The Best Destinations for Solo Travel

The Best Destinations for Solo Travel

With books and films like Wild, Down the Nile, and Eat, Pray, Love inspiring us to travel on our own more, solo travel has been on the rise in recent years—and rightfully so! Who wouldn’t want to go at their own pace, see whatever they want to see, and eliminate any distraction pulling them away from the present moment. Solo travel can be so invigorating, freeing, and healing for the soul. There are plenty of factors to consider when taking a solo trip—safety, cost, duration of travel, etc.—but I personally think you should just go with your heart. Go wherever it is that your soul is pulling you towards and lose yourself in it. If you need a little inspiration, take a look at the list below for some of the best destinations for solo travel.

Puerto Rico

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I know I might be biased here since I am of Puerto Rican heritage, but Puerto Rico really is an incredible destination for any kind of traveler. Additionally, because of the recent natural disasters the country has been victim to, they need the tourism now more than ever. Whether you’re looking for adventure, food, LGBTQ+, luxury, or cultural travel, there is something for everyone to enjoy in Puerto Rico! The best part for US-citizens is that it doesn’t require a passport so you can freely enter and exit with no problem.

Ireland

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Ireland is typically amongst the list of happiest countries in the world (along with Denmark, which I also recommend traveling to), which makes it a great reason to visit as a solo traveler. You can experience the lively music and pub culture in major cities like Dublin, or visit the abundantly lush, rolling hills throughout Irelands countryside. There’s a great combination of nature and city life for any type of solo travel here.

Japan

There are a number of countries in Asia that are excellent for solo travel, but Japan could be a great place for you to start. You can find history, culture, cuisine, and beautiful locations all over this gorgeous country. There’s outdoor adventures, urban adventures, and everything in between. The public transportation is impeccable throughout Japan, and it’s commonly amongst one of the safest places to travel in the world. The only downside is that it can be a little on the higher end of the budget scale (depending what your budget is); so if you’re looking to spend less, perhaps consider other destinations such as Thailand or Vietnam.

Costa Rica

Pura Vida! Of course Costa Rica needs to be on this list because it is such a gorgeous destination for any solo travel who is into the outdoors and getting in touch with nature. There are endless opportunities for adventures like zip lining in the rainforests, white water rafting, hiking, surfing, or just relaxing on the beach. It’s hard not to love Costa Rica and all its beauty!

South Africa

Although it may be a bit of a longer journey for some, South Africa is absolutely worth visiting as a solo traveler. Experience the urban life in Cape Town, head to Stellenbosch for wine tasting, or do safari in Kruger National Park. Visiting South Africa will give you a little taste of the magical experience that comes with traveling through Africa. I highly recommend it!

Spain

Where else can you go and get a whole meal + drinks for under 10€? Spain is an incredible destination for solo travelers because of its relatively low cost and beautiful surroundings. You can kick it on the beach, sightsee around many historic cities, celebrate one of the thousands of annual festivals, or indulge in the cultural ambience that often goes late into the night. Spain is one of those destinations that makes you want to return again and again and again.

New Zealand

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New Zealand has been notoriously touted as a great destination for solo travelers—and particularly female solo travelers. There are plenty of outdoor and urban adventures to enjoy for all types of travelers. Wine lovers will rejoice because New Zealand is known for having a great selection of new world wines and vineyards to experience.

Portugal

If you’re planning on taking a trip to Europe, consider stopping over in Portugal for a little excursion. Portugal is a great place for solo travelers to visit and have an extended layover. TAP Airlines even has a layover program designed for this! I guarantee you will want to come back and visit again once you experience the culture, see the idyllic beaches, explore some historic architecture, and get your first taste of a Pasteis de Nata (my mouth is watering just thinking about them right now). Visit cities like Lisbon, Porto, or Sintra to get your first taste of this incredible country.

United States

The list is endless for how many cities that you can take a solo trip to in the United States. While traveling within the states isn’t necessarily as cheap as other international destinations, it is still extremely accessible and easy to navigate. There are larger destinations like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, or Miami that you can explore, or you can scale down and explore other spots like Savannah, Austin, Santa Barbara, Portland (either Maine or Oregon). There’s truly something for everyone!

Italy

Like other European countries, Italy is excellent for the solo traveler because of how easy it is to get around everywhere. With trains connecting basically every major and small city, you can easily just grab a train pass and create your own experience. Visit the famous beach towns around the coast, indulge in the food and drink around the country, or check out the historic sights. For a real adventure, consider renting a car for a couple days and exploring the countryside.

Peru

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Peru is a solo backpackers dream. Most famous for its ruins and mountains, the country has made traveling to famous sights and destinations extremely easy for travelers. There are also frequent tours and public transportation to/from places like Machu Picchu if you want to do your exploring in a group setting with other solo travelers.

Switzerland

While Switzerland is on the pricier end of the European destinations to visit, it is surely one you cannot miss. To put it simply, Switzerland is gorgeous, clean, and safe. Getting around Switzerland is also incredibly easy. You can rent a car to explore the vast countryside, or hop on the train to visit just about any town you want to explore. This is another wonderful destination for outdoor and urban adventures alike. Make sure to include cities like Zurich, Geneva, and Basel on your list!

Norway

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If you want to spend your entire trip exploring nature, head to Norway. Fjords, Northern Lights, glaciers, mountains, waterfalls… What more could you possibly want in your outdoor oasis adventure?! High season is typically around June-August, so consider visiting on a shoulder season (just before or after high season) to get better prices and less crowds.

Canada

If you’re not able to jump the pond from the United States, consider taking a visit to our next-door neighbor up north. Canada is an incredibly beautiful country with so much to explore. Visit cities like Québec, Montreal, Toronto, or Vancouver; or go off the beaten path and visit places like Lake Louise, Whistler, or Jasper. Prices are relatively less expensive than a lot of destinations in the United States, making it a great alternative that is close to home.

France

While Paris is always a good idea, there are also so many other places to visit around France that you simply cannot miss. Consider heading to the Eastern region to drive through the Alsace wine region and stop in cities like Strasbourg, Colmar, or Kaysersberg. Or visit the beaches down south in Nice, St. Tropez, or Cannes. Like other countries in Europe, you can have just about any type of traveling experience you desire—cultural, urban, outdoor, etc. It’s simple getting around France with either a car or the train.

What are some of your favorite solo travel destinations? Comment below with more ideas or tips to inspire others!

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For those of you who don’t know, I’m a wee bit (ok... kind of a lot) scared of heights. When I signed up to take a Costa Rican adventure vacation, I knew that something with heights was going to be involved. On our second adventure day, I was told that we were going to be doing some kind of jungle adventure. “Jungle adventure?!” I thought. I had no idea what was in store... I put my brave face on and decided to face this day with courage. (Check out my face and how brave I look!)

We did the Adventure Park Tour with ADR (same company as the water rafting tour) and it was definitely money well spent. The tour guides who led us on the adventure trip picked us up bright and early at our villa and drove us into the mountains. About halfway up the mountain, we switched vehicles going from a large van to a huge open-window SUV because the terrain was so bumpy. Suffice to say, it was so much fun because we were hanging off the back enjoying the crazy ride with our crew while taking in the view.

When we got to a stopping point, we got out of the car and the guides walked us through the jungle while explaining interesting facts about the wildlife around us. It was so peaceful (at this point) to take in all of the beauty of the nature. The sounds, the smells, the views... It was all stunning! PURA VIDA!

We arrived at the campsite and they gave us all of our equipment for the day—harnesses, helmets, gloves, etc.—and we were off! They led us through a well-designed trail that had different activities at each stop. They had set up ziplines, repelling, waterfall exploring, Tarzan swings, and even ziplines that you go over the water and then unhook yourself and fall in! I totally conquered my fear of heights this day! It wasn’t too bad for me, and the fun experience made it all worth it.

One of the best parts of this tour was the team that led us through the day. They were really good at explaining how to do everything (and do it safely), very educated on Costa Rica and the location, super funny and nice, and very accommodating to everyone’s needs. They even had an awesome photographer who followed us around all day to capture all the moments. This was a great 1-day activity and I recommend it for anyone who loves adventure or wants to try something out with a group or their family (plus they feed you at the end of the day). Wear comfy shoes and clothes!

Check out more of ADR’s tours HERE.

*Most photos this day were taken by the ADR photographer.

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Adventure Trip: Waterfall Tour in Costa Rica!

The Waterfall Tour in Costa Rica is world renowned for a reason. Mike, the expert/waterfall guru in Costa Rica, took our group around the area one day to explore and play at some of the most beautiful waterfalls in Costa Rica. One of the waterfalls was even voted by National Geographic as one of the best in the world! We were even given the opportunity to jump off of the waterfalls (from 6-75 feet!!), slide down a natural rock slide, and swing off of rope swings into the water.

The Waterfall Tour started bright and early and our first stop was a lovely little waterfall and pond in a quiet area of the mountains. I was told that it normally gets very busy on the weekends with local visitors, but today it was empty just for us! There was a rope swing set up at the side of the pond that we were able to climb up and access. My fear of heights kicked in majorly at this point, but I still did it! It was such an exhilarating feeling. Mike showed us all up by doing multiple back flips into the water from the rope swing, while the rest of us (ok—just me) were screaming and flailing our legs into the water.

Next stop was another beautiful series of waterfalls that we did some jumping off of (I did 2 at 6 feet and 12 feet) and we also slid down a natural slide. It was so picturesque to be in the middle of the jungle while playing on all of these waterfalls and rocks. I definitely recommend wearing good water shoes (not tennis shoes/sneakers) if you’re going to do this. I wore standard tennis shoes and mine were slippery, so I ended up having to take them off and walk around in my socks.

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Mike mentioned that he was saving the best waterfall for last. I didn’t know exactly what he was talking about until we arrived at the final waterfall destination. This waterfall left me speechless. I was absolutely blown away by the beauty of this location. Words and pictures just don’t do it justice. It was honestly the most gorgeous waterfall I’ve ever seen in my life.

My favorite part was swimming out in the middle of the water by myself, looking up to the sky and waterfall, and floating there basking in the beauty. It was one of those unbelievably peaceful moments that I was filled with so much gratitude for being exactly where I was at the moment. My friends even snuck a picture so I can look at it and remember it forever.

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Water Rafting - Amigos Del Rio

They picked us up at our location, drove us into the jungle, and got us all ready with our equipment by the river. They sat us 2 guests per raft with 1 guide in the back. My friend and I both hopped in the front seat so we could be fully engaged in the action! Our poor guide even ended up having to do most of the work while the 2 of us were in the front laughing, talking, not paying attention, or screaming!

The first thing that was so amazing about this adventure was taking in all of the gorgeous scenery that Costa Rica has to offer. The tranquility, beauty, and excitement that you feel while water rafting down the river were breathtaking and indescribable.

The second best thing was that they have a photographer who follows your group around and takes amazing action shots of you while you are on the adventure! You don’t even have to worry about taking any photos or bringing your camera along. Better than risking your phone or camera getting wet!

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Dante’s team is super friendly, professional, and helpful to newbies, intermediate, and professional surfer types. They provide you with a board and a surf shirt to use while you are out in the water. Since we were newbies, they taught us the basic elements of how to stand up on the board and paddle out, and then they took us out in the water for hours of fun! I even got up on my first try!!

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