The journey from Cusco, Peru, down to the Lake Tititcaca-side town of Puno takes about eight hours by bus. Travelers en route to Puno or the nearby Isla del Sol often take the overnight sleeper bus to arrive early the next day.
Nevertheless, I was one of only a handful of passengers riding the Puno-bound night bus on a chilly morning in 2011. It was me, a few families and a group of chatty 20-something guys from Brazil.
Recognizing each other as fellow backpackers, the Brazilians and I spoke as we waited to board the bus. Briefly, we discussed the obligatory “Where are you coming from, where are you going?” (they’d just scaled Machu Picchu and were making their way down the continent to Patagonia; I’d been bartending at a hostel in Cusco and was planning to spend a night in Isla del Sol in Lake Titicaca before making my way to La Paz.)
“You’re traveling alone?” one asked, taking in my hulking backpack and sparkly flip-flops. I told him I was.
“That’s brave,” another said, and the others agreed.
I’m not sure whether they meant I was brave to travel alone, as a female or both. Whatever the case, I’d argue that neither of these things is as scary* (or as expensive) as it might seem — especially if you pick the right destinations. Ahead, I’ve listed my favorite budget- and solo female traveler-friendly places to visit.
* Safety PSA: I’ve never experienced anything worse than a few stolen phones while traveling internationally, but basic safety rules apply wherever you go in the world. Don’t walk alone at night, steer clear of shady areas and don’t keep shiny new iPhones in the back pocket of your shorts.
Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico City is the country’s beating heart, a mighty, progressive megalopolis packed with massive museums, dynamite dining and colorful classic cantinas. For a world-class city and sought-after destination, Ciudad de México (CDMX) manages to remain remarkably affordable. With a bit of finesse, you can still find a studio apartment in Condesa — the city’s hottest, hippest neighborhood — for under $100 a night on Airbnb. CDMX also boasts some of the world’s most mouthwatering affordable street eats, as well as exceptional, eclectic restaurants at a range of price points.
For my two cents, what makes this progressive, high-octane city particularly well suited for solo travel is its many language exchanges, classes and meetups. Search social media groups and Meetup.com, and you’ll find groups of locals and foreigners alike gathering over activities like Pulque drinking, midnight jogging and spicy food eating.
Medellín, Colombia
Fun, affordable and eternally 75 degrees, Medellín was hailed as one of the world’s greatest places by TIME for a reason. La Ciudad de la Eterna Primavera (the City of Eternal Spring) is home to eye-opening museums, thumping nightlife and a growing digital nomad and expat community.
Medellín locals — called paisas — are among the friendliest folks I’ve ever met. Expect to have long conversations in Spanish with every one of your Uber drivers. (My phone, to this day, is packed with the phone numbers of affable Colombian Uber drivers.)
Canggu, Bali, Indonesia
Maybe you don’t need me to tell you that Bali is a good destination for solo female travelers. In the aftermath of Elizabeth Gilbert’s 2006 memoir, Eat Pray Love (and the subsequent 2010 movie starring Julia Roberts) solo females, many wearing caftans, have flocked to Indonesia’s island paradise. But the fact remains that Bali — with its black sand beaches, majestic temples, tropical rainforests and emerald rice paddies — is hard to beat when it comes to transformational solo travel. The island abounds with reasonably priced yoga studios, meditation retreats, surfing schools and snorkeling excursions where you can meet like-minded travelers while supporting the local economy.
And you couldn’t ask for kinder locals than the Balinese. When you’re lost and looking for the nearest petrol station or ancient temple, you’ll never have to look far to find a friendly face eager to point you in the right direction.
Austin, Texas
Texas’s quirky, liberal capital, Austin, boasts the cultural advantages of a major city, but the down-home feel and affordable(ish) prices of a small town. This laid-back vibe reverberates in the town’s breweries, live music venues, barbecue joints, coffee shops and improv theaters. Between outdoor adventures, local art and music and lively drinkin’ streets, there’s plenty to do in Austin, whatever your travel style and budget.
I moved to Austin in 2015 as an introvert who knew no one. I quickly discovered that if you hang around long enough with an interesting book at Barton Springs — Austin’s famous 1,000-foot-long, springs-fed pool — conversation buddies will come to you.
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