Is Peru Safe for Solo Travelers?
Poolside in Organos, Peru
My experience as a female solo traveler in Lima, Northern Peru, and Ica
Before my first trip to Lima to study Spanish, I spent an inordinate amount of time googling safety. Was Lima safe for travelers? What about for women? What about women traveling solo?
What I saw online made me nervous. I bought a money belt to wear in public, so I didn’t get pickpocketed. I debated buying a burner phone, so I didn’t have to take out my iPhone. I was very nervous when I landed.
I’ve now been traveling solo in Lima, Organos (a small beach town up north), and Ica, and back, with no issues and a better sense of safety in the country.
Take sensible precautions; don’t treat it like home
Now I feel more confident walking around Lima and not just in Miraflores, but I never relax completely like I can at home.
Despite New York’s reputation, I feel very safe walking around or taking the subway at night by myself. I wear headphones and use my phone in public without issue. Of course, nowhere is 100% safe, but generally, I feel safe in New York.
I feel safe in Peru, but I do take more precautions than I do at home.
When I am by myself, I avoid walking at night or going out by myself after sunset.
I research neighborhoods before I go, and if I do explore a new neighborhood, I go during the day
I don’t wear headphones
I take Ubers instead of local taxis
I try to be aware of my surroundings and look like I am walking with a purpose
When I went out with friends at night, we would walk each other home or call Ubers
Be mindful of your phone
Phone theft is common throughout Latin America for locals and tourists alike. The mother of one of my Spanish teachers in Lima was looking at her phone in a local shared van, and someone snatched it from the window while the van was stopped and used a knife when she initially resisted. A friend was calling an Uber on a busy street, and a passing motorcyclist tried to take it from her hands.
Try not to have your phone out, and if you need to look at it, try to be discreet and hold it with both hands. Don’t look at your phone in a crosswalk or on a corner where you are vulnerable to passing traffic.
When I needed to call Ubers, I tried to do it inside my apartment or hotel room, or in the restaurant, or wherever I was, so I wasn’t outside and distracted. You will see a lot of people in Miraflores and San Isidro absentmindedly on their phones, but I still advise you to use caution. These districts are safe, but because they are tourist hotspots, they can be targets for thieves. Better to be safe than sorry!
Carry a zippable crossbody bag
I never needed to use my money belt, but I used my crossbody bag whenever I went out. Phone snatching and pickpocketing are common. Don’t be an easy target for either. Keep your phone and money close and zipped up as you go around town.
I also used the inside pocket of my leather jacket when I visited in winter to keep my keys and phone secure on trips around my Airbnb in Miraflores.
Talk to locals
My best resources were the Spanish teachers at my school and the hotel managers and front desk workers. Ask them for recommendations because they have trusted contacts.
When I stayed in Organos, the hotel helped me arrange a taxi to and from the airport at a set price. While I was there, they gave me the number of a trusted auto driver so I could text someone if I needed to get around town, and when I checked in, they offered candid safety advice, like whether I could walk into town solo without issues or use my phone in public. Organos is a small town that is still developing as a tourist destination, so it felt incredibly safe walking around.
If you’re staying at a hotel in Lima, talk to the staff. They live there after all; they know what you need to do or avoid! They will have a roster of dependable taxi drivers, restaurant and market recommendations, and suggestions that will help you navigate the city safely and happily.
You don’t have to be tense and stressed out about safety, but keeping basic precautions in mind will make for a better trip.