Solo Female Travel in Lima

Solo travel

Lima, Perú is a wonderful place! I stayed around 4 days and then travelled to Cusco. I enjoyed delicious food; one of them that is typical is Ceviche, a dish marinated in citrus and seasonings, along with ingredients like onions, chiles, and herbs. One of the funniest activities I did was to go to the Huacachina desert, where I travelled around the desert on buggies and did sandboarding. I highly recommend it!

Solo travel

I really fell in love with Lima, which I didn't expect, because I heared a lot of mixed stories from other travellers. You need to know which areas are safe, but especially in Barranco and Miraflores I felt super safe! A lot of cute restaurants and cafés, I'll definitely come back to stay here longer!

Solo travel

I spent a few days alone in Lima in January of this year. I really had a good time (I stayed in Miraflores) and didn't have any problems. I took a great walking tour, ate incredible food, and everyone was very kind. I recommend adhering to usual safety rules and not walking alone after dusk.

Solo travel

Worked remote from Lima for 2 months and loved it. Friendly culture, lots to do, affordable, easy to get around. Felt safe as a female solo traveller The food is incredible! It’s easy to eat and live healthily in Peru. Lots of activities

Solo travel

Personally, I was not a fan of Lima. The traffic was a nightmare and I spent ages moving from one place to another (I used Uber). The old town had some amazing buildings and it was worth spending a day there. I stayed in Miraflores. I felt safe walking around there, but I was cautious in the evening.

Solo travel

Safety: I was alone at night in Miraflores, Barranco, and downtown. I didn't have any problems. Recommendations: This is a huge city with good and bad sides. Always have cash on you. Many smaller places don't accept cards. Learn a few basic words in Spanish. Taxi drivers will try to take advantage of you. The airport is not in a very nice area.

Solo travel

You will most likely come to Lima, it's a nice stop for good cuisine and it's worth staying there for a day or two. I stayed in Barranco and I really liked this area. If you want to go to Cusco, give yourself enough time to acclimate.

Solo travel

Safety: Lima is completely safe. Recommendations: Kennedy Park is fun - vendors appear there in the evenings. Wonderful outdoor shopping center near the beach, with fantastic restaurants overlooking the ocean. There is a promenade near the Marriott and there is an ice cream shop with the best ice cream in the world.

Solo travel

I loved Lima, I stayed there for the first time for several weeks because it was May and the weather was fantastic. Sunny, blue skies, and warm. Lima is known for being very gray... there aren't many days with a blue sky. I chose the Barranco district as my base. A wonderful bohemian (although in some parts exclusive) place by the ocean, full of cafes, bars, theaters, restaurants, art galleries, live concerts, etc. It's easy to catch an express bus to the city, downtown and old parts of Lima. Next to Barranco is Miraflores, a place definitely more touristic and attracts many foreigners. It has a shopping center on the cliffs overlooking the ocean, many shops, and restaurants.

Solo travel

Safety: I always felt very safe in Lima, but I did not walk there after dark. Recommendations: Finish the free walk. If you don't have plans for the evening, you should try going to "Parque de las Aguas" to watch a water show - it is really impressive.

Lima is a chaotic capital, but there's no need to be afraid. I've felt equally unsafe in almost all capitals. In Lima, what might surprise you is the traffic, so you have to be very careful when crossing the street.

Lima is a big and chaotic city. If you stay in the main central districts (Miraflores, Barranco, Surco, San Isidro) you’ll be relatively ok. As a local, I wouldn’t take out my phone on the street as robbers can easily take it out of your hands if they’re on motorcycles. I feel safe walking during the day alone in those districts, without earphones (or hidden behind my ears), and without my phone on sight. Public transport is alright for women. You can always run into a creep but it’s not common. If you do however, don’t hesitate to speak up as locals will side with you and help you out. If you’re taking public transportation, prioritise big buses, the Metropolitano and the train. On the subject of taxis, I feel safe taking Ubers during the day, although I always share a screenshot of the drivers information, I check that it matches the person that comes to pick me up, and if I feel unsafe for whatever reason I share my location. I have also called my parents to explicitly tell them I’m on my way home. I’ve also just been on calls, I feel like no one would risk trying a move (robbing, kidnapping, etc) if I’m on a call, but maybe it’s a false sense of safety… If you’re going to districts along the coastline, try to not be on your own in the taxi as there are deserted parts of the cost, specially towards Chorrillos (south) and San Miguel (north) where cases of raped by taxi drivers have happened before. If I have to go home on my own after 2 or 3 am, I usually call Taxi San Borja. I'm not sure if they have an app but it's a proper taxi service, more expensive than Uber, but I feel safe using it late at night.

As long as you stay in Miraflores or Barranco, you will be safe, especially on weekends, even if you walk at night. There are a lot of people there because it's the place where all bars/clubs are and there are many tourists. Just don't bring your cell phone with you if you're very close to the street and you hear a motorcycle approaching, because sometimes someone might come up and take your phone.

I come from Lima and I can say that the city is ugly. Miraflores is safe, as there are many companies, police officers, and tourists there. However, you must be aware of your surroundings, as thieves from other districts come down to Miraflores and other well-off districts to steal because they know that wealthy people live there and tourists stroll around (be cautious like in any big city, such as Barcelona or Paris, where crime can also be high). I would recommend knowing prices in advance, as when they discover that you're a foreigner, prices rise, like for example in taxis or at some markets.