Machu Picchu Explorer — Self-Launched Edition
8 days · Peru
G Adventures charges £1,799
No-markup version: ~£577 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An 8-day self-launched take on G Adventures' "Machu Picchu Explorer" loop from Lima. Travel independently by domestic flight, shared minibus and the scenic PeruRail/Inca Rail train to Aguas Calientes. Explore the Sacred Valley (Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Moray, Las Salineras salt pans) at your own pace, visit the Ccaccaccollo women's weaving co-op directly, eat at the community-run Parwa restaurant near Lamay, and take a guided tour of Machu Picchu booked via GetYourGuide. Stay in hostels and budget guesthouses instead of comfort hotels and keep costs a fraction of the original small-group price. All figures are approximate per-person estimates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Lima
Lima
Land at Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) and make your own way into the city — the official Airport Express Lima bus runs to Miraflores/Barranco for around £6, or an authorised taxi is ~£12. Settle into a hostel in Miraflores or Barranco, grab a ceviche and a Pisco sour, and walk the Malecón at sunset. Book onward flights and Machu Picchu entry online tonight if you haven't already.
🚌Airport Express Lima bus (~£6) or authorised taxi (~£12)
🛏Budget hostel in Miraflores or Barranco, dorm bed (~£10-14)
- →Malecón clifftop walk
- →Miraflores/Barranco evening stroll
- →Ceviche dinner
Fly to Cusco & into the Sacred Valley
Urubamba / Sacred Valley
Take an early domestic flight Lima–Cusco (~£45-70 one way with LATAM/Sky/Viva, book ahead). From Cusco airport take a shared minibus or collectivo down into the Sacred Valley to Pisac, then on to Urubamba. Visit the Pisac ruins and the famous Sunday/handicraft market on your own ticket (~£8 entry). If you pass through Ccaccaccollo, the women's weaving co-op welcomes independent visitors and you can buy textiles direct. Base yourself in Urubamba or Ollantaytambo.
🚌Domestic flight Lima–Cusco (~£50), collectivo/minibus to Pisac and Urubamba (~£4)
🛏Guesthouse in Urubamba or Ollantaytambo, private/shared room (~£12-18)
- →Pisac archaeological site and market
- →Ccaccaccollo women's weaving co-op visit
- →Sacred Valley scenery
Salt pans, Moray & Ollantaytambo
Urubamba / Ollantaytambo
Hire a local driver for the day or use shared taxis to reach Las Salineras salt pans at Maras (~£2 entry) and the circular Inca terraces at Moray (~£4). Continue to Ollantaytambo, a living Inca town, and climb the fortress ruins (~£8 with the combined Sacred Valley ticket). Have lunch at the community-run Parwa restaurant in Lamay if you're passing. In the evening try a traditional pachamanca meal at a local restaurant in Urubamba.
🚌Shared taxi / private driver for the day (~£15-20 split) or collectivos between sites (~£5)
🛏Guesthouse in Urubamba or Ollantaytambo (~£12-18)
- →Las Salineras salt pans
- →Moray Inca terraces
- →Ollantaytambo fortress
- →Pachamanca dinner
Scenic train to Aguas Calientes
Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo)
Walk to Ollantaytambo station and board the scenic train to Aguas Calientes — book with PeruRail or Inca Rail in advance (Vistadome/Expedition from ~£50-70 one way). The river gorge ride is the highlight. Arrive, drop bags at your guesthouse and explore the craft market and hot springs (~£4). Buy your Machu Picchu bus ticket (~£10 each way, or walk up) for tomorrow and pre-purchase your timed entry slot.
🚌PeruRail/Inca Rail train Ollantaytambo–Aguas Calientes (~£50-70)
🛏Guesthouse in Aguas Calientes (~£15-22, pricier and limited — book early)
- →Scenic rail journey
- →Aguas Calientes market
- →Hot springs
Machu Picchu guided tour & back to Cusco
Machu Picchu / Cusco
Take the early shuttle bus up to Machu Picchu and join a small-group guided tour (book via GetYourGuide, ~£25-35, entry ticket ~£35-45 separate — buy well in advance on the official Ministry of Culture site). Explore the citadel, optionally hike the short Inca Bridge trail, then descend, catch the afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo and a bus/train on to Cusco. Stay in Cusco's historic centre.
🚌Round-trip shuttle bus (~£20 total), return train Aguas Calientes–Ollantaytambo (~£50-70), bus to Cusco (~£4)
🛏Hostel in Cusco historic centre (~£10-15 dorm, ~£20 private)
- →Guided Machu Picchu tour
- →Inca Bridge optional walk
- →Cusco arrival
Explore Cusco
Cusco
A free day in the former Inca capital. Visit Qorikancha, the Cusco Cathedral and San Pedro market, wander San Blas and the bohemian barrio, and pick up the boleto turístico if you want the museum and ruin circuit (~£22). Active optional add-ons booked locally: whitewater rafting on the Urubamba (~£30), horseback riding (~£20) or mountain biking (~£25). Acclimatise with coca tea.
🚌Walking; taxis for longer hops (~£2-3)
🛏Hostel in Cusco historic centre (~£10-20)
- →Qorikancha and cathedral
- →San Pedro market
- →San Blas barrio
- →Optional rafting or biking
Fly back to Lima
Lima
Fly Cusco–Lima (~£45-70) and spend the afternoon back in the capital. Depending on your interests, see the Plaza de Armas and San Francisco catacombs, or head to Barranco for street art, the Puente de los Suspiros and the beach below. Last-night dinner of anticuchos or a menú del día.
🚌Domestic flight Cusco–Lima (~£50), taxi to hostel (~£8)
🛏Budget hostel in Miraflores or Barranco (~£10-14)
- →Plaza de Armas
- →San Francisco convent
- →Barranco street art
Depart Lima
Lima
Check out and head to the airport by Airport Express bus or taxi for your onward flight home. If you have a late departure, use the morning for a final market breakfast or a walk along the coast.
🚌Airport Express bus (~£6) or taxi (~£12)
🛏—
- →Departure
- →Optional coastal walk
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£577 | £1,799 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,222 per person (68%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£577
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 Machu Picchu Explorer — Self-Launched Edition cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £577 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 £1,799 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £577 — a saving of roughly £1,222 (68%) 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 culture, hiking, adventure 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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