Recent ABTA travel research reveals that one in five adults now prioritise travelling alone, the highest proportion seen this decade. With independent exploration firmly on the agenda, this growing appetite for solo travel aligns perfectly with National Walking Month in May.
From two routes spotlighted in Lonely Planet’s Where to Go When: Hiking to experiences ranging from luxury stays across the country to journeys that support local communities, Peru emerges as an exceptional destination – both for solo adventurers and for travellers keen to indulge themselves.
A Luxury Tour of Peru
With 14 Michelin Key hotels, four restaurants ranked among the World’s 50 Best, and two iconic luxury train journeys, Peru is ideal for discerning travellers seeking elevated experiences.
In Lima, food lovers can dine at the world’s best restaurant or sip cocktails at one of the friendliest bars globally, as ranked by the World’s 50 Best lists. Visitors can delve deeper into the city’s renowned culinary scene through curated food tours or hands-on cooking classes – taking home not just recipes, but lasting memories.
In the Sacred Valley in Cusco, travellers can visit a llama sanctuary to learn about ancestral Peruvian dyeing and weaving techniques. This authentic, immersive experience offers a direct connection to local people and cultural heritage – exactly the kind of meaningful engagement Forbes highlights as a key luxury travel trend for 2026.
The journey can then wind down on the coast at Cabo Blanco in the Piura region, a former fishing paradise favoured by icons such as Marilyn Monroe, Ernest Hemingway, and Doris Day in the 1950s. Today, it remains a tranquil haven of yoga retreats at luxury beachfront hotels, birdwatching, world-class fishing and surfing – ideal for unwinding before the return flight to the UK.
Female Solo Travellers Supporting Women and Communities
With 60–70% of solo travellers now female, an increasing number of tour operators offer Peru itineraries designed specifically for women – trips that also directly benefit local communities.
Highlights include visits to Bosque de Las Nuwas, a women-led initiative run by members of the native Shampuyacu community. The project focuses on preserving ancestral knowledge and cultural traditions while actively confronting deforestation.
Some operators also support Ccaccaccollo, an indigenous community near Cusco that established a women’s weaving cooperative in 2005. Over the past 20 years, it has grown from just three members to 46 women creating traditionally woven crafts for visitors. Sales contribute to family incomes and have helped fund education, including sending children to university.
Following in Paddington’s Footsteps
With Paddington the Musical dominating this year’s Olivier Awards and its West End run extended until 2028, now is the perfect moment to trace the beloved bear’s Peruvian roots.
Adventurers young and old can begin in Lima, soaking up its vibrant food scene, street art and culture, before flying north to Chaparrí Lodge in Chongoyape. Here, guests can search for the Andean (spectacled) bear within the Chaparrí Private Conservation Area, one of Peru’s most successful community-owned reserves and home to one of the densest bear populations in the country. The best time to visit is September to December, avoiding both peak crowds and the rainy season. Further south, travellers can stay at Wayqecha Biological Station Lodge on the edge of Manu National Park. This unique accommodation places guests alongside researchers and conservationists, offering guided cloud forest walks and expert-led birdwatching while directly supporting vital conservation work.
Choquequirao: A Quieter Incan Wonder
Lonely Planet’s Where to Go When: Hiking recommends trekking to the lesser-visited Incan citadel of Choquequirao in September. Accessible only on foot, this remarkable site features colcas, kallankas (ceremonial halls), ceremonial platforms, temples, fountains and ritual baths, as well as striking white-stone llama carvings embedded into its terraces. Receiving just a tenth of the visitors to Machupicchu, Choquequirao is believed to have played a key role in the Incan resistance due to its altitude and isolation. The trek begins at Capuliyoc, descends into the Apurímac Canyon, crosses the river below and ascends to the citadel – whose name translates as “Golden Cradle.”
The Santa Cruz Trek
The Santa Cruz Trek is a challenging yet rewarding four-day hike through the Cordillera Blanca in Huascarán National Park. Traversing glacial lakes such as Ichiccocha and Jatuncocha, the route culminates in breathtaking views of the turquoise Llanganuco Lakes. With elevations ranging from 2,900 metres to 4,750 metres at Punta Unión Pass, the trek includes three nights of high-altitude camping, including at Llama Corral, an ancient archaeological site marked by concentric circular stone walls.
For travellers craving an even greater challenge, Lonely Planet also recommends the Cordillera Huayhuash Circuit – best tackled solo as part of an organised group tour. This demanding route encircles one of the most dramatic and remote mountain ranges in the Andes, south of the Santa Cruz region.
For further destination information and to plan your trip, visit www.peru.travel
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