" I am a solo female traveler . I never felt unsafe in Mexico . I am in Mexico City powerful now . "
Recently, IaskedtheBuzzFeed Community, “What advice would you give to people who are planning tosolo travelin Latin America?”
Here are 19 tips and recommendations for solo traveling in Latin America:
Some responses are also fromthis Reddit threadby uranium / TheMakeUpBoy andthis Reddit threadby u / zbr13 .
First, here are some travel hacks and general advice for visiting Latin American:
1.“Just spent 12 years in Nicaragua. Best advice: learn Spanish, learn Spanish, learn Spanish!”
— ejb3work
2.“Generally, I’d recommend keeping a picture of your passport on your phone, as police sometimes stop to check you’re not overstaying your visa.”
— atomic number 92 / UnconditionalMay
3.“I spent 10 months in South America and just over a year in Central America and had an amazing time. Take a reusable water bottle with a built-in filter so you can fill up from any fresh water source and have safe, clean drinking water — you’ll avoid getting sick from drinking dodgy water, save money from not buying bottled water, and reduce plastic waste too!”
" Aside from that , take your time and revel ! "
— clairesturz
4.“Theft in hostels wasn’t uncommon, so lock your shit up.”
5.“I found the best advice was from either hostel staff or other travelers I met along the way.”
6.“I traveled South America solo as a female over land and air, from Argentina to Venezuela through Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Brazil, and Ecuador. Leave your valuables at home. Blend in. Be polite to everyone. Don’t act like a tourist, pull out maps, have your bulging wallet in a pocket, or wear a bum bag.”
" I retain a credit notice in a hidden pocket ( consignment pants pocket near the shin ) , enough bus topology or taxicab fare to get home in another hidden or zipped pouch , and the small amount of John Cash to pull out for drinks , food , small purchase etc . Any rearranging of pockets was done in the privy unseen . "
— u / Truantone
7.“Just remember, people are people wherever you go, and people in Central and South America are extremely warm and friendly. Don’t be afraid to use what Spanish you know. If you run out of Spanish, just smile and communicate with your hands and eyes. They will smile and help you.”
— u / craig_j
Now, here are tips for visiting specific countries and cities:
8.“Peru was more difficult to travel around in. Driving anywhere via bus will take a while due to the mountainous roads. We flew to most of our destinations to save time.”
— u / Bubba_Junior
9.“I travelled as a solo female in Peru for a month and didn’t feel unsafe. I was also a bit nervous about transportation, so I opted to usePeruHop, which is a hop-on/hop-off bus service that runs from Lima down to Arequipa and back up to Cusco. I found it took a lot of the stress out of trying to get around, plus they helped book hostels and activities.”
— uranium / brigidsbollix
10.“I stayed in Havana, Cuba in a ‘casa particular’ [a private accommodation, similar to a bed and breakfast], which was kinda neat because you got the hostel crowd staying there, but you also get to see the locals more. In my case, it was a whole family who ran the casa particular.”
— u / SolidardadLibertaria
11.“Tour buses can be reserved from one of the fancy hotels in old Havana. I took one to Viñales, but you can also take a taxi colectivo [share taxi] out there too.”
12.“Costa Rica lacked good public transportation. Our first trip, we took shuttle vans that we reserved beforehand, which was $20–$50 for each leg. I would highly recommend avoiding that and renting your own car.”
" Most things are propagate out quite far , so drive is courteous . "
13.“In Colombia and Ecuador, try to get your hotel or restaurant to call for a cab rather than hailing one on the street.”
And now, here are some recommendations for places solo travelers should visit:
14.“I’m very biased because my mom is from there, but Quito, Ecuador is a wonderful city to visit! There’s so much to do, and the food is delicious (and relatively cheap!). You can easily get around on the bus for 25 cents or less, or use taxis, which will run you $5–10, depending on how far you need to go (sometimes even less) and are usually safe.”
" For women , if you finger safe using an app instead of taxi , render DiDi . It ’s the combining weight to Uber . I found it easy to use .
The city is monumental — severely , do n’t underestimate it — but a few places I ’d recommend are the Virgen del Panecillo repository ( sluttish to get a bus there ) and the historic center , which is full of attractively preserved church service & historical construction that you could tour solo or with a guide ( available in English ) for $ 30 or so .
There ’s also a teleférico [ an ethereal raising , similar to theDisneySkyliner ] and museums with free day — just check in advance . Last summertime , I even went to an adorableclassic movietheater that I ’d never been to before , and it was amazing ! Sadly , I do n’t commend what it ’s called , but it should n’t be too hard to find .
“I am a solo female traveler. I never felt unsafe in Mexico. I am in Mexico City right now."
There ’s also the Mitad del Mundo attraction with exhibit of all the regions of Ecuador , groovy food for thought , and souvenir shops .
finally , do n’t forget to check out Baños . It ’s a short drive out of the metropolis , also approachable by bus , and has so many option for outdoor adventures ( zip liner , baseball swing that endure over a cliff , bicycle trails , waterfall , etc . ) . As with anywhere , be mindful of your point and of your environment , specially seek to be thrifty when using your earphone ( traveling bag it tightly , do n’t be obvious , keep it in an inaccessible localization ) , and you should be fine . "
— yourfavoritebibliophile
15.“Don’t count out Guatemala! Hike an active volcano, explore Mayan ruins, and chill in Antigua.”
— u / TinKicker
16.“So, I have to speak up about Honduras. From Belize, you can drive to a city called Omoa. Then you take a ferry to the Bay Islands. Google them; they’re amazing and super cheap.”
" If you make it down here , you wo n’t want to ever lead . "
— atomic number 92 / aubor
17.“Visit Peru! You must come here! You have Lima, the Latin American capital of gastronomy. Then, you can visit Arequipa, which is really beautiful, and you cannot leave Peru without visiting Cusco (including Cusco City, Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu). Believe me, you won’t regret! And it is very cheap for you that will come with euros.”
— uranium / dianavg12
18.“I am a solo female traveler. I never felt unsafe in Mexico. I am in Mexico City right now.”
" The polish , music , food , museum , and park are so rich . "
— uranium / laureire
19.And finally: “I went to Costa Rica as a solo woman specifically because it’s one of the safest countries in the Americas. The experience was better than home.”
" I highly recommend the Guanacaste orbit during modest season . "
— u / egusisoupandgarri
Some entries have been edited for length / uncloudedness .
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