Peru: Lima, The Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu by Train — Self-Launched
11 days · Peru
G Adventures charges £3,630
No-markup version: ~£630 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An 11-day self-launched version of G Adventures' Geluxe Lima-to-Cusco journey — same spine (Lima's coastal districts, Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Pisaq, Ollantaytambo, a train ride to Machu Picchu), but built on hostels and guesthouses, colectivos and public buses, and self-booked day tours. You'll keep the good bits: cycling Miraflores and Barranco, wandering Inca ruins, and riding the Vistadome up the Urubamba gorge. You'll lose the group markup. Costs are rough backpacker-budget estimates in GBP per person and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Lima: Appetite for Adventure
Lima (Miraflores)
Land at Jorge Chávez (LIM) and take an official taxi or the Airport Express Lima bus (S/20–25, ~£4–6) 45–60 mins to Miraflores. Check into a hostel dorm or private room near Parque Kennedy. Spend the late afternoon on the malecón cliffside boardwalk watching paragliders and surfers below, then have your first ceviche and a pisco sour at a casual neighbourhood cevichería in Miraflores (S/35–55, ~£7–12).
🚌Airport Express Lima bus or authorised taxi from LIM, ~£4–6
🛏Hostel in Miraflores — dorm ~£10–15/night, private double ~£28–40
- →Malecón cliffside walk
- →Parque Kennedy
- →Ceviche dinner in Miraflores
Lima: Cycle Miraflores and Barranco
Lima (Miraflores & Barranco)
Rent a bike from a Miraflores rental shop (S/35–50 for a half day, ~£7–11) and ride the coastal cycle path south to Barranco. Miraflores is glassy and commercial; Barranco is bohemian — low pastel houses, street art, and the Puente de los Suspiros. Stop at a café for lunch (S/20–30, ~£4–6), then walk back through Barranco's galleries and the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo. Sunset beers on the Barranco seafront, then dinner back in Miraflores.
🚌Bicycle hire ~£7–11 + local taxis/buses S/3–8 per hop
🛏Hostel in Miraflores — dorm ~£10–15/night, private double ~£28–40
- →Coastal bike path Miraflores–Barranco
- →Puente de los Suspiros
- →Barranco street art and galleries
- →Museo de Arte Contemporáneo
Cusco: The Land of the Incas
Cusco
Fly Lima–Cusco (LATAM/Sky/Viva, roughly £45–85 one-way booked ahead; far cheaper than the 21-hour Cruz del Sur bus at ~£30–45 if you've got the time). Check into a colonial guesthouse in San Blas or the historic centre. Take the entire afternoon slow — altitude is 3,400 m. Light walk to Plaza de Armas and Qorikancha, coca tea, and an early dinner. Avoid alcohol and heavy food on day one.
🚌One-way flight Lima–Cusco ~£45–85 (or overnight Cruz del Sur bus ~£30–45)
🛏Guesthouse in San Blas/Centro — dorm ~£9–14, private ~£22–35
- →Plaza de Armas orientation
- →Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun)
- →San Blas artisan lanes
- →Altitude acclimatisation
The Sacred Valley: Pisaq Ruins and Cultural Traditions
Pisac → Ollantaytambo
Take a colectivo from Cusco (Calle Puputi / Puente Grau, S/5–8, ~£1–2) to Pisac, about 45 mins. Climb to the Pisaq archaeological site above the village — terraces, temples and the Intihuatana — allow 2–3 hours. Come down for the artisan market. If your day is Tuesday/Thursday/Sunday, the famous Pisac market is at full swing. In the afternoon, catch a colectivo onward to Urubamba then Ollantaytambo (S/10–15, ~£2–3) and check into a valley guesthouse. Optionally visit the Amaru ceramic studio in Pisac if it's open — the same community workshop used on the premium version of this route.
🚌Colectivo Cusco–Pisac ~£1–2, Pisac–Urubamba–Ollantaytambo ~£2–3
🛏Guesthouse in Ollantaytambo/Urubamba — dorm ~£10–16, private ~£25–40
- →Pisaq ruins hike
- →Pisac artisan market
- →Amaru ceramic studio (optional)
- →Sacred Valley scenery
Ollantaytambo: Fortress and Valley Day
Ollantaytambo
Morning at the Ollantaytambo fortress — one of the best-preserved Inca complexes, with the Temple of the Sun and storehouses up the sheer terraces. Entry with the Boleto Turístico (S/130 for the 10-day partial ticket covering Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero and more — worth it if you're doing several sites, ~£28). Afternoon walk from town along the riverside trail to the Inca bridge and the Q'ellu Raqay storehouses opposite the fortress. Buy your Machu Picchu entry ticket online in advance (Circuit 2 is the classic photo circuit; circuits sell out in high season).
🚌Walking + local moto-taxi S/3–6
🛏Guesthouse in Ollantaytambo — dorm ~£10–16, private ~£25–40
- →Ollantaytambo fortress
- →Pinkuylluna storehouses hike
- →Riverside Inca bridge trail
- →Book Machu Picchu tickets online
Waterfall Walk and Valley Villages
Ollantaytambo → Urubamba
Self-launched replacement for the tour's scenic waterfall hike: take a local bus to Urubamba and walk or taxi to the Perolniyoc waterfall area, or use a GetYourGuide half-day valley tour from Ollantaytambo covering Chinchero's weaving co-ops, Maras salt pans and Moray agricultural terraces (~£25–40). Chinchero, Maras and Moray aren't on the standard Boleto Turístico, so expect small separate fees (Maras salt pans S/10, Moray S/20). Back in the valley by evening for dinner at a picantería.
🚌Local buses Urubamba–Ollantaytambo S/3–6; or shared tour van included with GetYourGuide tour
🛏Guesthouse in Ollantaytambo/Urubamba — dorm ~£10–16, private ~£25–40
- →Perolniyoc or valley waterfall hike
- →Maras salt pans
- →Moray archaeological terraces
- →Chinchero weaving co-op
Train to Aguas Calientes
Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo)
Ride the train up the Urubamba gorge to Aguas Calientes. PeruRail Expedition and the Vistadome both run from Ollantaytambo — Expedition from about £45–70 one-way booked ahead, Vistadome with the glass-roofed carriages about £65–95. Book direct on perurail.com or incarail.com as soon as your dates are fixed; this sells out weeks ahead in May–September. Overnight in Aguas Calientes in a simple hostal near the river. Buy your bus ticket to the ruins (Consettur, S/24 each way, ~£5.50) for tomorrow at the bus terminal the night before.
🚌PeruRail Expedition or Vistadome, Ollantaytambo–Aguas Calientes ~£45–95
🛏Hostal in Aguas Calientes — dorm ~£15–22, private ~£35–55
- →Scenic Vistadome train ride
- →Aguas Calientes riverside town
- →Buy Machu Picchu bus tickets
Machu Picchu Day
Machu Picchu → Cusco
Take the first Consettur bus up (from 05:30, 25 mins, ~£5.50) for the early light and fewer crowds. You've got a timed-entry ticket to a specific circuit — Circuit 2 is the classic postcard view from the Guardhouse; Circuit 1 covers the upper terraces; Circuit 3 is assigned if you're doing the Inca Trail. A licensed guide inside the site costs roughly £20–30 for a 2-hour group tour; hire one at the gate or pre-book on GetYourGuide. The optional one-day Inca Trail hike (the tour's £230-ish add-on) can be self-booked but requires a licensed operator and permits sold months out — realistically £150–250. Descend to Aguas Calientes for lunch, then train back to Ollantaytambo and colectivo/van to Cusco (S/15–20, ~£3–4).
🚌Consettur bus ~£11 return; return train ~£45–70; transfer to Cusco ~£3–4
🛏Guesthouse in Cusco — dorm ~£9–14, private ~£22–35
- →Machu Picchu sunrise entry
- →Circuit 2 classic viewpoint
- →Licensed site guide (optional)
- →One-day Inca Trail (optional, £150–250)
Cusco: Inca Stones and Colonial Streets
Cusco
A slow city day to recover. Walk Sacsayhuamán, Q'enqo and Tambomachay on the Boleto Turístico you bought earlier — combine it with the Cristo Blanco viewpoint. Afternoon in the Museo de Arte Precolombino and the San Pedro market for a cheap almuerzo menu (S/10–15, ~£2–3). Sunset on the San Blas steps above the Plaza.
🚌Walking + local taxis S/5–10
🛏Guesthouse in Cusco — dorm ~£9–14, private ~£22–35
- →Sacsayhuamán
- →Q'enqo and Tambomachay
- →Museo de Arte Precolombino
- →San Pedro market
Rainbow Mountain or a Cooking Class
Cusco region
Free day — pick your adventure. Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) day tours leave Cusco around 03:30 and cost ~£25–40 booked on GetYourGuide or Klook, including transport, breakfast and lunch; it's a 5,032 m altitude hike, so acclimatise properly first. Alternatively, stay in town for a Peruvian cooking class and market visit in Cusco (~£25–35) — the same culinary angle the premium tour leans into, without the Sanctuary Lodge price tag.
🚌Tour van included, or local transport within Cusco S/5–10
🛏Guesthouse in Cusco — dorm ~£9–14, private ~£22–35
- →Rainbow Mountain trek (optional, ~£25–40)
- →Peruvian cooking class (optional, ~£25–35)
- →San Blas cafés and galleries
Fly Home from Cusco
Cusco
Last morning for a leisurely breakfast and any souvenir shopping in San Blas before heading to Alejandro Velasco Astete airport. If you're routing home via Lima, the Cusco–Lima flight is roughly £45–85 booked ahead and there's usually time for a final ceviche at the Lima airport or a stop in Miraflores if you've got a long layover.
🚌Local taxi to Cusco airport ~£3–5; Cusco–Lima flight ~£45–85 if routing via Lima
🛏Departure day — no accommodation
- →San Blas shopping
- →Cusco airport transfer
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£630 | £3,630 |
| Duration | 11 days | 11 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £3,000 per person (83%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£630
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 Peru: Lima, The Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu by Train — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £630 per person for 11 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 £3,630 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £630 — a saving of roughly £3,000 (83%) per person.
How long is the Peru trip?+
This itinerary runs 11 days, covering 11 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, budget, hiking 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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