Traveling in Peru Alone
If you are planning on traveling to Peru for a few weeks or a few months, you might be weighing up the pros and cons of going to Peru alone or with your friends. Honestly, it’s a pretty important decision. Solo travel in South America can be a very different experience to that of group travel – independent or otherwise.
Both options have their positives and negatives, and your decision will ultimately depend upon your own personality (and the availability of any friends who you can actually put up with for more than a day or two without wanting to strangle them). Here are a few things to consider when deciding whether to go traveling to Peru alone or with friends.
Positives of Peru Solo Travel
- Freedom, the lifeblood of travel… If you are an independent type, then the freedom to move when you want and where you want is going to be a pretty valuable commodity. If you go to Peru alone then you are the master of your own fate, drifting where you want without needing to debate each destination with your companion.
- You will probably meet more people along the way if you go solo. Firstly, a solo traveler is generally more approachable than a group of close-knit friends. Secondly, you won’t have a constant companion to chat with, so starting up a conversation with another backpacker or local is kind of vital unless you don’t want to talk for a few weeks.
- You will probably learn Spanish faster if you are traveling in Peru alone. You won’t be able to split the talking duties with your friends, making it even more important to get a grasp on the language yourself.
- There are always plenty of backpackers around to tag along with if you decide that you don’t want to be traveling in Peru alone. If you are sat in the middle of the jungle or cuddled up to a llama on a mountain side then you might be short on options. Otherwise, most popular backpacker hostels will be packed with people who are heading where you want to go. Make friends, travel together, and then if you decide you can’t stand the person just make your excuses and head off. Simple.
- Solo travel is rewarding. The whole “stranger in a strange land” thing is kind of negated if you are cruising around with your mates. Backpacking in Peru can throw up a few challenges along the way; knowing that you got by all on your little lonesome is a good feeling once you get back home.
Positives of Traveling to Peru with Friends
- Traveling to Peru with a friend, or friends, is a good idea if you want a reliable traveling companion. Meeting people on the road is always an option, but traveling with someone who you already know has its own benefits. Common ground, a shared sense of humor and similar tastes can really brighten up those dull moments when you are sat on a bus or stuck in the middle of a one-alpaca town.
- Having a trusted traveling companion helps with various safety issues. You’ve got a second pair of eyes to watch your back, and your backpack.
- Going in a group can help cut the cost of traveling in Peru. You will have more bargaining power for hotel rooms – and a room with two beds normally works out cheaper than a single. It can also be easier and cheaper to arrange a tour to any particular attraction if you are in a group.
- Traveling to Peru alone is great, but when you get home you may not have anyone to share your experiences with. If you return home with your traveling companion, the two of you can chat for ages about the trip, saving your other friends from hearing about your endless Peruvian adventures.
- Camping is not too common in Peru, but if you are planning some serious camping and hiking excursions then having a friend around is a good idea. Your friend can help carry all the necessary gear, saving you from lugging around an excessive amount of equipment. You might also feel more secure camping in Peru with company.
Backpacking in Peru Alone or with Friends
Whether to go backpacking in Peru alone or with your friends will be an easy choice for a lot of people. However, if you don’t want to go alone but none of your friends have the time or the money to go with you, don’t let that stop you. It really is easy to meet other backpackers on the road, especially on the well-worn Gringo Trail.
Taking time to learn some conversational Spanish further opens up your options – hanging out with other backpackers is fine, but you’ll get a lot more out of your trip if you can actually communicate with the locals.
If you have any more tips or advice regarding solo travel – or a strong preference for either solo or group travel in Peru – then feel free to leave any comments below.
Related posts:
