Self-Launched Cusco & Machu Picchu: Sacsayhuaman, Sacred Valley, Rainbow Mountain
8 days · Peru (Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain)
Viajes Pacifico charges £730
No-markup version: ~£700 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Viajes Pacifico's 8-day Cusco highlights tour, built for solo travellers who want the same big-ticket sights — Sacsayhuaman, the Sacred Valley, Moray and the Maras salt mines, Machu Picchu and Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain — while booking everything themselves. You'll use budget hostels and guesthouses in Lima and Cusco, shared colectivos and public buses in the Sacred Valley, the PeruRail or Inca Rail train to Aguas Calientes, and locally booked day tours for the archaeological circuits where a guide genuinely adds value. Costs are approximate per-person backpacker rates in GBP and assume shared dorm or budget private rooms, eating at local menús, and booking Machu Picchu entry and train tickets well in advance.
Day-by-day
Arrive Lima — Miraflores and the coast
Lima
Land at Jorge Chávez International Airport and take an airport bus (Airport Express Lima, ~£7) or shared taxi into Miraflores or Barranco. Settle into a hostel dorm, then spend the afternoon walking the Malecón clifftop path, watching surfers at Parque del Amor and catching sunset over the Pacific. Grab dinner at a local menú spot or the Mercado de Surquillo for cheap ceviche. Book your Cusco flight and Machu Picchu entry online tonight if you haven't already — the circuits sell out.
🚌Airport Express bus to Miraflores ~£7
🛏Hostel dorm in Miraflores or Barranco (~£12)
- →Malecón clifftop walk
- →Parque del Amor sunset
- →Mercado de Surquillo food stop
Fly to Cusco — acclimatise and city highlights
Cusco
Morning flight Lima to Cusco (~£45-60 with Sky or LATAM if booked ahead). Take a taxi or the local combi into the historic centre and check into a hostel in San Blas. Go gently on day one at 3,400m: the operator's guided city stroll is easy to replicate on your own or with a free walking tour (tip-based, ~£5). Visit Qorikancha temple (~£5 entry), walk up to Plaza de San Cristóbal for the panorama, wander San Blas artisan streets, spot the Twelve Angled Stone on Calle Hatunrumiyoc, and finish at Plaza de Armas and the cathedral. Buy coca tea and take it slow.
🚌Flight Lima–Cusco ~£50; airport taxi ~£4
🛏Hostel dorm in San Blas (~£10)
- →Qorikancha temple entry ~£5
- →Free walking tour (tip ~£5)
- →San Blas and Twelve Angled Stone walk
- →Cusco Cathedral ~£5
Sacsayhuaman and the northern Inca circuit
Cusco
Buy the Boleto Turístico parcial (~£14) covering Sacsayhuaman, Q'enqo, Puca Pucará and Tambomachay. Either walk up from San Blas (30-40 mins, good acclimatisation) or take a taxi to Sacsayhuaman (~£2). Work your way through the four sites along the road to Pisac at your own pace — allow 3-4 hours. Back in Cusco, spend the afternoon at the San Pedro Market for a cheap lunch and organise your Sacred Valley transport. Optional: book a Sacred Valley day tour or plan colectivo hops for tomorrow.
🚌Taxi to Sacsayhuaman ~£2; walking elsewhere
🛏Hostel dorm in San Blas (~£10)
- →Sacsayhuaman
- →Q'enqo
- →Puca Pucará
- →Tambomachay
- →Boleto Turístico parcial ~£14
- →San Pedro Market
Sacred Valley — Pisac to Urubamba
Sacred Valley / Urubamba
Take a colectivo from Cusco's Calle Puputi to Pisac (~£1.50, 45 mins). Climb to the Pisac archaeological site with the full Boleto Turístico (~£17, or the parcial if you skipped sites) and explore the terraces and hilltop citadel in the morning. Wander the colonial village and artisan market afterwards, then catch a colectivo to Urubamba (~£1.50). In Urubamba, visit the Inkariy Museum (~£6) or arrange a short visit to a weaving cooperative such as those around Chinchero for textile and adobe-making demos. Llamas and alpacas are everywhere en route.
🚌Colectivo Cusco–Pisac ~£1.50; Pisac–Urubamba ~£1.50
🛏Guesthouse dorm in Urubamba or Ollantaytambo (~£11)
- →Pisac ruins entry via Boleto Turístico ~£17
- →Pisac village and market
- →Inkariy Museum ~£6
- →Weaving cooperative visit
Maras salt mines, Moray and Ollantaytambo
Ollantaytambo
From Urubamba, take a colectivo or shared taxi towards Maras (~£1.50). Walk or take a local taxi the last stretch to the Salineras de Maras (~£2 entry) — the salt pans are spectacular in the morning light. Continue to Moray (~£3 entry) to see the concentric Inca terraces. Head back via Urubamba to Ollantaytambo and spend the afternoon exploring the village and the fortress with its Sun Temple (~£5 entry on the Boleto Turístico). Tonight, buy your Machu Picchu bus ticket or decide to walk up, and confirm your train time for tomorrow.
🚌Colectivos/shared taxis Urubamba–Maras–Moray–Ollantaytambo ~£6 total
🛏Guesthouse dorm in Ollantaytambo (~£11)
- →Maras salt mines ~£2
- →Moray terraces ~£3
- →Ollantaytambo fortress ~£5 (Boleto Turístico)
Machu Picchu day
Machu Picchu / Aguas Calientes
Take the early PeruRail or Inca Rail train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (~£45-60 one way, book well ahead). Buy the Consettur bus up to the ruins (~£10 return) or hike the 1,600 steps. Your Machu Picchu entry ticket (~£40, book on the official Ministerio de Cultura site) is tied to a specific circuit and time slot — check which circuit is available for your date and stick to it. A licensed guide at the gate costs ~£10-15 if you want context, or explore independently with a map. Come down in the afternoon, soak in the hot springs (~£4) and take an evening train back to Ollantaytambo or stay the night in Aguas Calientes.
🚌Return train ~£55; Consettur bus ~£10
🛏Hostel dorm in Aguas Calientes or Ollantaytambo (~£14)
- →Machu Picchu entry ~£40
- →Optional local guide ~£12
- →Aguas Calientes hot springs ~£4
Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca)
Vinicunca / Cusco
Book a shared day tour to Vinicunca through any Cusco agency or hostel (~£25-30 including transport, breakfast, guide and entry; departures around 4:00-4:30am). The van drives to Cusipata, then it's a 90-minute uphill hike at 5,000m — genuinely tough on the lungs, so pace yourself and consider hiring a horse (~£15) for part of the way if needed. Bring layers, water and coca leaves. Return to Cusco by late afternoon and rest; the altitude will catch up with you.
🚌Shared tour van included in ~£28 tour price
🛏Hostel dorm in Cusco (~£10)
- →Rainbow Mountain shared tour ~£28
- →Optional horse hire ~£15
Cusco to Lima and departure
Cusco / Lima
Final morning in Cusco — pick up last souvenirs at San Pedro Market or San Blas, then fly Cusco to Lima (~£45-60) for your international connection. If your flight leaves late, store bags at the hostel or the airport and revisit Miraflores for a last ceviche lunch.
🚌Flight Cusco–Lima ~£50
🛏None (departure day)
- →San Pedro Market shopping
- →Optional Miraflores stopover
Self-launched vs. Viajes Pacifico
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Viajes Pacifico | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£700 | £730 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £30 per person (4%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Viajes Pacifico-style trips? Check them out here.~£700
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.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Cusco & Machu Picchu: Sacsayhuaman, Sacred Valley, Rainbow Mountain cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £700 per person for 8 days in Peru (Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain). 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 Viajes Pacifico?+
Yes — Viajes Pacifico charges around £730 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £700 — a saving of roughly £30 (4%) per person.
How long is the Peru (Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain) trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Peru (Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain).
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 (Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain), 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.