Best Solo Travel Destinations for Women

While women should be celebrated every day, International Women’s Day on March 8^th inspires people around the world to recognize the social, economic, political, and cultural achievements of women.  As the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is #BreakTheBias, the travel and hospitality industry is seeing an influx of female-focused experiences and trips, in addition to more hotels and destinations appealing to the solo female traveller to make every woman feel encouraged and inspired while travelling. In honour of International Women’s Day, here are some destinations supporting solo female travel, intriguing female-focused programs and trips 

Las Catalinas, Costa Rica

Located in the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica, the car-free, seaside town of Las Catalinas is a destination that is ideal for solo female travelers. With several non-stop, direct flights from cities including Miami, Houston, New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Toronto and more, travelers can experience a town that embraces nature – a place that is perfect for quiet reflection with an array of pursuits and activities perfect for a restorative getaway. For rejuvenating the mind, body and soul, the solo traveler who is eager to explore on their own can find great self-discovery at Las Catalinas. Beach Town Travel, the preferred travel agency in Las Catalinas offers new Re-Balance Retreats that aim to provide a space where people have access to practices that support their physical, mental, and spiritual health and especially, the opportunity to experience the better way of living found at Las Catalinas. Las Catalinas promotes accessibility to nutritious and well sourced and organic food and physical activity as essential elements to support this healthier version of life. Re-Balance Retreat goers can start with morning yoga on Santarena Hotel’s rooftop with a beautiful ocean view and the sound of the waves. Gather with other like-minded women for meditations, visualizations and talks about what balance and purpose mean for each participant. Take a sound healing journey at Center of Joy, the town’s wellness center and experience sound frequency vibration as part of the sound healing journey. The retreat includes other wellness-focused activities. 

Whether you’re interested in a group retreat such as the Re-Balance Retreat or just want to come on your own and build your own itinerary, Las Catalinas puts women in a safe environment linking travelers to nature and the surroundings in an organic way. Solo travelers can meet people on the trails or converse with others sitting in front of the bike shop enjoying a coffee or reading a book by the fountain in Plaza Mercado. The car-free town encourages natural interactions with residents, visitors and the people who work there. Guests can stay a few days or longer, with extended trips to focus on improving their health, wellness and fitness regimens or set new goals. The options are wonderful for solo travelers. Stay in town at Santarena Hotel or book a studio or flat through Beach Town Travel with an array of villa options including daily housekeeping and laundry service, a fully equipped kitchen, free Wi-Fi, use of the Las Catalinas Collection resort facilities and more. While not biking, hiking or running the trails or swimming or paddle boarding in the ocean, enjoy the convenience of the cardio classes and private training at CORE by Chakfitness outdoor gym, massage and facials at WAKE Day Spa, wellbeing treatments, pilates and organic cooking classes at Center of Joy, mountain bike, kayak and SUP rentals at Pura Vida Ride, healthy food to go, private chef dinners or wine tastings at Copper & Stone gourmet market, fresh smoothies and made from scratch organic dishes for all dietary restrictions at Pots & Bowls and more. For more information on Re-Balance Retreats, visit here. For other information, visit www.lascatalinascr.com.

Ignacia Guest House, Mexico City

Ignacia Guest House in Colonia Roma is the perfect place to stay for a solo travel adventure in Mexico City. Colonia Roma is one of the safest districts in the city and Ignacia Guest House is walking distance from some of Mexico City’s best restaurants, galleries, attractions, and shops. The coziness of their intimate spaces and warm staff make guests feel at home in this “home-away-from-home”.  Within the bed and breakfast’s list of activity suggestions, in which the staff can help guests book in advance, guests will discover food safaris, cooking classes, balloon flight over Teotihuacán pyramids, sunrise in the chinampas of Xochimilcan, walking tours through the districts and historical landmarks of the city that are the perfect excuse to be immersed in culture, meet new people, and make local friends.

With their new renovations and the addition of four stylish rooms and additional amenities, guest can enjoy the beautiful casona with an array of indoor activities. The concierge can help with making a reservation for an in-room massage and facial or even booking a yoga or fitness class. The staff can provide guests with tailor-made experiences with their insider knowledge of CDMX. The new renovations also features a private terrace with a fire pit and jacuzzi for relaxation and meditation. Every morning guests wake up with Ignacia Guest House’s homemade breakfast served in the privacy of your suite (Master Suite Negra, Balcón 1 and Balcón 2, Terraza 1 and Terreza 2) or at their stunning dining room. Every afternoon, guests gather for a cocktail hour from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm in their garden under the orange trees.  The concierge service is available from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm on the weekdays and 8:00 am to 8:00 pm on the weekends and also offers a private driver for guests. For more information, visit www.ignacia.mx or email hola@ignacia.mx.

Solo Journey in Spain

One of the main values that distinguishes Naya Traveler is the intimate knowledge they have of their destinations and the personal contacts that enrich the experience for their travelers. Naya Traveler can  personalize a solo travel experience and pair the traveler with local experts and specialists in different fields. Adventure on a solo journey through Southern Spain accompanied by a history buff whose local connections will make this trip a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Discover the dazzling confluence of Christian and Muslim heritage in Andalucia, which is crystalized by some of the world’s most impressive architectural feats. A bike tour of Seville with an expert guide will be your first introduction to the city’s historical marvels with its soaring towers, charming cobblestone streets and vibrant plazas. Skip the Flamenco Show for a more local experience at a taberna where Sevillanos go such as La Carboneria. Meet a scholar in Cordoba at Casa Sefarad, a historical Jewish center, to learn about the complex history of Jewish heritage in Spain. Take a Tapas Tour with a local foodie through the streets of Granada. Have lunch with the best view of the Alhambra: El Huerto de Juan Ranas.Visit the famous Alhambra in Granada & La Mezquita in Cordoba . The itinerary curated by Naya Traveler includes hand-picked hotels and accommodations: Day 1 – 3: Seville (Corral del rey); Day 4: Cordoba (Balcon de Cordoba); Day 5 – 7: Granada (Hotel Casa 1800) with an optional extension for a beach experience in Mallorca, (LA RESIDENCIA HOTEL). Starting at $1300USD per person per day.. Airfare not included. Every trip is tailored around individual interests and preferences. For more information, visit www.nayatraveler.com or email info@nayatraveler.com

Female-Oriented Programs and Trips

Eat Like a Local Mexico City Launches New Women’s Tour

In celebration of International Woman’s Day, Eat Like a Local Mexico City launches Badass Mexican Women Food Adventure, a new tour where travelers can eat around CDMX while learning the stories of six amazing Mexican women. From the infamous and greatly misunderstood Malitzin, to the creative women collective who helped the migrants during their strenuous journey in search for a better life, this tour uses food to tell their stories. While eating and walking around the lesser-known Colonia Escandón, learn about the Mexican women who shaped the city’s history, art, food, and culture. Freedom fighters, cooks, businesswomen, writers, art supporters, activist cooks, the first legal transgender in the country’s history, an indigenous lobbyist are some of the women highlighted throughout the tour.  Learn the real stories from a woman’s perspective with this tribute to all these strong women. Eat Like a Local will donate a portion of the profits to fund education projects for women in the markets.  As a female-owned and operated company, Eat Like a Local Mexico City’s mission is to empower other women through mentorship and support and create job opportunities that allow women in the local community to take care of their children and explore economic opportunities. Accommodating up to six people, the Badass Mexican Women Food Adventure is offered on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at 11:00AM ($120USD per person) and can address vegetarian dietary needs.  For more information, visit www.eatlikealocal.com.mx or email rocio@eatlikealocal.com.mx.

Naya Traveler Curates Women-only Journey through Morocco

A balance between East and West with ancient traditions and modern-day conveniences, Morocco boasts a spiritually uplifting culture grounded in gracious hospitality and compelling traditions. Naya Traveler’s gender-focused trip will unveil the beauty and culture of Morocco through the eyes and experiences of women, from local artisans to renown academics. Journey across the country, starting in the medieval city of Fez, through the mountains across to the oasis of Skoura and the Berber villages of the High Atlas, before ending in the city legendary red city of Marrakesh. Explore the great cultural landmarks of Morocco, such as the medieval medina of Fez and its artisan neighborhoods, the natural beauty of the High Atlas and Desert Oases home to traditional Berber people, and the fusion of ancient and modern in Marrakesh. To delve a little deeper, you’ll be led by a female host who will take you behind closed doors into grassroots women cooperatives, crafts ateliers and host intimate private dinners with leading women academics and artists. Prepare lunch and eat with members of Amal Foundation, a non-profit organization enhancing the livelihoods of Moroccan women. Venture into the High Atlas Mountains to visit an all-girls school and meet teachers and students whose lives have been changed by education. Enjoy a traditional Moroccan pottery workshop in a female artist’s atelier in Fez. Led by a celebrated female writer, learn about traditional Moroccan gastronomy, and master the art of preparing a traditional feast to later enjoy at leisure in a beautifully restored private riad in the heart of Fez. Accompanied by a local female artist, visit the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rabat, focusing on the female contribution to Morocco’s fine arts world. Take part in a private lecture and dinner hosted by a women’s right expert to gain deeper insight into the role of women in Moroccan history, culture and modern-day society. Meet with a traditional designer to create your own kaftan, and venture into the traditional souk to source your own fabrics and embellishments.  Following this, it’s back to her studio for a custom fitting. Outfits will be delivered to your home address. Starting at $800USD per person per day. Rates based on double occupancy, dependent on itinerary specifics. Airfare not included. Every trip is tailored around individual interests and preferences. For more information, visit www.nayatraveler.com or email info@nayatraveler.com.

Ananda in The Himalayas Offers Dedicated Wellness Programs for Women

Nestled in a quiet corner of the historic palace on Ananda in The Himalayas’ 100 acre estate in the Himalayan foothills is a prayer room which was once home to Ma Anandamayi, an Indian saint and yoga guru. Swami Sivananda Saraswati described her as ‘the most perfect flower the Indian soil has produced’. With Ma’s temple overlooking the happenings at Ananda, the consciousness of this wellness retreat reverberates with shakti, the embodiment of feminine energy that heals all. Cocooned in the silent whispers of yin, the Himalayan retreat holds close to its heart, wellness programs specifically designed to address the ever-evolving stages of a woman’s mind and body. With Ananda’s philosophy rooted in holistic healing and spiritual awakening, the retreat views aging (read growing wiser) as an organic turn of time, an intuitive process, and an emotional response to life. Certain conditions are responses to external and internal environment and must be looked at differently. Mood swings, menopausal suffering, PCOS, early aging of the skin and joints and anxious frustration, all sprout from the choices one makes through the unfolding years.  Ananda has developed targeted wellness programs to address women as they move through life.   

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the top gynecological problem effecting 12-18 percent of women in the reproductive age groups of 18-35 (msn.com). PCOS is a complex endocrinal and metabolic disorder that affects menstrual cycle, fertility, insulin production, circulatory system, and appearance. Ananda uses a traditional Ayurvedic process to balance the body from within, through a thorough investigation of the past and present health patterns and family history, the physicians customize a treatment plan to restore balance in the disturbed glands. Though stronger to absorb and process pressures of all kinds, in the current pace of life a woman tends to succumb and show signs of early aging. The emotional strain of childbirth, accompanied with active careers, relationships, and expectations to be-it-all have made the modern woman take the road of aging sooner than nature intended. The Renew Program using Ayurvedic, Oriental and International therapies works on building skin health and unlocks youthful essence through cleansing and nourishment. The program also helps improve muscular-skeletal health and provides relief from muscle stiffness, rheumatism, and arthritis. The emotional healers at Ananda report women in the age group of 40-55 to show exceptional receptivity and willingness to unravel traumas and stored negative life experiences to release the growing aches and pains, wrinkles, and dehydration in the tissues.

It’s ironic that one of life’s natural transitional phase has taken a monstrous form to be the primary reason for emotional stress in growing women. Menopause refers to the period of time when a woman’s hormone levels start to change. Ananda’s Rebalance Program applies traditional oriental therapies to address hormonal balance, specifically for menopause in women. This healing approach focuses on the blockage of energy flowing through the fourteen meridians. Intensive therapies are then used to balance its flow, relieve pain, improve energy flow, and vitalize systems intrinsically. Acupuncture, herbal medicine, cupping therapy, moxibustion and therapeutic exercises with the expert physiotherapists has proven to be an extremely successful route to alleviate the unpleasant experiences associated to menopause. 

In honor of International Women’s Day, Ananda in The Himalayas is pleased to offer of a 50% discount on its online wellbeing services. Online services include Comprehensive Ayurvedic Consultation, Personal Physiotherapy Session, and Ananda Bhava – Healing for Emotional Wellbeing. Vouchers can be purchased here from 01 March 1 – 31, 2023. Vouchers purchased can be redeemed until May 31, 2023. For more information, visit www.anandaspa.com or email reservations@anandaspa.com.