Inca Heartland: Self-Launched Peru & Bolivia (Lima to La Paz)
21 days · Peru & Bolivia
G Adventures charges £2,350
No-markup version: ~£960 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, build-it-yourself version of G Adventures' 21-day "Inca Heartland" route — Lima to La Paz via Paracas, Huacachina, Nazca, Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Cusco, the Sacred Valley, the classic 4-day Inca Trail, Lake Titicaca and Bolivia's highest capital. Everything the group tour does, booked by you: public buses instead of private coaches, hostels and guesthouses instead of tour hotels, local guides and GetYourGuide day trips instead of a CEO, and the Inca Trail booked directly with a licensed Peruvian operator (you must book this 4-6 months ahead, especially May-September). Costs are approximate 2025 budget-traveller estimates in GBP per person, excluding international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Lima — Miraflores or Barranco
Lima, Peru
Land at Jorge Chávez International Airport and take an official airport taxi or the Airport Express Lima bus (about £7-8) to Miraflores or Barranco. Settle into a hostel, then walk the Malecón clifftop promenade at sunset and eat ceviche and anticuchos at a local huarique. Optional evening: Barranco's bohemian bars.
🚌Airport Express Lima bus or official taxi (~£8)
🛏Hostel dorm or private room, Miraflores/Barranco (~£12-20)
- →Malecón sunset walk
- →Ceviche dinner in Barranco
Lima free morning, bus to Paracas
Paracas, Peru
Morning exploring Lima's historic centre (Plaza de Armas, San Francisco catacombs, Mercado de Surquillo) or a surf lesson in Miraflores. After lunch, take a Cruz del Sur or Oltursa bus from Javier Prado terminal to Paracas (~3.5 hrs, ~£10-12). Book your Paracas hostel and, on arrival, reserve tomorrow's Ballestas Islands boat tour through your hostel or GetYourGuide (~£12-15).
🚌Cruz del Sur bus Lima-Paracas (~£11)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Paracas (~£12-18)
- →Lima historic centre walk
- →Market food tour (self-guided)
- →Afternoon bus to Paracas
Ballestas Islands, Huacachina & winery en route to Nazca
Nazca, Peru
Early morning 2-hour boat trip to the Ballestas Islands — sea lions, Humboldt penguins, pelicans and the Paracas Candelabra geoglyph. Come back for breakfast, then take a local bus or shared taxi to Ica/Huacachina (~1 hr). Hire a sandboard and dune buggy for the sunset run at Huacachina oasis (~£12-15), squeeze in a pisco winery tasting (Tacama or El Catador), then catch an evening bus to Nazca (~2.5 hrs, ~£6-8).
🚌Local bus Ica-Huacachina-Nazca (~£10 total)
🛏Hostal in Nazca (~£10-16)
- →Ballestas Islands boat tour
- →Huacachina dune buggy & sandboarding
- →Pisco winery tasting
- →Evening bus to Nazca
Nazca Lines flight & Chauchilla Cemetery, overnight bus to Arequipa
Nazca, Peru
Take a small-plane flight over the Nazca Lines (30-35 min, ~£65-80 from the aerodrome — book the day before, morning flights have the calmest air). In the afternoon join a shared taxi or local tour to the Chauchilla Desert Cemetery (1,500-year-old mummies and pottery) and a Nazca potter's studio (~£12-15). Eat dinner in town, then board an overnight Cruz del Sur bus to Arequipa (~10 hrs, reclining seat ~£15-18).
🚌Overnight Cruz del Sur bus Nazca-Arequipa (~£17)
🛏Overnight reclining bus
- →Nazca Lines overflight
- →Chauchilla Cemetery & potter's studio tour
- →Overnight bus to Arequipa
Arequipa — the White City
Arequipa, Peru
Arrive early, check into a hostel near the Plaza de Armas and spend the day acclimatising at 2,335m. Visit the Santa Catalina Monastery (£10), the Museo Santuarios Andinos (Juanita the ice maiden, £5), and the Mercado San Camilo. Sunset from the rooftop terrace of a Yanahuara restaurant with Misti volcano views. Eat rocoto relleno.
🚌Walking / local taxi (~£3)
🛏Hostal in Arequipa centro (~£12-18)
- →Santa Catalina Monastery
- →Museo Santuarios Andinos (Juanita)
- →Yanahuara viewpoint sunset
Arequipa to Colca Canyon (Chivay)
Chivay, Colca Canyon, Peru
Take a morning local bus or colectivo from Arequipa to Chivay (~3.5 hrs, ~£6-8). Afternoon soak in the La Calera hot springs (£2), then overnight in Chivay so you're in position for early condor viewing. Buy your Colca Canyon tourist ticket (BTC, ~£15) which covers the canyon viewpoints.
🚌Local bus Arequipa-Chivay (~£7)
🛏Guesthouse in Chivay (~£12-18)
- →Bus to Chivay
- →La Calera hot springs
- →Chivay market evening
Condor Cross, Colca Canyon, back to Arequipa
Arequipa, Peru
Leave before dawn for Cruz del Cóndor (Mirador) to watch Andean condors ride the thermals over the 1,200m-deep canyon. Stop at the villages of Pinchollo, Maca and Yanque on the way back, then take an afternoon bus to Arequipa. Optional: a guided downhill hike into the canyon rim if you have the legs.
🚌Shared tour van or local bus back to Arequipa (~£8)
🛏Hostal in Arequipa (~£12-18)
- →Cruz del Cóndor condor viewpoint
- →Colca villages stop-off
- →Return bus to Arequipa
Fly to Cusco — acclimatise
Cusco, Peru
Morning flight Arequipa-Cusco (~£45-65 with LATAM or Sky, booked 3-6 weeks ahead). Check into a hostel in San Blas, drink coca tea, and take it very easy at 3,400m. Gentle afternoon: Plaza de Armas, Qorikancha, San Pedro market. Buy your Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico, ~£25) if you plan on multiple ruins and museums. Evening: a cooking class or pisco sour at a San Blas bar.
🚌Domestic flight Arequipa-Cusco (~£55)
🛏Hostel in San Blas, Cusco (~£12-20)
- →Flight to Cusco
- →Qorikancha & San Pedro market
- →Cusco cooking class (optional)
Sacred Valley: Pisac, weaving co-op, Ollantaytambo
Ollantaytambo, Peru
Join a small-group Sacred Valley day tour (~£25-35 via GetYourGuide, or DIY by colectivo) covering Pisac ruins and market, the Ccaccaccollo women's weaving co-op, a pottery demonstration at Huilloc and lunch at a community farm-to-table restaurant near Lamay. Finish at Ollantaytambo's terraces and storehouses; overnight in Ollantaytambo and buy last trek supplies. Note: your Inca Trail briefing is tonight — your licensed trek operator will confirm pick-up time.
🚌Shared tour van / colectivos through the valley (~£12)
🛏Guesthouse in Ollantaytambo (~£12-18)
- →Pisac ruins & market
- →Ccaccaccollo weaving co-op
- →Community farm-to-table lunch
- →Ollantaytambo ruins
- →Inca Trail briefing
Inca Trail Day 1: Km 82 to Wayllabamba
Inca Trail, Peru
Van transfer to Piscacucho (Km 82) for trail checkpoint and passport stamp. An easy warm-up day of about 12km along the Cusichaca valley past Patallacta ruins, with Andean peaks all around. Camp at Wayllabamba (3,000m). Your porters carry up to 6kg of your gear in a duffel — pack accordingly and tip the crew at the end (budget ~£35-45).
🚌Van to trailhead (included in trek package)
🛏Camping (tent, provided by trek operator)
- →Inca Trail hike Km 82 to Wayllabamba
- →Patallacta ruins
- →Camp at Wayllabamba
Inca Trail Day 2: Dead Woman's Pass to Pacaymayo
Inca Trail, Peru
The big one. Start early for the long, steep climb to Warmiwañusca / Dead Woman's Pass at 4,219m — the high point of the trek. Steep descent to Pacaymayo camp (3,600m). Most hikers are in camp by early afternoon. Drink water, take it slow, and let your guide set the pace.
🚌On foot
🛏Camping at Pacaymayo
- →Dead Woman's Pass (4,219m)
- →Descend to Pacaymayo camp
Inca Trail Day 3: Runkurakay, Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamarca, Wiñay Wayna
Inca Trail, Peru
Cross two passes — Runkurakay (3,950m) with Vilcabamba range views, then a cloud-forest climb through original Inca constructions to the second pass (3,700m). Visit the ruins of Sayacmarca and Phuyupatamarca ('town above the clouds'), then descend roughly 1.5 hrs to camp at Wiñay Wayna (2,650m). Early night — tomorrow is a 4am start.
🚌On foot
🛏Camping at Wiñay Wayna
- →Runkurakay & Sayacmarca ruins
- →Phuyupatamarca
- →Camp at Wiñay Wayna
Machu Picchu at sunrise, down to Aguas Calientes
Machu Picchu, Peru
Pre-dawn start to reach the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) as the light hits Machu Picchu — the payoff moment. Guided tour of the citadel with your trek guide (2 hrs), then optional climb of Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (book a permit with your trek months in advance, ~£15). Bus down to Aguas Calientes, hot springs soak, and a proper meal. Overnight in Aguas Calientes.
🚌Bus Aguas Calientes-Machu Picchu return (~£10)
🛏Hostal in Aguas Calientes (~£18-28)
- →Sun Gate sunrise entry
- →Guided Machu Picchu tour
- →Huayna Picchu climb (optional, permit required)
- →Aguas Calientes hot springs
Train to Ollantaytambo, bus to Cusco
Cusco, Peru
Morning free in Aguas Calientes (butterfly house, Mandor waterfall walk). Take the PeruRail or Inca Rail Expedition service to Ollantaytambo (~1.5 hrs, ~£45-60 — book 2-3 months ahead, it sells out), then a colectivo or public bus to Cusco (~£4). Evening: celebrate with a meal in San Blas, laundry and a rest day ahead.
🚌Train (~£50) + colectivo Cusco (~£4)
🛏Hostel in Cusco (~£12-20)
- →Mandor waterfall walk
- →Scenic train to Ollantaytambo
- →Return to Cusco
Cusco free day
Cusco, Peru
A buffer/rest day — useful if the trail ran late or you want a break. Options: Rainbow Mountain day trip (~£25-30, leave 4am), Sacsayhuamán and Q'enqo on the Boleto Turístico, the Inka Museum, San Blas artisan galleries, or a chocolate-making workshop. Sort your Bolivia entry paperwork and cash (stock up on soles).
🚌Walking / local taxi (~£3)
🛏Hostel in Cusco (~£12-20)
- →Rainbow Mountain day trip (optional)
- →Sacsayhuamán ruins
- →San Blas galleries
- →Chocolate workshop
Bus/train to Puno on Lake Titicaca
Puno, Peru
Take the day bus Cusco-Puno (~6-7 hrs, ~£12-15, e.g. Transzela or Cruz del Sur) — or the tourist train if you want the scenery at a premium. Arrive in Puno (3,830m) — go slow on arrival. Book a Uros + Amantaní/Taquile homestay tour for tomorrow through a local agency on the plaza (~£30-40 including meals).
🚌Bus Cusco-Puno (~£13)
🛏Hostal in Puno (~£10-16)
- →Scenic high-altitude bus to Puno
- →Puno waterfront evening
Uros floating islands & Lake Titicaca homestay
Lake Titicaca, Peru
Boat out to the Uros floating reed islands, then continue to Amantaní or Taquile island for a night with a local Quechua family (homestay included in the tour price). Walk the island's pre-Inca terraces, learn to weave, and eat dinner cooked by your host family. Bring small gifts (fruit, school supplies) rather than cash handouts.
🚌Boat transfers (included in tour)
🛏Family homestay on Lake Titicaca (included in tour)
- →Uros Floating Islands
- →Amantaní/Taquile island walk
- →Family homestay dinner
Taquile Island, back to Puno
Puno, Peru
Morning on the island, then boat back via Taquile for its famous textile co-op and hilltop plaza with lake views. Return to Puno mid-afternoon. Optional: Sillustani burial towers (funerary chullpas) about 40 min out of town (~£8-12 with a shared taxi).
🚌Boat (included) + shared taxi to Sillustani (~£10)
🛏Hostal in Puno (~£10-16)
- →Taquile Island textiles
- →Sillustani burial towers (optional)
Cross the border to Copacabana, Bolivia
Copacabana, Bolivia
Bus from Puno to Kasani border (~2.5 hrs) and cross on foot into Bolivia, then a short shared taxi to Copacabana on the shore of Lake Titicaca (~£10-14 total). Get your passport stamped, change money (better rates in Copacabana than the border), climb Cerro Calvario for sunset over the lake, and eat fried trout at the lakeside market.
🚌Bus + shared taxi Puno-Copacabana (~£12)
🛏Hostal in Copacabana (~£10-16)
- →Border crossing Peru-Bolivia
- →Cerro Calvario sunset hike
- →Lake Titicaca trout dinner
Isla del Sol, then bus to La Paz
La Paz, Bolivia
Early boat to Isla del Sol (birthplace of the Inca sun god) — walk the ridge trail from Yumani to the Chinkana ruins and back (~£8-10 boat + £3 island entry). Return mid-afternoon and take the bus Copacabana-La Paz (~3.5 hrs, ~£5-7) with a short lake crossing at Tiquina. Arrive La Paz (3,650m) in the evening — take a taxi to your hostel in Sopocachi or the Centro.
🚌Boat (~£9) + bus to La Paz (~£6)
🛏Hostel in La Paz (~£10-16)
- →Isla del Sol ridge walk & ruins
- →Bus to La Paz
La Paz — highest capital on earth
La Paz, Bolivia
Explore on foot and by Mi Teleférico cable car (~£0.35 a ride) — the red line over the city is the classic. Hit the Witches' Market (Mercado de las Brujas), San Francisco church, Plaza Murillo and the Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley) on the city's edge (~£3 entry, ~£2 bus). Optional: a city walking tour (~£5-8), the Cholitas Wrestling show (Sundays, ~£10) or Death Road mountain biking if you add a day. Depart or extend as you like.
🚌Cable car + local bus (~£4)
🛏Hostel in La Paz (~£10-16)
- →Mi Teleférico cable cars
- →Witches' Market
- →Valle de la Luna
- →La Paz walking tour (optional)
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£960 | £2,350 |
| Duration | 21 days | 21 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,390 per person (59%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£960
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 Inca Heartland: Self-Launched Peru & Bolivia (Lima to La Paz) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £960 per person for 21 days in Peru & Bolivia. 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 £2,350 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £960 — a saving of roughly £1,390 (59%) per person.
How long is the Peru & Bolivia trip?+
This itinerary runs 21 days, covering 21 day-by-day stops through Peru & Bolivia.
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 adventure, hiking, culture trip through Peru & Bolivia, 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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