Best solo travel destinations in South America
Best solo travel destinations in South America
Well-traveled cultural routes and walkable heritage cities in South America
South America has a way of pulling solo travelers in deeper than they planned. A week in Colombia turns into a month. The bus north from Patagonia keeps stopping somewhere worth staying. The continent rewards flexibility more than most, and the traveler infrastructure across the main routes is solid enough that moving around without much of a plan is genuinely doable.
The range is wide. Brazil alone could take months. The Andean countries each have their own rhythm, and the Southern Cone feels different again. Budget travel is well catered for across most of the continent, with hostel scenes in the bigger cities that make meeting people easy. Spanish gets you a long way, and even basic Portuguese opens up Brazil considerably.
The destinations here cover the highlights of the main solo travel circuit, from Colombia's colonial cities and Pacific coast to Peru's classic routes, the beach towns of Brazil, and the quieter spots that tend to stick with you longer than the famous ones. Some are easy. A few take more patience.
Lists by region
City in Colombia
Cartagena
Walled city of Caribbean color
Salsa music and the smell of fried arepas drift through the squares of the Old City at night. Hostels cluster in Getsemaní, a lively neighbourhood with colourful street art. Plaza Trinidad fills with locals and travellers for street food in the evening. Boats reach the Rosario Islands in about an hour.
Town in Ecuador
Baños
Vibrant riverside town amid lush volcanoes
Pailón del Diablo, the Devil's Cauldron waterfall, roars into a rocky gorge about 18 kilometres from town. The town takes its name, Baths of Holy Water, from nearby hot springs. Rafting, canyoning and bridge jumping are easy to book with other travellers. The town is small and walkable at 1,820 metres.
City in Colombia
Bogotá
Vibrant Culture in the Andean Highlands
The Gold Museum opened in 1939 and now holds about 55,000 pieces of pre-Hispanic gold. The Muisca raft, found in 1969, shows a ruler's ceremony in tiny gold figures. Every Sunday the Ciclovía closes more than 120 kilometres of road to cars. Many travellers join the ride alone.
City in Bolivia
Sucre
White City, Rooftops and Colonial Calm
Spanish settlers founded the city in 1538 and its white colonial centre earned UNESCO status in 1991. More than 12,000 dinosaur tracks mark a cliff at Cal Orck'o near town. Spanish schools in town offer classes and homestays. At 2,810 metres the city is lower than La Paz, so the air feels easier.
Town in Peru
Máncora
Sun‑kissed beaches and vibrant nightlife
Peruvians traditionally eat ceviche at lunch when the morning catch is fresh. Beach cafes in Máncora serve it by midday. The sea stays warm and the sun shines for most of the year. Surf schools and hostels make it easy to meet other travellers. Humpback whales pass offshore from July to October.
Country
Colombia
Where diverse landscapes meet culture
The Andes split into three ranges here, with the Coffee Axis in the central range. Salento is a small town with hostels and shared jeeps to the Cocora Valley. Wax palms there, Colombia's national tree, grow up to 60 metres tall. Day hikes through the valley are easy to join with other travellers.
City in Chile
Valparaíso
Colorful Hills, Art and Ocean Views
Salt air, street music and the creak of old funiculars fill the hillside lanes. The Concepción funicular opened in 1883 and still carries riders uphill. Painted murals cover walls and stairways on Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepción. UNESCO listed the historic quarter in 2003. Pablo Neruda's hillside house, La Sebastiana, is now a museum.
City in Peru
Cusco
Gateway to the Incan Empire's Heart
May to September is the dry season and the main trekking window. Spend two or three days here first to adjust to the altitude of 3,400 metres. Inca Trail permits are capped at 500 people a day including guides and porters. Solo hikers join group treks and meet others on the trail.
City in Uruguay
Montevideo
Chill vibes on the Río de la Plata
The Rambla, a waterfront path of more than 13 miles, is longer than Manhattan Island. Locals walk, jog, fish and sip mate, a herbal tea, along the river. Beaches such as Pocitos and Carrasco line the route. Mercado del Puerto serves grilled meat at shared counters near the old town.
Country
Peru
Ancient wonders meet diverse landscapes
Machu Picchu is an Inca citadel above the Urubamba River and a major reason to come. The usual route runs from Lima to Arequipa, Cusco and Lake Titicaca with hostels at every stop. Arequipa has a white volcanic stone centre and the Colca Canyon nearby. Colca Canyon is deeper than the Grand Canyon.
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