Self-Launched Machu Picchu & Galápagos: Lima to Quito in 14 Days
14 days · Peru & Galápagos (Ecuador)
G Adventures charges £3,950
No-markup version: ~£2,150 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 14-day "Discover Machu Picchu and Galápagos" combo, rebuilt for independent travellers. You'll do Lima → Cusco → Sacred Valley → Aguas Calientes/Machu Picchu → Cusco → Lima → Quito → San Cristóbal → Santa Cruz, swapping the upgraded hotels for well-located hostels and guesthouses, the guided Sacred Valley day for a cheap colectivo/tour combo, and the Queen of Galápagos catamaran cruise for island-hopping by public speedboat with locally licensed naturalist day trips. The Galápagos land-based approach is materially different from a liveaboard: you see fewer remote sites but pay a fraction of the cost — and you still get sea lions, giant tortoises, marine iguanas and snorkelling. Book Machu Picchu entry and the Cusco–Aguas Calientes train well in advance (both sell out in high season), and budget the Galápagos park fee ($200) and TCT ($20) in cash. All costs are approximate per person and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Lima — Miraflores or Barranco
Lima, Peru
Land at Jorge Chávez International Airport and skip the $27 official airport taxi in favour of an authorised taxi app or the Airport Express Lima bus to Miraflores (~£4–6, 45–60 min). Check into a hostel in Miraflores or the livelier Barranco district. Spend the evening walking the Malecón clifftop path at sunset and eating ceviche and anticuchos at a local mercado or huarique — budget £6–9 for dinner. Sort cash and a SIM card (Claro/Entel, ~£5 for 10GB) tonight, and confirm your Cusco flight for tomorrow.
🚌Airport Express Lima bus ~£5; walking and local combis
🛏Hostel dorm in Miraflores/Barranco (~£10–14/night)
- →Malecón sunset walk
- →Barranco street art and Bridge of Sighs
- →Ceviche dinner at a local huarique
Fly to Cusco — acclimatise gently
Cusco, Peru
Morning flight Lima–Cusco (~£55–85 one-way on Sky, LATAM or JetSMART; book 3–6 weeks ahead). Cusco sits at 3,400m, so take the first day slowly: no big hikes, plenty of water, coca tea. Taxi from the airport to the historic centre is ~£3. Wander Plaza de Armas, San Blas and the San Pedro market, then join a free/pay-what-you-want walking tour (~£4 tip) or pay 45 PEN (~£9) for a proper city tour. Pick up your Machu Picchu entry ticket and Boleto Turístico if not pre-booked online.
🚌Domestic flight ~£70; airport taxi ~£3; walking
🛏Hostel in San Blas or historic centre (~£11–15/night)
- →San Pedro market
- →San Blas neighbourhood
- →Free walking tour
- →Cusco Cathedral (40 PEN / ~£8)
Sacred Valley — Pisac, weaving co-op, Ollantaytambo
Sacred Valley / Ollantaytambo, Peru
The operator's guided Sacred Valley day can be replicated cheaply two ways: a shared full-day Sacred Valley tour from Cusco (~£18–25 via GetYourGuide or any Cusco agency, usually including Pisac ruins, a weaving demonstration, Urubamba lunch stop and Ollantaytambo) or independently by colectivo. Independent version: colectivo Cusco–Pisac (~£2, 1hr) for the ruins and market, then colectivo Pisac–Urubamba (~£1.50) and Urubamba–Ollantaytambo (~£1). Visit the community weaving co-ops around Ccaccaccollo on the Pisac–Urubamba road (free entry, buy textiles direct) and have a farm-to-table set lunch in Urubamba (~£5). Finish at the Ollantaytambo fortress (Boleto Turístico, ~£12 covers multiple sites). Sleep in Ollantaytambo — it's far quieter than Cusco and closer to the train.
🚌Colectivos Pisac–Urubamba–Ollantaytambo ~£5 total
🛏Guesthouse in Ollantaytambo (~£13–18/night)
- →Pisac ruins and market
- →Andean weaving co-op visit
- →Urubamba farm-to-table lunch
- →Ollantaytambo fortress
Train to Aguas Calientes (+ optional One-Day Inca Trail)
Aguas Calientes, Peru
Take the morning PeruRail or Inca Rail train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (~£50–75 one-way for the Vistadome/Expedition classes; book at least a month ahead in high season). If you booked the 1-day Inca Trail add-on directly with a licensed Cusco agency (~£90–130, permits needed), you'll get off at km 104 and hike 6–7 hrs through Wiñay Wayna to the Sun Gate before descending to town. Everyone else: check in, soak in the hot springs (6 USD / ~£5) and browse the craft market. Buy bus tickets for the Machu Picchu shuttle tonight (round trip ~£18) or plan to walk up.
🚌PeruRail/Inca Rail train ~£60; shuttle bus to ruins ~£18 return
🛏Guesthouse in Aguas Calientes (~£15–22/night)
- →Scenic Sacred Valley train
- →Hot springs (6 USD)
- →Optional 1-day Inca Trail from km 104
Machu Picchu — guided circuit, then back to Cusco
Machu Picchu & Cusco, Peru
Take the first buses up (5:30am) for sunrise over the citadel. Machu Picchu entry is ~152 PEN (~£31) and must be bought in advance online via the official Ministerio de Cultura ticket site; the Circuit 2 classic route includes the upper terraces and the guardian's house viewpoint. A licensed guide at the gate costs ~£20–25 per group (share it) — this is the cheapest way to get the context the operator's guide provides. For a splurge, Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain add-on permits are ~£15 extra and sell out months ahead. Optionally walk to the Inca Bridge (free, 30 min) before descending. Afternoon train Aguas Calientes–Cusco/Poroy (~£60), then a 1.5 hr transfer or bus into Cusco.
🚌Shuttle bus up/down; train ~£60; bus Poroy–Cusco ~£2
🛏Hostel in Cusco (~£11–15/night)
- →Machu Picchu Circuit 2 with shared guide
- →Optional Huayna Picchu permit
- →Inca Bridge walk
Free day in Cusco — rafting, horses or ruins
Cusco, Peru
Use the day for the active options the operator listed as extras, booked direct in Cusco the day before: whitewater rafting on the Urubamba (~69 USD / ~£55 with a Cusco agency), horseback riding (~150 PEN / ~£30), or mountain biking. Alternatively spend ~£12 on the Boleto Turístico and visit Sacsayhuamán, Q'enqo and Tambomachay on foot from town, then take a Peruvian cooking class (~£20–28, includes market tour and dinner). Rest up for an early flight and treat any altitude headache with coca tea rather than exertion.
🚌Walking; local taxi ~£2
🛏Hostel in Cusco (~£11–15/night)
- →Urubamba whitewater rafting
- →Cooking class
- →Sacsayhuamán and Tambomachay (Boleto Turístico ~£12)
Cusco → Lima
Lima, Peru
Morning flight back to Lima (~£55–85) and a bus or taxi to Barranco/Miraflores. Spend the afternoon on a self-guided food crawl: Mercado Surquillo or Mercado de Barranco, a menú del día lunch (~£3–4), and picarones for dessert. If you're keen, a Lima food walking tour on GetYourGuide runs ~£35–45 and covers market stalls and a pisco tasting. An early night — tomorrow's flight to Quito is long.
🚌Domestic flight ~£70; airport bus ~£5
🛏Hostel dorm in Miraflores/Barranco (~£10–14/night)
- →Barranco/Miraflores food crawl
- →Optional Lima food walking tour
Lima → Quito
Quito, Ecuador
Fly Lima–Quito (~£120–170; Copa via Panama or Avianca/LATAM direct if scheduled). Immigration is straightforward for UK passports (90 days visa-free). Airport bus or taxi to the historic centre or La Mariscal (~£5–8). Ecuador uses the US dollar. Spend the evening on Calle La Ronda or in La Floresta for a cheap set dinner (~£6–8), and buy a data SIM from Claro/Movistar (~£6). Tonight, confirm your Galápagos flight, buy your TCT online in advance if possible, and set aside $220 cash for park fees.
🚌International flight ~£145; airport bus ~£5
🛏Hostel in Quito historic centre or La Mariscal (~£11–15/night)
- →Centro Histórico evening walk
- →La Ronda
- →Basílica del Voto Nacional exterior
Fly to San Cristóbal — Laguna El Junco & Interpretation Centre
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristóbal, Galápagos
Early flight Quito–San Cristóbal (via Guayaquil, ~£300–400 return; book 2–3 months ahead as seats are limited and prices climb fast). At Quito airport buy your Transit Control Card ($20, ~£16) and on landing at San Cristóbal pay the National Park entrance fee ($100, ~£79) in cash — both are unavoidable and not included by any operator. Transfer to your guesthouse in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (~£25–35/night for a private room, or ~£15 dorm). After lunch, take a taxi up to Laguna El Junco, the islands' only freshwater crater lake (~£25 for the round trip, share with others), and visit the free Interpretation Centre with its coastal trail and frigatebird views.
🚌Flight Quito–San Cristóbal ~£330 return; taxi to El Junco ~£25 shared
🛏Guesthouse in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (~£25–30/night)
- →Laguna El Junco
- →Interpretation Centre
- →Playa Mann sea lions
Giant tortoises at Galapaguera de Cerro Colorado
San Cristóbal, Galápagos
Hire a taxi for a half-day to the Galapaguera de Cerro Colorado (~£40–50 round trip, shareable), a semi-wild giant tortoise reserve with a visitor trail and a good chance of seeing several species. Combine it with Puerto Chino beach for a swim and snorkel among sea lions on the way back. Afternoon: walk to Playa Mann or Punta Carola for sea lion colonies and marine iguanas at close range, all free. Book your inter-island speedboat to Santa Cruz for tomorrow (~£25–30, 2–2.5 hrs) at a local agency tonight.
🚌Taxi half-day ~£45 shared; inter-island speedboat ~£27
🛏Guesthouse in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (~£25–30/night)
- →Galapaguera de Cerro Colorado
- →Puerto Chino beach and snorkelling
- →Punta Carola sea lions
Speedboat to Santa Cruz — Charles Darwin Research Station
Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz, Galápagos
Morning speedboat to Santa Cruz (book with a local operator; the crossing is rough, so take motion-sickness tablets). Check into a guesthouse in Puerto Ayora (~£25–35/night). In the afternoon visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and Fausto Llerena Breeding Center (free entry, donations welcome) to see giant tortoise hatchlings and learn about the breeding programme — the equivalent of the operator's included visit. Then walk to Tortuga Bay (~40 min on a marked trail) for a white-sand beach with marine iguanas and swimming. Book a naturalist day tour for tomorrow.
🚌Inter-island speedboat (paid previous day); walking and water taxi ~£1
🛏Guesthouse in Puerto Ayora (~£28–35/night)
- →Charles Darwin Research Station
- →Fausto Llerena Breeding Center
- →Tortuga Bay walk and swim
Naturalist day tour — South Plaza & North Seymour
Santa Cruz, Galápagos
The most direct substitute for the operator's cruise landings: book a licensed small-group naturalist day tour that covers South Plaza and North Seymour (roughly £150–200 including a certified guide, panga transfers, lunch and snorkelling gear — book 2–4 weeks ahead via a Puerto Ayora agency or GetYourGuide). Expect the largest land iguana population in the archipelago on South Plaza's cactus forest and huge frigatebird and blue-footed booby colonies plus sea lion harems on North Seymour. If South Plaza isn't available, a Bartolomé or Seymour/Plazas combo is a like-for-like swap. Note: day-tour landings replace the multi-site cruise itinerary but cannot reach the western islands.
🚌Day boat with guide and panga transfers
🛏Guesthouse in Puerto Ayora (~£28–35/night)
- →South Plaza land iguana walk
- →North Seymour frigatebirds and sea lions
- →Snorkelling with sea turtles
Snorkelling at Chinese Hat / Las Bachas, then back to Quito
Santa Cruz → Quito
Option A: a half-day bay tour from Puerto Ayora (~£45–60) snorkelling with sea lions and turtles at Las Grietas or around Santa Fe. Option B: for the Chinese Hat and Las Bachas sites the operator visits, book a full-day boat trip (~£150) if available, otherwise substitute a Pinzón or Floreana day tour — similar wildlife, similar price tier. Mid-afternoon, take the ferry/speedboat to Baltra and fly back to Quito (~£150–180 one-way; buy a return/through ticket earlier to save). Evening in Quito: cheap eats in La Mariscal.
🚌Bay tour or day boat; speedboat/ferry to Baltra ~£3; flight ~£165
🛏Hostel in Quito (~£11–15/night)
- →Snorkelling at Las Grietas
- →Optional Chinese Hat/Las Bachas day tour
Quito — Teleférico, equator line and depart
Quito, Ecuador
Last day. Ride the Teleférico up Volcán Pichincha (9 USD, ~£7) for city views, then bus to the Mitad del Mundo equator monument (~£3 transport plus ~£4 entry) or the more authentic Museo Intiñan on the actual equator line. Lunch at a Mercado Central stall (~£3). Head to the airport for your international departure — allow 90 minutes in traffic. If you'd prefer, add a Cotopaxi full-day tour (~£45–60) instead, but only if your flight is late evening.
🚌Teleférico ~£7; bus to Mitad del Mundo ~£3; airport taxi ~£8
🛏None (departure day)
- →Teleférico de Quito
- →Mitad del Mundo / Intiñan museum
- →Mercado Central lunch
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£2,150 | £3,950 |
| Duration | 14 days | 14 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,800 per person (46%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£2,150
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 Machu Picchu & Galápagos: Lima to Quito in 14 Days cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £2,150 per person for 14 days in Peru & Galápagos (Ecuador). 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 £3,950 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £2,150 — a saving of roughly £1,800 (46%) per person.
How long is the Peru & Galápagos (Ecuador) trip?+
This itinerary runs 14 days, covering 14 day-by-day stops through Peru & Galápagos (Ecuador).
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, culture, hiking trip through Peru & Galápagos (Ecuador), 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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