Self-Launched Chile, Peru & Ecuador Overland: Santiago to Guayaquil with Machu Picchu
15 days · Chile, Peru & Ecuador (Santiago to Guayaquil)
G Adventures charges £3,800
No-markup version: ~£824 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched overland version of G Adventures' 15-day Marine cruise from Santiago to Guayaquil, which includes a three-day Machu Picchu detour. Instead of a small expedition ship, you travel overland by bus and train through Chile, cross into Peru for the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, then continue north to Ecuador via Lima and Guayaquil. You get the same headline experiences — Valparaíso's colourful hills, the Nazca desert cemetery at Chauchilla, the Sacred Valley weaving co-ops and Machu Picchu with a guide — booked independently at backpacker prices, typically for a fraction of the cruise cost.
Day-by-day
Arrive Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Land into Santiago and settle into a hostel in Bellavista or Barrio Lastarria. Spend the afternoon walking the historic centre, riding the cable car up Cerro San Cristóbal for city views, and eating a completo and a terremoto in the markets. Buy your onward bus ticket for Valparaíso tonight.
🚌Airport bus (Centropuerto/Turbus) to centre ~£4
🛏Hostel in Bellavista/Lastarria, dorm ~£12
- →Cerro San Cristóbal cable car
- →Bellavista street art walk
- →Mercado Central food stop
Santiago to Valparaíso
Valparaíso, Chile
Morning bus to the coastal city of Valparaíso (about 1.5 hrs). Check in, then wander the cerros — Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepción — riding the old ascensores, photographing street murals and catching the sunset over the Pacific. This replaces the original cruise embarkation day.
🚌Pullman/Turbus bus Santiago–Valparaíso ~£5
🛏Hostel in Cerro Alegre, dorm ~£14
- →Ascensor Reina Victoria
- →Cerro Alegre & Concepción murals
- →La Sebastiana (Neruda house)
Valparaíso & Viña del Mar
Valparaíso, Chile
A second day on the coast. Take the metro to neighbouring Viña del Mar for beaches and the botanical garden, or join a free walking tour of Valparaíso's historic quarter. If you prefer a sea-leg, book a short harbour boat trip from the Muelle Prat.
🚌Metro Valparaíso to Viña ~£1
🛏Hostel in Cerro Alegre, dorm ~£14
- →Free walking tour of Valparaíso
- →Viña del Mar beaches
- →Harbour boat trip
Bus north to La Serena
La Serena, Chile
A long travel day heading up Chile's coast by bus toward the Atacama side. Break the journey in La Serena to rest and stock up. In the evening explore the colonial centre and the lighthouse on Avenida del Mar.
🚌Overnight/intercity bus Valparaíso–La Serena ~£25
🛏Hostel in La Serena, dorm ~£12
- →La Serena colonial centre
- →Avenida del Mar lighthouse
- →Recova market
La Serena to Caldera
Caldera, Chile
Continue north to Caldera, the port town the cruise stops at. Explore Bahía Inglesa's white-sand beach, visit the Museo Paleontológico, and see the old railway station and sea walls. Book your onward bus for the following morning.
🚌Bus La Serena–Caldera ~£12
🛏Guesthouse in Caldera, private/shared ~£16
- →Bahía Inglesa beach
- →Museo Paleontológico de Caldera
- →Caldera historic railway area
Caldera & Pan de Azúcar
Caldera / Chañaral, Chile
Optional day trip inland into the Atacama-style desert, or a boat trip out of Caldera for wildlife watching (whales and dolphins are seen offshore). If you prefer to keep moving, push north to Chañaral or Copiapó tonight to shorten the next leg.
🚌Shared taxi / local bus day trips ~£10
🛏Hostel in Caldera/Chañaral, dorm ~£13
- →Optional coastal wildlife boat trip
- →Desert viewpoint walk
- →Local seafood lunch in Caldera
North to Arica
Arica, Chile
Take a long-haul bus north along the Pacific coast through Antofagasta and Iquique toward Arica. This is a big travel day — bring snacks and a book. Arrive late and rest; Arica is the gateway to the Peruvian border.
🚌Long-distance bus to Arica (via Iquique) ~£35
🛏Hostel in Arica, dorm ~£12
- →Pacific coast bus journey
- →Optional Iquique stopover
- →Sunset at Arica's El Morro
Arica to Nazca via the border
Nazca, Peru
Cross from Arica into Peru (Tacna) and connect onward toward Nazca. This is the model equivalent of the cruise's Nazca day: visit the Chauchilla Cemetery, where 1500-year-old mummies, bones and pottery lie in the desert, and a Nazca ceramic-pottery studio to see how the ancient wares were made.
🚌Bus Arica–Tacna ~£6 then Tacna–Nazca ~£22
🛏Hostel in Nazca, dorm ~£11
- →Chauchilla Cemetery guided tour
- →Potter's studio visit
- →Nazca Lines viewpoint (optional)
Nazca to Lima
Lima, Peru
Morning transfer to Lima. In the afternoon explore Miraflores — the cliff-top Malecón, Parque Kennedy — and try ceviche and a Pisco sour. Lima is a natural hub before the Sacred Valley leg.
🚌Bus Nazca–Lima ~£20
🛏Hostel in Miraflores/Barranco, dorm ~£13
- →Miraflores Malecón
- →Parque Kennedy
- →Barranco evening walk
Fly to Cusco
Cusco, Peru
Fly from Lima to Cusco and spend the day acclimatising at 3,400m. Take it slow: wander Plaza de Armas, San Blas and the Qorikancha. Book your Sacred Valley tour and Machu Picchu entry tickets in advance (they sell out and require a specific date).
🚌Flight Lima–Cusco ~£60
🛏Hostel in San Blas, dorm ~£12
- →Plaza de Armas
- →San Blas artisan quarter
- →Qorikancha sun temple
Sacred Valley
Sacred Valley / Ollantaytambo, Peru
Head into the Sacred Valley. Visit the Ccaccaccollo community and women's weaving co-op (the same community centre G Adventures travellers helped create via the Planeterra Foundation) and eat lunch at the community-run Parwa restaurant, a farm-to-table project supporting the local economy. Continue to Pisac ruins and Ollantaytambo.
🚌Shared/collectivo minibus Sacred Valley circuit ~£10
🛏Guesthouse in Ollantaytambo, dorm ~£12
- →Ccaccaccollo weaving co-op visit
- →Parwa Community Restaurant lunch
- →Pisac and Ollantaytambo ruins
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu / Aguas Calientes, Peru
Take the early train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, then the bus up to Machu Picchu. Explore the Lost City of the Incas with a guide (book a small-group or private guide in advance). Choose to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain if you have a permit. Return to Cusco by evening train.
🚌Train Ollantaytambo–Aguas Calientes return ~£90 incl. bus up
🛏Hostel in Cusco, dorm ~£12
- →Machu Picchu guided tour
- →Optional Huayna Picchu climb
- →Train journey through the Urubamba valley
Cusco to Lima, then north
Lima, Peru
Fly back to Lima and connect onward toward the Ecuadorian border. You can take a long-distance bus up the coast (Lima–Tumbes) overnight, or fly to Tumbes if you want to save time. Overnight on the road or in Lima depending on schedule.
🚌Flight Cusco–Lima ~£60; onward bus Lima–Tumbes ~£30
🛏Overnight bus / hostel in Lima ~£13
- →Optional Lima food tour
- →Overnight coastal travel
- →Rest day before the border
Cross into Ecuador, to Guayaquil
Guayaquil, Ecuador
Cross the border at Huaquillas/Tumbes into Ecuador, then take a bus south to Guayaquil. The original cruise's final day/ship disembarkation is replaced here by the overland border crossing. Arrive in Guayaquil and explore the Malecón 2000 and Las Peñas neighbourhood in the evening.
🚌Bus Tumbes–Guayaquil (via Huaquillas) ~£15
🛏Hostel in Guayaquil centre, dorm ~£13
- →Huaquillas border crossing
- →Malecón 2000
- →Las Peñas & Cerro Santa Ana
Guayaquil
Guayaquil, Ecuador
Final day in Guayaquil. Visit the iguanas in Seminario Park, the colourful Las Peñas district, and the Mercado Artesanal for souvenirs. Depart at any time, or continue onward to the Galápagos or up the coast.
🚌Local buses/taxis in the city ~£3
🛏Hostel in Guayaquil, dorm ~£13
- →Seminario Park (iguana park)
- →Mercado Artesanal
- →Optional day trip to Puerto López
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£824 | £3,800 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,976 per person (78%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£824
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Chile, Peru & Ecuador Overland: Santiago to Guayaquil with Machu Picchu cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £824 per person for 15 days in Chile, Peru & Ecuador (Santiago to Guayaquil). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £3,800 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £824 — a saving of roughly £2,976 (78%) per person.
How long is the Chile, Peru & Ecuador (Santiago to Guayaquil) trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 day-by-day stops through Chile, Peru & Ecuador (Santiago to Guayaquil).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, backpacker, budget trip through Chile, Peru & Ecuador (Santiago to Guayaquil), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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