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Home / Travel Tips

How to Travel Alone for the First Time

Travel Tips Last Updated · Mar 9th, 2025 · Daniel James

Today I’ll show you how to travel alone for the first time.

If you want to travel more and looking for a challenge; keep reading.

The work I started to do in Latin America was a great way to travel outside my comfort zone! From my first solo travel to now; I have achieved a lot.

A handful of years ago, I coined the term ‘Trips of Growth’ and even today, I use this term to describe the action of traveling outside my comfort zone.


This post contains affiliate links. Layer Culture is supported by you and I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you make a purchase by clicking a link. Learn more.

Content in this guide:

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  • How to Travel Alone For The First Time
    • My Trips of Growth
    • Will you be Traveling somewhere soon?
  • 7+ Tips on How to Travel Alone
    • 1. Choose a desirable place
    • 2. Get a Travel mentor / Guide
    • 3. Make a solid plan
    • 4. Follow your heart
    • 5. Stay Social
    • 6. Travel Light
    • 7. Learn the Language
    • 8. Research accommodation
  • How to Travel Alone For The First Time

How to Travel Alone For The First Time

Right, so you’re thinking of traveling by yourself for the first time. Below I will share some insights, tips and tricks on how I began to do it for myself.

dan solo travel first time latin america

I started a new chapter in my life when I went backpacking through Mexico where I faced a new set of challenges to add to the long list I was already born with. Solo travel has become an integral part of my personal growth.

The interesting point is how I managed to use solo travel as a tool to facilitate this challange. Let me start by firstly saying that a Trip of Growth doesn’t have to mean traveling to a new country or place.

My Trips of Growth

As a person who thrives off creativity and discovers the new and unknown, I gain so much value from positioning myself in new environments.

dan with locals in cartagena colombia

I find travel the best way to break from the known! On a trip of growth, you’ll find me traveling solo, exploring new territories, and facing old fears.

Are you ready to take the necessary steps towards becoming a better you?

In this guide, I’m going to give you some tips which I implemented my first time traveling alone. For me, it was a major comfort zone challenge.

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7+ Tips on How to Travel Alone

No matter if you have traveled before you are traveling alone by plane for the first time. I’m going to give you so of my tips on how to travel alone.

solo travel santa marta

If you’re traveling to an unknown place, you are taking a risk. Any risk that you run in life can appear daunting.

1. Choose a desirable place

After acclimatizing, a few hours or days later that feeling fades away.

If you’re still in the stage of wondering where to travel alone for the first time. I recommend you try backpacking in Latin America.

Why? Because I know you’re going to have the time of your life.

The people and places you’ll visit will win your heart in seconds. Below I will list the three great countries for solo travelers to visit.

cartagena to santa marta
Traveling in Cartagena for the first time

Forget about the bad press pick up your map of Latin America and start to nominate a few locations.

If you are from the United States and it’s your first time on a plane, for example, Latin America is a great choice because it’s not too far.

Also, you’ll more than likely be in the same time zone so it will be easy to communicate with family and friends back home.

Here are some countries I recommend for traveling alone to:

  • 🇲🇽 Mexico
  • 🇧🇷 Brazil
  • 🇨🇴 Colombia

If you don’t yet speak Spanish. Or, a bit rusty from high school, don’t worry.

In the States and Europe there are plenty of options to support you in becoming fluent in Spanish before, during, and after your solo trip.

Don’t let the language barriers be the reason for dismissing a whole continent of life and exploration that awaits you.

2. Get a Travel mentor / Guide

In my case, I started by searching for the right mentors. I did this to learn more about areas I found myself lacking in fulfillment.

how to travel alone for the first time
🇨🇴 Visiting Tatacoa Desert in Colombia

I developed the trip of growth idea after listening to lectures by Joseph Campbell. He talks about ancient mythology and living with purpose.

Joseph’s books inspired me to discover a deeper meaning in my first 3 months of solo travel from down through Central America back in 2014.

When traveling solo it’s necessary to have support and challenge. Because when you’re not fortunate to have someone challenge you, it is too easy to find yourself stuck in a rut, reliving the same experiences day after day.

dan with locals medellin colombia

Let’s be honest, we’d all prefer the right type of challenges; the type that plays to our strengths. But then, ask yourself, is it really a challenge if you’re reliving something you’ve experienced before?

Having a mentor is paramount to being challenged.

I wanted my experience traveling alone for the first time to be backpacking in South America, but I was scared.

Then I met an oracle, disguised as a young Australian cocaine addict, who give me a piece of advice that changed everything.

Read about it amongst my other backpacking South America travel tips.

3. Make a solid plan

If this is going to be your first solo backpacking trip. I recommend you do at least a bit of trip planning. Do you know how to plan for a trip like this?

Don’t worry if not, you can kind of wing it, a little bit.

The main idea here is to execute your main travel strategy getting from point A to point B. Let your heart sort out the rest of the in-between bits.

Cartagena to Tayrona
Heading to Tayrona Park in Colombia

Whether going beach hopping in Colombia or exploring the streets of Buenos Aires, I recommend that you carry a travel journal with you and you use it as the base for all your trip notes and findings.

One of my best tips for traveling alone for the first time is to know where you want to go while allowing time for Mr. Random and his friends to creep in at any moment. Being spontaneous is where your adventure starts.

4. Follow your heart

When the world was telling me not to travel to Latin America because it was dangerous. If I’d listened to my head and ignored my heart, I would never have made that initial trip of growth I did to Mexico back in 2014.

food in mexico

In fact, when searching for solo travel destinations, the counties in Latin America barely even make it on any list.

Your heart has a reason that the mind cannot understand.

The same reason why society, our friends, family, and even ourselves cannot fully comprehend why we would do something.

I’ve found that on every instance that I follow my heart, which usually coinsides with a deep passion, I find myself wishing I’d do it more often.

colombian coffee guide
Learning all about Coffee

When traveling alone for the first time, following our heart usually means turning our backs on society and sometimes friends and family.

Not in a spiteful way, but in a more polite way, that says…

Look, I need to do this for myself.

I know I am not the only one that understands how breaking the code of everyday thinking and following your heart is a courageous thing to do.

The only thing I’d worry about is not following my heart, because, as we grow older and wiser we rely on it more to guide us.

In other words, start following your heart now; before it’s too late.

5. Stay Social

One of my most useful tips for traveling alone for the first time is to stay social. This may sound obvious but it can get lonely traveling alone.

dan with locals in cartagena colombia

As travellers, we don’t always get the opportunity to connect with like minded people. I don’t recommend forcing interactions. Or, in other words, don’t spend your valuable travel time chasing other people.

When backpacking alone for the first time in Latin America, I started my first trip by staying with a local. I’m grateful to this day that Araceli and Omar put me up in their home for a few weeks in Mexico City.

The best way to spend time traveling the world alone and still being social is by mixing it up. Carry a travel board game or show a unique skill, or, even have something useful that you can offer all new people you meet.

I like to do a mixture of the following:

  • Staying with locals
  • Getting my own apartment
  • A dorm room in a hostel

I’ve found I can do all 3 methods on any one trip. Staying and living with other people in a new country has been my #1 comfort zone crusher.

I will continue to do this as I’m able to learn and share with others and some cases offer a lot of value to my hosts while I am staying there.

6. Travel Light

This is one of the hardest to achieve as a backpacker. If I was to give you 3 of my best tips on how to travel alone for the first time, this would be #1.

As I mention in most of my travel tips on this blog. Traveling light is an art form. Even the most seasoned backpackers have trouble with this.

colombia backpacking itinerary
Learn how to travel light

I managed to achieve a verison that I like after more than 5 years of backpacking through South America and I still carry some things I don’t use.

Traveling light is an evolving process of testing, learning, and try new gear.

I’ve listed some things that may inspire you, especially if you’re a first-time traveler. See my South America packing list for ideas on what to carry.

7. Learn the Language

One of my old adages is this: travel to a country where you can’t understand the language and you’ll quickly realize how unimportant you and your life are. Just like I did when I first started to learn Spanish.

spanish conversation basics

My friend Araceli initially helped me in Mexico. Without the support and challenge from her and the family, I wouldn’t have made it out sane.

Not only is basic language learning a great thing to do, but it gives you confidence and access to new layers of the culture you find yourself in.

8. Research accommodation

If arriving in a new place for the first time this is a smart thing to do. The best solo travel destinations make this easier for people.

casa pepe

I once landed in Latin America with terrible jet lag and without pre-booking any accommodation. I almost left myself stranded.

When you’re looking for the best places to travel alone for the first time, at least research the accommodation before you arrive.

I have done this with many hostels in South America because they usually get booked up fast. This doesn’t mean you have to book anything, but, I recommend you do if you want the best beds.

With some sites, you can book accommodation and cancel for free if you’re not sure you’ll go to that place or if your travel plans change.

Traveling smartly is something you learn, and it’s not for everyone, but if you’re a first-time traveler with little experience, researching and booking at least your first night’s accommodation is an intelligent thing to do.

How to Travel Alone For The First Time

So, what is backpacking going to do for you? For me, it’s changed my life and helped me develop many areas of my life, and I hope you’ll see the many other backpacking benefits I have gained by reading this blog.

You can also check out Eli’s tips on solo travel tips for even more ideas and insights. He’s got some great insights and tips on traveling alone.

So, why is traveling important again? Hopefully, you’ll be able to see this for yourself after traveling alone in Latin America.

It may not be easy, but you should have a boost of confidence that can take you far because you’ve read the benefits of traveling solo from this page 🙂

📌 Like this guide? Click to Pin it…

how to travel alone for the first time
first time solo travel loneliness
Did I miss something? Got tips, tricks & advice we can learn from?

👉🏽 Did you enjoy this guide? Feel free to buy me a coffee to say thanks!

Filed Under: Travel Tips

Daniel James

Helping thousands of people worldwide with independent travel in Latin America. Layer Culture means to dig deeper into the ideas, customs, and behaviour of a group of people.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Paulina On the road says

    January 4, 2018 at 2:08 pm

    I really liked this post, and there is nothing better than solo travel than to grow personally. I also moved abroad to learn Spanish, to Madrid, Sevilla etc. ANd it s the best way to become fluent in a language. Can’t wait to see how your Spanish will improve.

  2. Suzanne says

    January 4, 2018 at 3:50 pm

    I totally get you about moving beyond your comfort zone when you travel. For instance, I had to learn Japanese when I taught in Japan. It was the ultimate challenge. I’m interested in listening to Joseph Campbell though.

  3. Dada KS says

    January 4, 2018 at 5:04 pm

    I belive one can grow as a traveler, solo or with someone…you just have to find the right partner. I have challenging myself a lot while traveling by my own and traveling with my husband so at the end its not about traveling solo or with someone is about if you are open to challenge yourself. And yes you can learn a language at any age. I learnt fluently french at 26 years old and now at 36 I am learning german.
    I am sure you will learn spanish fluently because you have so much will! Good luck!

  4. Bailey Mills says

    January 4, 2018 at 7:21 pm

    It’s so funny, I often find myself saying solo travel is the number way to push yourself out of your comfort zone. I am glad that you were able to take the experience of solo travel and really utilize it to help you grow as a person. I will definitely have to take a trip like your’s through Latin America and see how I do!

  5. Lydia Smith says

    January 4, 2018 at 10:11 pm

    This type of post is rare and glad I came across a gem such as this! For someone who’s not married, I think solo travel is the way most times. However, starting out can look scary. Good to read of your determination to learn the Spanish language. It’s an inspiration to me. There’s always something rewarding stepping out of one’s comfort zone.

  6. Kate Storm says

    January 5, 2018 at 3:54 am

    Love the idea of a trip of growth! Similar to you, I initially went to Latin America hoping to improve my Spanish (among other reasons, of course). I didn’t get as far as I had hoped last year, but I have plans to go back in 2018–fingers crossed I grow more on this trip!

  7. Cat Lin says

    January 6, 2018 at 7:30 pm

    I love this type of trip where you challenge yourself to step outside the comfort zone! I agreed that it doesn’t have to be going to an unknown place. Last year, I challenged myself to learn French so that I can go back and revisit other parts of France. I was making small progress and I can’t wait to continue this year!

  8. Bhushavali says

    January 9, 2018 at 2:00 pm

    Totally agree. Growth begins when we step out of the comfort zone. Right now, looking at my baby gal, trying to crawl inspite of getting stuck up (which looks adorable though) and starting to cry, she still tries the moment we make her lie down. I was asking my husband when the hell did we stop trying this much!

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    […] alone and no one to turn to in case you get lost, this will be very handy. While if you are travelling alone for the first time, make sure you keep your family informed of your location. On Google Maps, you can share your […]

  2. Why You Should Travel While You're Young and in Your 20s - Everywhere Forward says:
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    […] you travel, especially traveling solo, you’ll gain independence. The first time traveling solo might be scary, but it’s totally worth it!  Every day you’ll have to make decisions for […]

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