How I Planned My First Solo Trip

Or: How I randomly flew to Peru alone to impress a guy

Summer 2021, I just finished my first fixed-term contract, and I have two months of vacation ahead. I can’t wait! My friends and I are planning a trip to the south of France and Italy. I’ve been looking forward to this for so long. I finally have a salary and friends to travel with.

We’ve been dealing with COVID for a year and a half, and I’ve been single for a year and a half. I’ve been dreaming of going away, even just for a weekend, with a guy or with friends, but it’s never been the right timing, the right destination, or simply the right guy.

During this summer of 2021, I learned that I was going to receive some unexpected money following the end of my contract. So here I am with a 3,000-euro check and 3 free weeks in August.

In theory, it’s a dream scenario, except I didn’t know what to do, I had no one to go with, and I didn’t know where to go.

I’ve always dreamed of going to Japan, but the country was still closed because of COVID. Then a friend mentioned Peru, and it was like a revelation for me. I knew almost nothing about Peru; the first things that came to mind were Cuzco (the cartoon), Machu Picchu, the Incas, and the mysterious cities of gold. So, the next day, I rushed to the travel section of a library, I flipped through the few available guides about Peru and immediately fell in love with the landscapes and stories I found.

Safety First

Once I got back home, I started my online research about Peru and firstly typed on Google: “Woman traveling alone in Peru.” Good news, all the stories were very positive! Through various blogs I could read the amazing experiences that many women had in Peru and their recommandations in term of security.

The recommandations I read were the following: don’t wear big jewelry / gold, don’t bring valuable items, don’t walk alone at night in poorly or sparsely populated areas, be careful to take a reputable taxi company from the airport, don’t leave your wallet or phone on the table - essentially, the habits I’ve already developed living in Paris, which have become second nature to me.

Clearly, as a first solo trip, at the other side of the world, the security was definately my number one concern. While reading these testimonials, I got reassured and that's when I started to really consider going to Peru.

Visa

No need for me! In 2021, and still in 2024, French citizens do not need a visa for a short tourist stay in Peru (90 days). It’s essential to have a passport valid for at least six months from the date of arrival in Peru.

Where to go ?

I had two weeks available for this trip, so I looked online other travel stories in Peru for same amount of time to get inspired for my itinerary. While reading travelers' testimonials in addition of my guidebook, I made a list of the places and activities I wanted to do in Peru:

• Colca Canyon,

• Lake Titicaca,

• Cuzco,

• Machu Picchu

Those were my “4 must-sees” places. Thus, I sketched out an itinerary around these locations.

Asking for help

Several details weren’t available online, such as bus schedules, prices, or the conditions for accessing Machu Picchu (entrances were limited due to COVID). So, I joined several Facebook groups for travelers in Peru to find updated advice:

• Traveling to Peru (English)

• Peru - Tips for travelers (English)

• Les français au Pérou (French)

Thanks to these Facebook pages, I could ask questions to people currently in Peru or chat with those with the same questions as me. This allowed me to get more information about transportation options, especially buses, and ticket sales for Machu Picchu.

It also reassured me; I realized many other solo travelers were in these groups, making me feel less alone and less scared.

Honestly, I left with a general idea of the tour I wanted to do but without a very precise plan, allowing room for spontaneity, last-minute changes, life, and discoveries on the spot!

How much money do I need ?

I think the budget stressed me out the most about this trip. I had no idea what budget I should plan for. I was very afraid of unexpected expenses and of running out of money at the other end of the world with no way out.

While researching the itinerary, I started looking at hotel prices online, (via Booking.com, Agoda, etc.) and quickly realized that hostels were much cheaper than hotels. Thus, I started an Excel spreadsheet with a column for each day to get an idea of the budget I would need by listing:

• Ticket prices

• Accommodation prices

• Activity prices

• Transport costs if I could find them online

• Departure and arrival times for the various places to organize my itinerary better

• Internet links for activities and hotels to find them easily

Magnificent Excel spreadsheet

Now that I look back at it, it stresses me out terribly, but back at the time it was a real IT achievement for me lol. I filled this spreadsheet gradually over two weeks before leaving.

Spoiler alert, this was the first and almost the last time I made an Excel spreadsheet for my trip.

Back then, I felt the need to organize myself, having a plan, to reassure myself and my family too. Today, I travel with just my credit card and my passport, without really knowing where I’m going, but it took me time!

Really Ready ?

After passing all these steps, I had no more excuses; it was time to take the plunge and book my flight. I think this was probably the hardest step for me. The one I kept putting off until tomorrow. I had no one to motivate or reassure me;

I was about to jump into the unknown, all alone. I didn’t speak a word of Spanish. I had never traveled this far from home. No one was waiting for me there. I didn’t know anyone who had been there either.

It may sound silly, but I think what gave me the most strength to take the plunge was proving what I was capable of, showing the adventurer I was, while many labeled me as a city girl, fragile and prim. BUT, to be very honest, I wanted to impress a guy, probably my family too, and my friends. I couldn’t wait to see their reaction when I told them that in less than two weeks, I was flying to Peru, all alone.

Now that I think back, I believe I mostly wanted to prove something to myself. To prove that I was capable of managing on my own, of being independent, that I was strong. And even though today I don’t want to do things to prove my worth, I think back then, this motivation really pushed me to surpass myself, step out of my comfort zone, and ultimately discover myself by doing something I really wanted. When the idea of traveling to Peru started to take root in me, I felt so good about the idea of leaving, despite my fears.

I felt it was something that truly resonated with me and my desires. For once, I was really listening to myself, and I was going to do something I would really be proud of, even if it wasn’t the most reasonable decision. So, I bought my ticket!

What should I pack ?

Since this was my first trip in South America, my first backpacking trip and my first solo trip, I had no idea what to bring. Again, I researched several blogs to find out what to take.

My backpack

I bought a very practical 60L backpack. All the references are here ⬇️

Travel backpack

Outfits & co

Here is the list of what I packed for 2 weeks in Peru in August :

• Short-sleeve t-shirts

• 2 long-sleeve sports t-shirts

• 1 sweatshirt

• 1 lightweight down jacket

• 2 leggings

• 1 pair of jeans

• Underwear (enough for at least 1 week)

• 1 swimsuit

• 1 pair of sandals

• 1 pair of AirMax

• 1 pair of running shoes

• 1 toiletry bag

• 1 mini 100ml bottle of shampoo

• 1 mini 100ml bottle of shower gel

• 1 bar of soap

• 1 hairbrush

• 1 padlock

• Medications: paracetamol, Spasfon, Vogalib, Smecta, antibiotics for urinary infections, anti-inflammatory, Hydratis

My family also insisted that I take a survival blanket and pills to make river water drinkable in case I ended up alone in a forest one day. Spoiler alert: I never used them.

If I had to do it again, I wouldn’t bring the running shoes. I did everything in my AirMax, noting that I didn’t do the Inca Trail trek (2 to 5 days of hiking to reach Machu Picchu from Cusco). I just did the hike from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu (2 hours plus the visit), and it’s really manageable in sneakers.

No hiking shoes. I never felt the need. The only time during my trip when hiking shoes might have been useful was when I did the Red Valley (mountains next to the Rainbow Mountain), where the ground is very porous, but I survived just fine in sneakers.

Hiking at the Red Valley

In two weeks, I was ready to go!

Few things were booked when I left to Peru. I had a short list of my must-see places, then I adapted the rest of my trip on the spot, thanks to the advice of other travelers I met and all the information I could find online.

Today, I have traveled in 32 countries, but Peru remains one of my favorite journey. I will soon publish anther article about my entire journey with my itinerary and tips right here.

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