Lima Mini Adventure — Self-Launched Version
3 days · Lima, Peru
G Adventures charges £540
No-markup version: ~£285 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A compact 3-day self-launched take on G Adventures' Classic Lima Mini Adventure. Base yourself in a Miraflores or Barranco hostel, explore Lima's Historic Centre (Plaza San Martín, Plaza de Armas, San Francisco Convent catacombs) on foot and by local transport, wander bohemian Barranco's street art and galleries, and book a Peruvian cooking class (ceviche + causa) directly with a local school. Same highlights, no group markup — estimated at roughly two-thirds the operator price.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Lima — settle into Miraflores or Barranco
Lima (Miraflores)
Land at Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) in Callao. Skip the marked-up airport transfer: the official taxi stand inside arrivals runs ~USD 27, but a pre-booked app taxi (Uber/Cabify, available in Lima) or a Green Taxi to Miraflores typically costs S/50–70 (~£10–14). Alternatively a shared airport minibus (Airport Express Lima) to Miraflores is around S/25 (~£5). Check into a private room in a Miraflores or Barranco hostel. Spend the late afternoon walking the Malecón cliff-top promenade and Parque Kennedy, grabbing an inexpensive menú del día or street anticuchos for dinner. Note: central Lima is fine in daylight but keep valuables hidden and avoid wandering alone after dark — take taxis back at night.
🚌App taxi or airport minibus from LIM (~£5–14)
🛏Hostel private double or 4-bed dorm, Miraflores/Barranco (~£25–35/night private, £10–12 dorm)
- →Malecón clifftop walk
- →Parque Kennedy
- →Miraflores street food dinner
Lima's Historic Centre, Barranco & cooking class
Lima (Centro Histórico & Barranco)
Self-launch the same route the G Adventures CEO runs. Take the Metropolitano bus from Miraflores to Estación Central (~S/2.50, ~£0.60) or a taxi (~S/20). Walk the Historic Centre: Plaza San Martín, Plaza de Armas (Plaza Mayor), the Presidential Palace exterior and Lima Cathedral. Enter the Basilica and Convent of San Francisco to see the famous catacombs — entry about S/15 (~£3). Browse the Mercado Central for fruit, cheese and spice sampling. In the afternoon head to Barranco: cross the Puente de los Suspiros, browse street art and independent galleries (many free), and visit one of the local artist galleries / Museo Pedro de Osma area. Then do a hands-on Peruvian cooking class — book direct with a Lima cooking school (e.g. Sky Kitchen, Lima Cooking Class or a Barranco-based school) or via GetYourGuide/Viator for ~£35–50 including market tour, ceviche and causa prep, and lunch. Evening: pisco sour at a Barranco bar.
🚌Metropolitano bus + walking (~£1–2)
🛏Hostel private double or 4-bed dorm, Miraflores/Barranco (~£25–35/night private, £10–12 dorm)
- →Plaza San Martín & Plaza de Armas walking tour (self-led or free walking tour tip ~£5)
- →Basilica and Convent of San Francisco catacombs (~£3)
- →Mercado Central food browsing
- →Barranco street art & galleries (free)
- →Peruvian cooking class with ceviche and causa (~£35–45)
Free day — Pachacámac ruins or a surf lesson, then depart
Lima (Pachacámac / Costa Verde)
Check out (most hostels hold bags free). Choose your own optional add-ons matching the tour's extras: (1) Pachacámac archaeological site south of Lima — take a colectivo/taxi to the site (~£8–10 return) and pay S/15 entry (~£3); tour company day trips run ~£25–35; (2) Caral full-day excursion booked direct with a Lima operator (~£45–60); or (3) a beginner surf lesson on the Costa Verde at Miraflores (schools like Pukana or Wayo charge ~£25–35 for a 2-hour lesson including board and wetsuit). Grab a last ceviche lunch in Barranco, then transfer back to the airport.
🚌Colectivo/taxi to Pachacámac + return to airport (~£10–15)
🛏None (departure day) — check-out
- →Pachacámac ruins (optional ~£8–15)
- →Surf lesson on Costa Verde (optional ~£25–35)
- →Barranco lunch & last pisco sour
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£285 | £540 |
| Duration | 3 days | 3 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £255 per person (47%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£285
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 Lima Mini Adventure — Self-Launched Version cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £285 per person for 3 days in Lima, Peru. 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 £540 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £285 — a saving of roughly £255 (47%) per person.
How long is the Lima, Peru trip?+
This itinerary runs 3 days, covering 3 day-by-day stops through Lima, Peru.
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, foodie, budget trip through Lima, Peru, 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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