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Visiting Colonia del Sacramento in southwestern Uruguay is a particular highlight, particularly the Barrio Histórico where most of the country’s attractions can be found. “It’s a maze of cobbled alleys with whitewashed walls and colourful bougainvillea pouring over the streets, and the vintage cars add a unique touch,” said Tavani. She recommends stopping for sunset at Calle de los Suspiros (a well-preserved street that once featured the city’s historic brothels) or at the lighthouse of Colonia.
Getty ImagesFor beach vibes, she recommends Punta del Diablo, a fishing village on the eastern coast over the better-known and busier Punta del Este. “It’s much more easy-going and safer to explore alone,” she said. “The beach is a nice spot to hang out in the sun and swim.”
In Montevideo, renting a bike and cycling among the ramblas beside the Rio de la Plata is an easy way to explore. Tavani also highlights Carnival – which takes place mid-January to late February or early March – as a much more laid-back alternative to Rio’s celebrations.
Norway
Ranked third on the WPS Index (tied with Sweden), Norway scored highly for its welfare protections, equal pay and community safety. The country has consistently placed in the top three since the index began in 2017, and its strong social safety net (which includes universal healthcare, parental leave and state-funded childcare) underpins a culture where women actively participate in the workforce and government.
For solo women travellers, the appeal is as much about nature as safety. “Travelling solo here was effortless,” said Janice Lintz, who said her expedition cruise here was one of the most extraordinary trips she’s ever taken. “The wildlife [in Svalbard] was beyond anything I imagined. We saw polar bears, bearded seals, walruses, Arctic foxes and reindeer. We also saw pancake ice at around 82 degrees north, which was surreal.”
The comfort and sense of wellbeing persist even outdoors in the dark. “I always felt safe, even when photographing the night sky,” said Lisa Michele Burns, founder of travel photography club The Wandering Lens. Burns has visited Norway twice alone, once in winter to photograph the northern lights and once at the end of summer, spending much of her time in the northern region around Bodø and the Lofoten Islands. “The dramatic coastlines provide the perfect environment to wander, soak in the beauty and sounds and photograph slowly and watch the conditions unfold,” she said.
Getty ImagesEven though Burns loves the outdoors, she also appreciates the country’s cosy hotels. “The Rorbuer [traditional fisherman’s housing now converted into cabins] and Scandinavian interior design are other reasons I’ll always have Norway on my list of places I’d love to return to,” she said.
Burns recommends solo travellers hire a car and map out a journey through small villages and viewpoints in the Lofoten region, with plenty of unscheduled time built in. She highlights the pink sand shores of Mjelle, the beaches at Unstad and Haukland and the fishing village of Nusfjord.
