How to Travel Alone Safely As a Woman in Latin America
Understand why being a woman makes a difference., Broaden your knowledge about the safety of your destination country/city., Make contacts within your destination country., Make a conscious effort to become more aware of your surroundings., Identify...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Understand why being a woman makes a difference.
Latin America is one of the most economically unequal regions of the world, which means the region is also home to higher crime rates.
The machismo culture makes it more unsafe for a woman outsider, as you are perceived as weaker than men and therefore an easy target.
Read about the development and history of Latin America.
Research information on cultural traditions, race, machismo, politics, trade, and the environment.
Learning a bit about these topics will help you understand why locals may treat/perceive you a particular way, and also why the inequality exists. -
Step 2: Broaden your knowledge about the safety of your destination country/city.
You will be more prepared on the ground if you know where you should and should not be.
Research neighborhoods that are safe for international travelers, and those that should be avoided due to crime.
Within those neighborhoods, identify the safe/unsafe places (restaurants, public parks, cafes, libraries, stores) and learn their physical locations.
Often, hostels and hotels listed in travel books are legitimate and safe, but always do internet research about the neighborhood the lodging is located in. , Reach out to your social network and ask if they know anyone in this country.
Utilize these contacts to learn more before you arrive, as the valuable information the internet provides can sometimes be out-of-date. , Practice awareness, even before your trip.
Try to take note of the number of people around you, the physical space you are in, your personal belongings, the time of day, and how you are being perceived.
Practicing these skills at home—in an environment where you feel comfortable—will make them much easier to draw on during your travels. , Here are a few examples of things that you may need to un-learn to protect yourself and your belongings:
Holding your phone loosely in your hand in public, or asking someone next to you at a café to watch your computer/stuff as you go to the bathroom.
Storing your credit card/money/phone in a back pocket or a purse that is poorly sealed and/or not close to your body.
Hanging your purse/backpack on the back of your chair or placing it on the ground in a café.
Meeting people in public and sharing information about what you do, the company you work for, or where you are staying.
Taking many photographs of yourself in public or having someone else take them of you.
Taking a significant amount of money out of an ATM and carrying it in public.
Outwardly displaying your wealth through fancy clothes, electronic gadgets, or jewelry. , The culture of machismo is real and strong, especially as a “gringa” outsider.
You are seen as exotic and sometimes even “easy”, as many Latin American men perceive North American/European/Australian women as more available and promiscuous. , If you can, speak the language of the country you’re in instead of English.
Dress conservatively (no tight dresses, no high heels, no flashy jewelry), and do not use excessive makeup.
Dressing provocatively invites extra attention, so be sure to avoid looking your best when traveling alone! Ignore whistles and catcalls.
Smiling back invites the person trying to get your attention to approach you. , Although you may want to meet locals and experience true cultural immersion through nightlife, do not go alone into a local party, club, or even a restaurant at night.
Instead find other foreigners to go with you! Stay alert and aware, especially at night.
This means not drinking too much! Keep an eye on your drink when out in public, and don’t accept drinks from people you don’t know. , The less stuff you bring, the more control you have over the important belongings that you need.
Pack only the essentials, and invest in a travel backpack that will enable you to be mobile at all times.
If something happens, you don’t want to be weighed down by heavy luggage. , You might also want to print out a copy and store it in a safe secret place in your luggage, especially if you’re traveling to a location without reliable Internet access. , This includes your passport number, social security number, cell phone numbers of your family, local emergency number in the country you are in, personal banking information, and the address of your home country’s embassy in each foreign country you plan to visit. , Look up your international country code before you travel, and as soon as you arrive, make a test call at a local call center or via Skype.
Create a Skype account to make international calls and fund it with money.
Although many internet cafés have Skype, many hostels/hotels have WiFi.
Make sure you have the Skype App on your smartphone so you can connect and call home. , Contact your bank/credit card company to notify them you will be traveling abroad.
This way, they will not cancel your card if they see a strange foreign charge.
Also ask them about ATM fees and credit card charges, and figure out the least costly way to withdraw money.
Ideally, you should bring two cards on your trip (a credit card and debit card).
Store the cards in different places (one on your body and one in a secure luggage compartment) so if one gets stolen you have the other. , If you will be on the move, invest in a cheap cell phone that they can call to check in on you. , These books have the latest information about restaurants, hotels, taxi services, neighborhoods, etc.
These books also have detailed maps, which are great resources for international travelers. , Since you may not have access to your smartphone (and therefore live maps of where you are) in this country, study the basic geography of the location you will be traveling, as well as the main highways and key landmarks., Airports are the perfect place for locals to identify travelers that do not know what they are doing, so have everything in order as you leave the airport. , Use it to store the bulk of your critical belongings—your passport, cash, credit cards, and phone.
Keep a small amount of cash in a purse for a taxi so you don’t have to reveal the location of the belt. ,, If this is not an option, book your first few days in the country at a legitimate, trusted hostel/hotel and arrange for a ride from the airport through them.
This ride may be more expensive than the going rate, but your safety is worth the extra money.
Tell the hostel/hotel your name and make sure that the person approaching you is from your hostel and knows your full name.
Never get in a taxi with a driver who approaches you and simply states he is from “your” hostel.
Here are some helpful phrases:
Do you know my name: ¿Sabes cuál es mi nombre? Hi, are you from Hostel Miraflores:
Hola, ¿eres del Hostal Miraflores? , Keep all of your bags in the back seat with you, ideally at your feet.
Do not put your backpack on the seat next to you, as someone could easily break a window and steal it when the taxi is stopped at a red light or in traffic.
Do not play with your phone, camera, or computer on this ride.
Keep all of your belongings at your feet, and try to blend into this new environment. , Keep a mental inventory of all of your belongings (cameras, phones, computers, headphones, travel books, shoes) and stay very organized.
Do not leave your belongings scattered across your room.
Keep important things contained and out of sight (especially if someone is cleaning your room).
Use a safety deposit box if you have access to one, especially for your passport and other valuables. , In most places in Latin America, you should avoid drinking the tap water, especially in rural places or in cheaper hostels and restaurants.
Also avoid eating things that may have been washed in the water and not cooked thoroughly, such as salad or raw vegetables. , Do not accept offers of transportation from just anyone, even if it’s a taxi that seems registered.
Instead, find out the best services from the hostel/hotel you are using, and pre-arrange rides through them.
Ideally, always use transportation with someone you know. -
Step 3: Make contacts within your destination country.
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Step 4: Make a conscious effort to become more aware of your surroundings.
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Step 5: Identify personal habits that could lead to unsafe situations and work to change them.
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Step 6: Understand how you are perceived as a non-native woman.
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Step 7: Be aware of how you carry yourself and interact with others.
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Step 8: Be careful when you go out at night.
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Step 9: Pack lightly and efficiently!
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Step 10: Scan a copy of your passport and email it to yourself and your family.
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Step 11: Memorize all important personal numbers.
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Step 12: Make sure you can contact others in case of emergency.
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Step 13: Plan ahead of time to use your credit cards abroad.
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Step 14: Notify your family of where you are staying and the phone number of the hostel/hotel.
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Step 15: Buy an up-to-date travel book of the region/country you will be staying in.
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Step 16: Know the local geography.
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Step 17: Be very alert and confident as you exit the gate.
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Step 18: Wear a money belt under your clothes.
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Step 19: Avoid using any of your electronic gadgets (phone
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Step 20: computer
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Step 21: iPod) in public
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Step 22: especially when you first arrive at the airport.
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Step 23: Have someone you know meet you at the airport.
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Step 24: Be careful in taxis.
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Step 25: Stay aware at the hostel/hotel.
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Step 26: Eat and drink wisely.
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Step 27: Get recommendations for transportation from a trusted source.
Detailed Guide
Latin America is one of the most economically unequal regions of the world, which means the region is also home to higher crime rates.
The machismo culture makes it more unsafe for a woman outsider, as you are perceived as weaker than men and therefore an easy target.
Read about the development and history of Latin America.
Research information on cultural traditions, race, machismo, politics, trade, and the environment.
Learning a bit about these topics will help you understand why locals may treat/perceive you a particular way, and also why the inequality exists.
You will be more prepared on the ground if you know where you should and should not be.
Research neighborhoods that are safe for international travelers, and those that should be avoided due to crime.
Within those neighborhoods, identify the safe/unsafe places (restaurants, public parks, cafes, libraries, stores) and learn their physical locations.
Often, hostels and hotels listed in travel books are legitimate and safe, but always do internet research about the neighborhood the lodging is located in. , Reach out to your social network and ask if they know anyone in this country.
Utilize these contacts to learn more before you arrive, as the valuable information the internet provides can sometimes be out-of-date. , Practice awareness, even before your trip.
Try to take note of the number of people around you, the physical space you are in, your personal belongings, the time of day, and how you are being perceived.
Practicing these skills at home—in an environment where you feel comfortable—will make them much easier to draw on during your travels. , Here are a few examples of things that you may need to un-learn to protect yourself and your belongings:
Holding your phone loosely in your hand in public, or asking someone next to you at a café to watch your computer/stuff as you go to the bathroom.
Storing your credit card/money/phone in a back pocket or a purse that is poorly sealed and/or not close to your body.
Hanging your purse/backpack on the back of your chair or placing it on the ground in a café.
Meeting people in public and sharing information about what you do, the company you work for, or where you are staying.
Taking many photographs of yourself in public or having someone else take them of you.
Taking a significant amount of money out of an ATM and carrying it in public.
Outwardly displaying your wealth through fancy clothes, electronic gadgets, or jewelry. , The culture of machismo is real and strong, especially as a “gringa” outsider.
You are seen as exotic and sometimes even “easy”, as many Latin American men perceive North American/European/Australian women as more available and promiscuous. , If you can, speak the language of the country you’re in instead of English.
Dress conservatively (no tight dresses, no high heels, no flashy jewelry), and do not use excessive makeup.
Dressing provocatively invites extra attention, so be sure to avoid looking your best when traveling alone! Ignore whistles and catcalls.
Smiling back invites the person trying to get your attention to approach you. , Although you may want to meet locals and experience true cultural immersion through nightlife, do not go alone into a local party, club, or even a restaurant at night.
Instead find other foreigners to go with you! Stay alert and aware, especially at night.
This means not drinking too much! Keep an eye on your drink when out in public, and don’t accept drinks from people you don’t know. , The less stuff you bring, the more control you have over the important belongings that you need.
Pack only the essentials, and invest in a travel backpack that will enable you to be mobile at all times.
If something happens, you don’t want to be weighed down by heavy luggage. , You might also want to print out a copy and store it in a safe secret place in your luggage, especially if you’re traveling to a location without reliable Internet access. , This includes your passport number, social security number, cell phone numbers of your family, local emergency number in the country you are in, personal banking information, and the address of your home country’s embassy in each foreign country you plan to visit. , Look up your international country code before you travel, and as soon as you arrive, make a test call at a local call center or via Skype.
Create a Skype account to make international calls and fund it with money.
Although many internet cafés have Skype, many hostels/hotels have WiFi.
Make sure you have the Skype App on your smartphone so you can connect and call home. , Contact your bank/credit card company to notify them you will be traveling abroad.
This way, they will not cancel your card if they see a strange foreign charge.
Also ask them about ATM fees and credit card charges, and figure out the least costly way to withdraw money.
Ideally, you should bring two cards on your trip (a credit card and debit card).
Store the cards in different places (one on your body and one in a secure luggage compartment) so if one gets stolen you have the other. , If you will be on the move, invest in a cheap cell phone that they can call to check in on you. , These books have the latest information about restaurants, hotels, taxi services, neighborhoods, etc.
These books also have detailed maps, which are great resources for international travelers. , Since you may not have access to your smartphone (and therefore live maps of where you are) in this country, study the basic geography of the location you will be traveling, as well as the main highways and key landmarks., Airports are the perfect place for locals to identify travelers that do not know what they are doing, so have everything in order as you leave the airport. , Use it to store the bulk of your critical belongings—your passport, cash, credit cards, and phone.
Keep a small amount of cash in a purse for a taxi so you don’t have to reveal the location of the belt. ,, If this is not an option, book your first few days in the country at a legitimate, trusted hostel/hotel and arrange for a ride from the airport through them.
This ride may be more expensive than the going rate, but your safety is worth the extra money.
Tell the hostel/hotel your name and make sure that the person approaching you is from your hostel and knows your full name.
Never get in a taxi with a driver who approaches you and simply states he is from “your” hostel.
Here are some helpful phrases:
Do you know my name: ¿Sabes cuál es mi nombre? Hi, are you from Hostel Miraflores:
Hola, ¿eres del Hostal Miraflores? , Keep all of your bags in the back seat with you, ideally at your feet.
Do not put your backpack on the seat next to you, as someone could easily break a window and steal it when the taxi is stopped at a red light or in traffic.
Do not play with your phone, camera, or computer on this ride.
Keep all of your belongings at your feet, and try to blend into this new environment. , Keep a mental inventory of all of your belongings (cameras, phones, computers, headphones, travel books, shoes) and stay very organized.
Do not leave your belongings scattered across your room.
Keep important things contained and out of sight (especially if someone is cleaning your room).
Use a safety deposit box if you have access to one, especially for your passport and other valuables. , In most places in Latin America, you should avoid drinking the tap water, especially in rural places or in cheaper hostels and restaurants.
Also avoid eating things that may have been washed in the water and not cooked thoroughly, such as salad or raw vegetables. , Do not accept offers of transportation from just anyone, even if it’s a taxi that seems registered.
Instead, find out the best services from the hostel/hotel you are using, and pre-arrange rides through them.
Ideally, always use transportation with someone you know.
About the Author
Dennis Moore
Dennis Moore has dedicated 11 years to mastering educational content. As a content creator, Dennis focuses on providing actionable tips and step-by-step guides.
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