Insecurity a barrier for 62% of Brazilian women traveling alone
Four out of ten Brazilian women have traveled alone. Recent data show that, little by little, women are feeling safer to explore the world on their own.
The findings can be found in a survey conducted by the Ministry of Tourism and UNESCO with 2,712 women.
On the other hand, the study points out that solo travelers still encounter structural problems that affect how they travel, how they occupy the spaces they visit, and how they expose themselves to experiences far from home.
In the report, entitled Mulheres que Viajam Sozinhas (“Women Who Travel Alone”), completed in August 2025, 62 percent of respondents claimed they had stopped traveling alone for safety reasons, with 61 percent stating they had experienced situations that made them feel unsafe while traveling unaccompanied.
Concrete and potentially limiting, safety concerns are even greater among black and indigenous women, who “face additional layers of vulnerability.”
Of the respondents who self-identify as black, pardo, or indigenous, 65.35 percent have stopped traveling for safety reasons.
When asked what would make them feel safer and more comfortable traveling alone in Brazil, three in ten (29.3%) women called for more policing and security cameras.
Next, 21 percent of respondents called for improvements in transportation and accommodation; 17 percent said they would like to have more specific information for women traveling alone; and 16 percent said they would feel more comfortable if there were more female employees working in tourism – which, the specialists behind the study say, “demonstrates how the presence of women conveys warmth and empathy.”
Among the respondents who said they had traveled alone, 31.4 percent said they did so every few months, indicating that the experience is considered rewarding and liberating, despite the uncertainties and risks.
Almost 35 percent of solo travelers are aged 35 to 44, and 22 percent are aged 45 to 54. This suggests that, at these stages of life, which in many cases are marked by greater financial stability and personal freedom, they have more autonomy to travel alone. Furthermore, 68 percent of them do not have children.
As for motivation, 73 percent of respondents said they seek moments of leisure. The desire to exercise their independence and freedom motivates 65 percent of them, while the desire for self-knowledge motivates 41 percent, and 38 percent travel alone to fulfill professional commitments.
Of the women who said they had never traveled alone, 59 percent expressed a desire to do so in the next two years.
Motivation
Interest in cultural activities – such as visits to museums and historic centers – motivated 68 percent of the women who responded to the survey. Ecotourism was the preference for 64 percent, followed by wellness (44.9%), work commitments (38.5%), events and festivals (36.6%), and gastronomy (30.1%).
A significant portion (36%) of respondents travel alone within Brazil, with the Southeast (73%) and the Northeast (66%) being the most visited regions, followed by the South (50%), the Central-West (37%), and the North (30%).
Guide
The survey results were made public on Thursday (Mar. 5), along with the launch of a guide entitled Guia para Mulheres que Viajam Sozinhas (“Guide for Women Traveling Alone”). In addition to data useful for public managers, tour operators, and all kinds of companies that serve travelers, the publication contains guidelines for promoting safer, more inclusive, welcoming, and responsible tourism.
“This guide recognizes that women have the right to move freely and travel throughout Brazil and the world without fear as their main travel companion,” Minister of Women Márcia Lopes said during the publication’s launch ceremony in Brasília.
The guide is described as part of the responsible tourism agenda and is aligned with both the Brazilian national pact to combat femicide and the international gender equality movement.
In the view of Minister of Tourism Gustavo Feliciano, the handbook allows women to exercise their right to come and go as they please.
“It is a clear statement that Brazilian tourism is growing with social responsibility, institutional commitment, and respect for women,” he declared.
