Peru is going to be my first country in South America. What draws me to Peru, and what should join other people, is that it is a country that is affordable and diverse in the activities that it has to offer. In addition, there are wonderful UNESCO world heritage sites and of course, Machu Picchu. Here is my guide for solo travel: Peru
Things to keep in mind:
- Altitude sickness is a real thing. You can easily go from being at sea level on the coast and then take a bus to the mountains and end up at 10,000 ft. You want to make sure that you are planning your climb. Make sure that you research your trip beforehand so that you can plan ahead and make a slow assent.
- Peru uses every opportunity to share its history. You will find statues, paintings, and a variety of other art forms in shops, parks, and hotels.
- Supermarkets are a big city luxery. Plan to buy your food at the mercado.
- There is something known as the “foreigner flight tax.” This is sometimes called the “gringo tax.” Some people make the foreigner tax a big deal but from my understanding, the instructions for buying flights is quite clear in Peru. The “base” rate and “base plus” rates are reservered for residents of the country. If you pick this rate because it is cheaper then you will have to pay the difference if you want to board the flight. All you have to do is pay attention to the instructions and you shouldn’t have this problem.
- Tampons are not easy to find in Peru because they are not commonly used. Try a diva cup or bring your own tampons. I really want to emphasize the importance of bringing products that your vagina is used to. It sounds funny until you have an infection or allergic reaction “down there” because you used a local product that your body is not used to.
- Pack some sort of DIY first aid kit that includes: an anti-diarrhea medication, bug spray, sun block, anti-acids, ibuprofen, anti malaria medication, neosporin, hand sanitizer, aloe very, and band aids. I would look into other highly recommended items before you leave.
Ways to Save Money:
Coca Tea: This is not only money related but also to health. If you are having issues with altitude sickness then you can have some Coca Tea and it should be a pretty cheap cure for your ills.
Most hostels will not offer amenities like towels, you should keep this in mind. It’s not that they don’t offer the towels for free, it could be that they don’t offer the towels at all. You may want to pack your own towel or buy one when you get to the country.
Counterfeit money is very common in Peru. Don’t take large american bills from anyone as a form of payment or change. It could turn out that no one will in turn take those bills from you. Try to get all of your money from a legitimate bank and deal more in coins than the paper money.
You can buy tickets online at https://www.redbus.pe/en/ and this will help you compare prices. You can also make sure that you have tickets in advance. Buying your tickets online will save you from missing a bus because it is sold out or arriving to the station and find that the only bus that leaves for your destination has no more space.
What you Can’t Miss:
- Cusco: The heart of the Inca Empire. One of the major cities in Peru.
- Ollantaytambo: You can easily get here by taking the train from Cusco
- Colca Canyon: This is basically the South American version of the Grand Canyon. It is also the 3rd most visited tourist site in the country. This is definitely the place to go for a hike.
- Pisac: There is a huge market here and who wouldn’t want to shop until they dropped? It is also close to more Inca ruins and archaeological sites.
- You can go to the Amazon Forest. Peru touches the upper regions of the forest. It’s another thing you can check off your travel list.
- The Maras Salt Mines: This isn’t an all day process but it’s a very cool site to see the terraced, salt evaporation ponds.
- Nazca Lines: These are located in Southern Peru. If you are looking for ancient geoplyphs then you can find them at the Nazca lines.
- Huacachina Oasis: This is where you go if you are looking for adventure. You can find sand boarding and dune buggy riding. Plus, it is only a day trip from the Nazca Lines.
- Inca Trail: Most people go to Peru to check out the various Inca ruins. You can spend 4 days or more on the trail but it is best to walk it during the dry season.
- Floating Islands of Lake Titicaca: You can stop by these artificial islands to see the Unos people.
- Jaquile Island: Jaquile Island is a UNESCO world heritage site. There is no electricity, running water, and no cars. I personally find it relaxing to go back in time when things were quiet.
- Moray: This is an ancient Inca site. Moray is located a few kilometers from Maras and believed to be a ritual garden.
- Aridean Explorer. This is an amazing train journey that you can take from Cusco to Puno. It lasts for about 10 hours.
- Chan Chan: Chan Chan is the largest pre-columbian city in Peru. In 1986, Chan Chan was turned into an UNESCO world heritage site.
- Rainbow Mountain: You can go here for a hike and some pretty pictures. It is a great day trip to take.
- Kuelap: Another ancient city in Peru.
- Arepuipa: If you are looking for a place that you need to go just for the food then it would be Arepuipa.
- Santa Catalina Monastery: If nothing else, this is the kind of place that you go to see a beautiful sunrise and sunset.
There you have it! These are my tips and tricks for a budget friendly and adventure filled trip for some solo travel in Peru.