?

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labinki

Well, if you are really a "gringa" you are going to be, at least mistreated by some people. But if you have a latin look, and you speak spanish, there is little problem. I've seen many american girls alone, at the supermarket, at the streets, and some of them were white and blonde...
Don't worry, mothers always get worried about anything, my mother always tell me that I'm going to be kidnapped and my organs will be sold in the black market, if I go out to the street without my father when it's dark. And we are peruvians!

scrunge5440

I have been to Peru and can tell you that if you use a little common sense, Peru is as safe as anywhere. There are places in any country where you do not want to go! If in doubt, ask the concierge in the hotel you are staying in if there is an area to avoid. (There are quite a few portions of Lima to be left alone)

Although I am an older male, I saw hundreds of young, single women there either by themselves or with a companion.

By all means go and have a great time!

karatekiddo

i thinks its ok to travel alone.though im also female but alot older than you,i have travelled alone in the past but not yet to Peru.I am still planning to visit Cusco in march or April this year.I dont speak fluent spanish but can understand a bit and know simple words.Just be aware of whats around during your trip.I will be coming from Manila,Philippines so it'll take a long trip for me to south america.But i am sure,i will love the experience of what Cusco has to offer esp Macchu Picchu.There are lots of package tours from the hotel where you will be staying. If you are interested,pls visit this website: www.orquidea.net.Hope this helps!

Mark .

Your life won't be in danger but you can do some things to make yourself safer while traveling alone. Cusco is a tourist city and they treat visitors very well. Hook up with a travel agency. Your security will be their top priority. They will pick you up and drop you off at the airport and train stations. Even if you have to stay overnight in Lima they will meet you in the airport, help you with your bags, transfer you in a secure car to your hotel then bring you back to the airport. You can easily take group tours, meet others and you won't be alone wandering around. If girls were being snatched off the street here Cusco's reputation would suffer and Cusco wouldn't survive without international tourists. It will be impossible to visit Cusco and not meet other young tourists doing what you are. You can stay at a nice hostel on the Plaza de Armas for under $40 and not have to wander any backstreets unless you want to. Go for it.

Adia

As a New Yorker you will find a very similar style of life in Lima, so do not be afraid. Miraflores, San Isidro and Barranco in Lima are very safe. You can go by a travel agency to Cusco. Bon voyage!

Almendra q

Hey friend como on to cusco
http://www.inca-trail-peru.net/

phaja1niner

I am going to those places too in August--despite some of the things mentioned here. Take both the good and bad here with a grain of salt--no place and no thing is ever as bad or as good as people will make it out to be. Hope you have a great trip

cornelia.star

I am also a 25 year old women and since the age of 23 I have traveled through Europe, Asia, North Africa and currently Latin America alone. The trick is that you are never really going to be alone since you will meet many cool people on the road just like you. The best bit of information I have for you is to stay informed! Read Guide books, check out websites! My personal favorite for South America is VIVA travel guides. Here is a link to their Peru information:

http://www.vivatravelguides.com/south-america/peru/

wiltedr0se

I'm 20 years old and have been in Peru for three weeks and will spend a total of 6 weeks here. First of all, speaking Spanish is very important, unlike some places you can travel where everyone knows English, Peru is not necessarily like that, you need to know some Spanish. I've been spending the first few weeks travelling with a Peruvian friend of mine, but soon I will be travelling alone. YES it is safe, and NO everyone does not hate Americans thats silly. People have been very friendly with me, though sometimes they will try to take advantage of you because they think you have more money etc.

Peru went though a long time of violence in the 80's and 90's due to terrorism, but for the most part that is not a problem anymore (except for some areas in the mountains in Ayacucho) and economically Peru has had a miraculous comback. While some parts are absolutely very poor, really its not that bad depending on where you are at. Nonetheless it is important of course to take precautions. Relationships between men and women are very different, and the men can be very forceful, so watch out. Put yourself in safe situations, don't walk around much at night unless your in a very safe area and are familiar with it, don't carry a purse around (they make those money carriers that go under your clothes which could be a good idea), I try to carry a little bit of money in my pocket and put the rest somewhere hidden and more safe (like under my clothes) so if someone did try to rob me, which they haven't, I could give them something to make them go away, but not lose everything. Its all pretty much common sense really.
Also, taxis are generally a cheap and easy way to get around, but be VERY careful. I actually did have a very scary experience with a taxi driver here when I was alone, so watch out who you get in with. Buses are much cheaper and I think safer, but they can be confusing to figure out.

I've noticed in Peru its kind of obvious when you get into bad neighborhoods, so its not too difficult to turn yourself around if you find your way into an area that doesn't seem secure. I've been to a few mountain towns and around Lima, but I haven't been to Cusco (thats where I'll be going alone next week). Do some research about Peru and its development, I think that will help you to understand the way of life here and learn some Spanish! Other than that, just be smart and I think you'll be fine!

Also, check out couchsurfing.com its a website for international travellers and there are a lot in Peru. The point of the site is so that people can travel around and crash at people's houses for free, but you don't have to do this. There are a lot of people also on there (who are often bilingual) and just want to make friends, its a great way to meet people for your first few days down here while you may need some help finding your way around.

whydotheheathenrage

I backpacked Peru by myself as a 25 year old girl last year, so I firmly believe that you'll be good as long as you're smart about where you go, when and with who. I also speak virtually no Spanish (though I am fluent in French, which helps a little) and did not find this to be a great impediment to my getting around.

There ARE real horror stories that come out of South America, so your mom is right to try to scare the bejesus out of you. If you're not smart awful things can happen. However, if you're an experienced traveler, or even if you're not and are willing to follow some simple guidelines, you'll be just fine!

My Personal Rules:

- Don't accept packages from anybody and WATCH YOUR STUFF. Peruvian prison is not somewhere you want to be and while it's extremely unlikely that someone could use you as a drug mule, it could potentially happen and you're not going to want to deal with the fall out. I usually keep my bag wrapped around my ankle, between my legs when I'm on a train or outside eating or something. It's not a 100% guarantee, but criminals generally target people who aren't paying attention, so making it hard for them can save you a lot of trouble in the long run.

- Stick to marked cabs with prenegotiated fares; call ahead for service when reasonable. Write the address of your hotel or hostel on a card if your Spanish is poor. Cabbies will generally be able to speak enough English to get you where you're going. They generally do not make change, so be sure to keep a lot of small bills around.

- Lima is a more dangerous city than Cusco and there is less to see there. Be more careful while you're in Lima and if you can, don't spend as much time there. If you planned an extensive stay in Lima, I'd suggest you change your travel plans to include a trip down to Lake Titicaca (Puno area) as there's much more to see and it's a nicer way to spend your time.

- Stick to reputable bus companies. If it's your first time in South America, riding on a Peruvian bus could make a hardened atheist say the rosary. It's not worth stressing over too much; Peruvians do it every day, you'll be safe as long as you stick to a reputable company You can save yourself stress by prebooking online with a Machu Picchu tour group and for tickets to Cusco or for any long buses you might want to take in between.

- Don't drink late at night and find yourself alone. This is stupid pretty much anywhere. Find friends in a hostel if you plan on drinking, and even then, don't get trashed. Getting trashed is your biggest risk factor on this - or any - trip.

___

Bottom line, I really think you'll be fine in Peru alone if you follow those rules. I only felt unsafe once while I was there (bus line, got sat beside a creepy old guy on an overnight bus - remedy: bought the seat next to me too next time around).

You're sticking to very touristy places. There will be people there who speak English. There are tourist police who tend to be very helpful as tourism is the main source of economic well-being in Cusco and Machu Picchu and they have little to gain by allowing tourists to suffer or die while on vacation.

Do your homework, be smart and you'll have the most amazing trip of your life!

â™¥ Animal Luvr â™¥

Well, I have never been to Peru but our maintenance manager was from Peru and unfortunately had to move back when his Visa expired. He told me many stories, it is a very poor country. You will be less in danger if you speak great spanish, naturally, and if you could pass a for Peruvian person. If they know you are an outsider then you are more at risk especially being American, they know you will have some money.

Jeffrey H

Better you go with some friends below the border and especially
into south america your prime game for all kinds of intrigue
and they dont play they will kill you and make you fish bate allone your fair game for the worst.
They dont like americandown there and they are not shy about
taking tolls and will sell you to the highest bidder you take your life in hand by yourself even in a group you might be like the canadian couple
that was kidnapped and made to work in a drug camp until they were
obviously unable to go on working then they let them go they
got back to their hotel had some food and where shot dead
in the resturant as a second thought but the cartel kills them out right.
so no I would not go without at least one other person and then its not safe.
Ive been in the military and into many southern and
pacific island countries even hong kong,both south and north korea
and I would say from knowing I was a american in those coountries
if I had been a toruist and not american service I ould have been in some major bad situations if I had not been in the military.
some major victim of the red army or the guerilla of taiwan
or the japanese red underground or the pirates of the south pacific
of near indo nesia. Ther are so many groups out there that
will kidnap you just for being a woman and usefull in the human trade they have ships off the coast s of xountries they sell women to
foreigners as slaves and then when they are no longer appealing to men they want to sell you too they cut you up and toss you over board in pieces as food for the sharks. Our military commander told all o us who had their wives on lisland in okinawa there where islanders kidnapping american wives for the sex slaves trade and found many of the six women missing off the islands feet in their shoes
washed up on the beaches like jelly fish but this was real life people getting their wives kidnapped and used for sex and dumped into the sea for the fish to eat. not a way I would want to go but oneof te women was a sargent of mine and he was devistated when his wifes foot washed up
on on the ocean side of the beaches off naha city japan.
So leaving the usa makes yoou fair game for the wolves of the world

babyboy01

no any country hates americans so done not travel alone and don't drink open drinks if you go to one of the clubs in a different country

Mak_time

Hello frog! I think the answer is both yes and no, is safe if you exercises some common sense, don't walk alone on unknown places by night, be cautious with people, do not walk carrying purses or big cameras or the like.

Last month a friend of mine come to Peru from Washington DC, by herself and she was 23, she was in Lima, Cusco and Arequipa, she had a wonderful time here, and nothing happened to her, but please be careful, some people can take advantage of you, and taxi rides can be dangerous.

I have some american friends and they can provide some more recommendations if you like, and I would be glad to show around if you want to.

I wish you a great trip!!!

khrixtianjack

need to answer this questions first:
-are u blonde?
-are u pretty darn good looking?
If u answered yes then you might not get kidnapped but you'll probably have a bunch of pervs following you around and yeah watch out for pickpockets and u better go with a local person to help you with the language.
Take care.

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memorex

You should stick to wiltedrOse's advice. When you come here try to make friends with the people you can trust, they might connect you we other friends.

It's better to get to know a taxi driver that a hostel recomends than anyone you could run into in the streets. The good news is that Many tourist come to Lima and Cuzco and maybe you'll be included into their group so you wont be alone after all. Be smart, play safe and I bet you'll spend a great time.

The safer way to travel is by hiring a tour, otherwise trust the people that work around tourist, like front desk clerks and ask them to recomend trasnsportation, tips etc. There are cases of rape on female tourist who travel alone, specialy in Cuzco and Arequipa. But it involves taking any taxi on the street or wondering alone on empty streets late at night.

https://fco-stage.fco.gov.uk/content/en/travel-advice/fco_trv_ca_peru?ta=safetySecurity&pg=2

During your stay in Lima, go to thew Miraflores district. It's very safe there.

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