Departamento de Arequipa Travel Forum

greetings... i'm meant to go to machu picchu and puerto maldonado in june. a friend of mine is saying a bit about safety and how unsafe it is... especially for a girl flying solo. i am not terribly worried about it but i am definitely interested in seeing what other people think. i think safety is always an issue where ever you go... although some places more than other. pls share your thoughts on this one.

Hello !
Hmm I don't understand really what have to do Arequipa with Puerto Maldonado, Puerto maldonado is the main city of Madre de Dios which is in the east side of Peru near Brasil and a bit of the peruvian jungle. Arequipa is in the south of Peru. Well about the safety, if you are going to fly I don't think is a big deal, but avoid to take the bus or the train as there can be problems. The people both in Pto Maldonado and Arequipa are very friendly, and as usual you hve to be careful going out late at nights, like anywhere in the world. I hope you enjoy your travel to South America.
/Patricia

It is always safer and always recommended to travel with someone rather than alone. However you'll find people in SOuth AMerica very friendly and accomodating (often becaus ethey think you're rich because you are a tourist). As a female traveller alone you may get quite a bit of attenion from the local male population. It's nothing to worry about if you can put up with it. You may even like it! I travlled not alone but with a few girls. However during the day time we often went our own ways. It was nice tho to have some one to look out for you to check you come home ok and such like.