Inca Discovery: Self-Launched Lima to Cusco & Inca Trail
8 days · Peru
G Adventures charges £870
No-markup version: ~£468 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 8-day Inca Discovery: Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and a 4-day Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu, booked independently. You arrange your own permits (Inca Trail permits sell out months ahead — book the moment they release for your date, usually October for the following year), join a locally licensed trek operator in Cusco for the trail portion with porter and cook support, and use budget guesthouses and local flights/buses between cities. Everything else — markets, weaving co-ops, the ruins, the Sun Gate sunrise — is doable on your own schedule, with a self-booked Machu Picchu entry ticket and a licensed guide at the citadel. Costs are approximate and assume hostel/guesthouse dorms or basic private rooms, local eateries and public/shared transport.
Day-by-day
Arrive Lima — Miraflores & coastal sunset
Lima
Land at Jorge Chávez International Airport and take an airport bus (Airport Express Lima, ~£6) or a registered taxi (~£10-12) to Miraflores. Check into a budget hostel or guesthouse in Miraflores or Barranco. Spend the afternoon acclimatising with a walk along the Malecón clifftop path to Parque del Amor, then down to the beach at Playa Waikiki. In the evening eat at a menú del día spot (~£4-6) or join a self-booked Lima food walking tour in Barranco (~£20-25 via GetYourGuide). Sort your SIM/data and withdraw soles. Early night — you fly to altitude tomorrow.
🚌Airport Express Lima bus ~£6 or registered taxi ~£10-12
🛏Budget hostel or guesthouse in Miraflores/Barranco (dorm ~£10-14, private ~£22-30)
- →Malecón coastal walk & Parque del Amor
- →Barranco street art & food walk (self-booked, optional)
- →Buy local SIM and cash
Fly Lima to Cusco — acclimatise in the old town
Cusco
Fly Lima–Cusco with Sky Airline, LATAM or JetSMART (~£45-70 one way, book 1-2 months ahead for the cheap fares). The morning flight gets you in by midday. Take a taxi or colectivo from Alejandro Velasco Astete airport to your guesthouse in San Blas or the centre (~£2-3). Spend the rest of the day going very slowly: coca tea, Plaza de Armas, the stonework of Hatunrumiyoc, and a light lunch. Do not overdo it on day one at 3,400m. If you're feeling fine, pop into the Museo Inka (~£2.50) or join a cheap Cusco city tour (~£10) — but the smart move is an early night. Buy your Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley entry tickets online today (machupicchu.gob.pe / official MINCUL portal) to lock in your circuit.
🚌Domestic flight Lima–Cusco ~£45-70; airport taxi ~£2-3
🛏Guesthouse in San Blas or Cusco centre (dorm ~£8-12, private ~£20-28)
- →Plaza de Armas & San Blas wander
- →Museo Inka (optional)
- →Buy Machu Picchu / Sacred Valley tickets online
Sacred Valley — Pisac, Ollantaytambo & weaving co-ops
Ollantaytambo / Sacred Valley
Take a local bus or colectivo from Cusco to Pisac (~£1.50, ~1hr), browse the famous market and climb the Pisac ruins (entry via Boleto Turístico, ~£14 for the multi-site pass). Continue by colectivo/bus down the valley to Urubamba (~£2) and on to Ollantaytambo (~£2). Visit a community weaving co-operative on the road — several villages (e.g. around Chinchero or Amaru) welcome independent visitors for weaving demos for a small fee (~£5-8), the same kind of experience G Adventures builds into this day. Optionally visit a local pottery workshop in the valley (~£4). Have lunch at a community-run restaurant (~£7). In the afternoon explore Ollantaytambo's terraces and storehouse ruins, then overnight in the town so you're ready for your trek briefing. Meet your trek agency in the evening for the pre-trek briefing (most Cusco operators run these).
🚌Colectivos/buses Cusco–Pisac–Urubamba–Ollantaytambo ~£5-6 total
🛏Guesthouse in Ollantaytambo (~£12-18 dorm, ~£25-35 private)
- →Pisac ruins & market
- →Community weaving co-op demo
- →Pottery workshop
- →Ollantaytambo ruins & storehouse hike
Inca Trail Day 1 — Km 82 to Wayllabamba
Inca Trail
Early pickup from Ollantaytambo (or meet your group at Km 82 after a short bus/van transfer, ~£5, arranged by your trek agency). Show your permit at the checkpoint and start the relatively gentle first day: ~11-12km along the Cusumayo valley with views back to Llactapata, then a steady climb up to the Wayllabamba campsite (~3,000m). Your locally licensed trek operator (booked in Cusco, ~£230-290 per person for a 4-day group trek including permits, porters, cook, meals, tents and the Machu Picchu entry ticket) handles the camping gear, meals and porters. Pace is the key — hydrate and chew coca. Bring a rented sleeping bag and mat (~£15-20 for the trek) if you don't have them.
🚌Shared van Ollantaytambo to Km 82 (included by most trek operators, or ~£5 local)
🛏Camping — Wayllabamba campsite (tent provided by trek operator)
- →Inca Trail hike (~11km)
- →Llactapata viewpoint
- →Camp dinner cooked by trek cook
Inca Trail Day 2 — Dead Woman's Pass to Pacaymayo
Inca Trail
The hardest day: climb from Wayllabamba to Warmiwañusca / Dead Woman's Pass (4,215m), the highest point of the trek, then descend steep stone steps to the Pacaymayo campsite (~3,600m). About 12km and 6-7 hours of walking with a big altitude change. Go slow, breathe, and let the porters pass — they'll be up ahead setting up lunch. Your guide will adjust pace to the group. Evening camp at Pacaymayo with hot food and a cold Andean night (temperatures can drop below freezing May-September — bring layers).
🚌On foot
🛏Camping — Pacaymayo campsite
- →Dead Woman's Pass (4,215m) crossing
- →Runkurakay & cloud forest descent
- →Camp at Pacaymayo
Inca Trail Day 3 — Runkuray, Phuyupatamarca & Wiñay Wayna
Inca Trail
A ridge-and-ruins day: climb the second pass at Runkuray (~3,950m), then descend through cloud forest past the terraced ruins of Sayacmarca and Phuyupatamarca, ending at the Wiñay Wayna campsite (~2,650m). About 13km, 7-8 hours, with some of the trail's best scenery and a glimpse of the Urubamba valley. Arrive early to Wiñay Wayna to visit those ruins before the light goes. Final camp dinner and an early night — you're up at 3:30am.
🚌On foot
🛏Camping — Wiñay Wayna campsite
- →Runkuray pass
- →Sayacmarca & Phuyupatamarca ruins
- →Wiñay Wayna terraces
Sun Gate sunrise at Machu Picchu — back to Cusco
Machu Picchu / Cusco
Pre-dawn start from Wiñay Wayna to reach the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) at first light and see Machu Picchu open up below. Continue down to the citadel for a 2-hour licensed guide overview (included in your trek package), then wander the chosen circuit on your own — Circuit 2 is the classic full view from the upper terraces. Take the shuttle bus down to Aguas Calientes (~£9, book on the spot or online) and grab a cheap lunch before your return train. Take the PeruRail or Inca Rail vistadome/expedition train Aguas Calientes–Ollantaytambo (~£35-50, book online weeks ahead), then a bus/colectivo on to Cusco (~£3). Back in Cusco by evening for a hot shower and a proper meal.
🚌Shuttle bus down ~£9; train Aguas Calientes–Ollantaytambo ~£35-50; bus to Cusco ~£3
🛏Guesthouse in Cusco (~£20-28 private, ~£8-12 dorm)
- →Sun Gate sunrise
- →Machu Picchu guided tour & circuits
- →Train back to the Sacred Valley
Cusco — markets, final morning & onward travel
Cusco
Last morning: breakfast at a San Blas café, shop at San Pedro market for souvenirs and coffee, or squeeze in the Rainbow Mountain day trip if you have an extra day and early energy (self-booked via GetYourGuide, ~£30-40 — leave at 3:30am and you'd need to overnight in Cusco and fly out the next morning instead). Otherwise visit Qorikancha (~£4) or the San Blas alleys. Transfer to Cusco airport for your onward flight, or take an overnight bus to Puno/Arequipa (~£15-25) if you're continuing through Peru. Tours officially end here.
🚌Airport taxi ~£2-3, or onward long-distance bus ~£15-25
🛏None — depart (or extend a night in Cusco ~£25)
- →San Pedro market
- →Qorikancha (optional)
- →Rainbow Mountain day trip (optional add-on)
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£468 | £870 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £402 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.~£468
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 Discovery: Self-Launched Lima to Cusco & Inca Trail cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £468 per person for 8 days in 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 £870 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £468 — a saving of roughly £402 (46%) per person.
How long is the Peru trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through 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 adventure, hiking, culture trip through 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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