Peru Multisport — Self-Launched Edition

Land at Jorge Chávez (LIM) and take the official Airport Express Lima bus or an authorised taxi/Colectivo to Miraflores or Barranco (~£6–10). Settle into a hostel, then walk the Malecón clifftop path to Parque del Amor and watch the sunset over the Pacific. Dinner: a cevichería in Barranco — leche de tigre, tiradito and a Pisco sour (£8–12). Sort your Inca Trail paperwork and buy a Boleto Turístico later in Cusco, not here.

🚌Airport Express Lima bus or authorised taxi, ~£6–10

🛏Hostel dorm in Miraflores/Barranco (£10–16)

• →Malecón & Parque del Amor walk
• →Barranco street art & ceviche dinner

Early domestic flight to Cusco (~£55–85 one-way with Sky/JetSMART/LATAM if booked ahead; note hold luggage fees). Taxi to your hostel in San Blas (~£4). Take the day slow: coca tea, Plaza de Armas, Qorikancha from outside, and a gentle wander around San Blas. Optional afternoon Cusco cooking class (book via GetYourGuide, ~£25–35) — good altitude-friendly activity. Early night.

🚌Flight ~£65; airport taxi ~£4

🛏Hostel private/dorm in San Blas (£12–20)

• →Domestic flight to Cusco
• →San Blas & Plaza de Armas wander
• →Optional Cusco cooking class

Collectivo from Cusco to Ollantaytambo (~£3, 1.5–2 hrs) and check in — this is your base for three nights. Pick up a mountain bike from one of the Ollantaytambo rental shops (~£12–18/day, helmet included) and ride the high loop: Maras village, the Moray amphitheatre terraces (entry ~£6 with Boleto Turístico or partial ticket), then descend to the Las Salineras salt pans (~£2 entry). Climb back up and coast into Urubamba; return by collectivo or ride back to Ollantaytambo (~£2). Ask about the Ccaccaccollo women's weaving co-op on the Chinchero road — visit directly and buy textiles from the weavers. Lunch at a community-run farm-to-table spot like Parwa in Lamay (~£8).

🚌Collectivo Cusco–Ollantaytambo ~£3; bike hire ~£15

🛏Guesthouse in Ollantaytambo (£12–20)

• →Sacred Valley mountain biking
• →Maras & Moray terraces
• →Las Salineras salt pans
• →Ccaccaccollo weaving co-op visit

Second ride: take a collectivo to Pisac (~£2), hire a bike there and climb to the Pisac ruins viewpoint (Boleto Turístico ~£18 covers Pisac, Moray, Ollantaytambo and more), then ride the valley floor back through Calca and Urubamba with lunch at a roadside menu del día (£5). Alternatively pre-book a guided Sacred Valley bike tour via GetYourGuide (~£45–60) if you'd rather not self-navigate the trails. Evening: pack your Inca Trail duffel, rent a sleeping bag and poles in town if needed (~£12 and ~£8).

🚌Collectivo to Pisac ~£2; bike hire ~£15

🛏Guesthouse in Ollantaytambo (£12–20)

• →Pisac ruins
• →Valley-floor cycling
• →Inca Trail gear rental & briefing

Free day before the trek. Climb the Ollantaytambo fortress terraces early (included in Boleto Turístico) and hike the Pinkuylluna storehouses opposite for valley views (free). Afternoon: laundry, market snacks, and a final carb-heavy dinner. Confirm your trek pick-up time with the agency and repack to the 6kg duffel limit — anything else stays in a Cusco or Ollantaytambo locker.

🚌On foot

🛏Guesthouse in Ollantaytambo (£12–20)

• →Ollantaytambo fortress
• →Pinkuylluna storehouse hike
• →Trek prep & packing

Your licensed agency picks you up early and drives to Km 82 (~£included in trek package). Permits must be booked 3–5 months ahead through a licensed operator (or the official MINCUL portal) — roughly £330–420 for a standard 4D/3N group trek with guide, cook, porters, meals and campsites. Easy first day: ~11km along the Cusichaca valley past Llactapata before climbing gently to Wayllabamba camp (3,000m).

🚌Agency van to Km 82 (included in trek cost)

🛏Inca Trail camp, Wayllabamba (included)

• →Inca Trail trekking
• →Llactapata ruins

The big one: a long, steep climb to Warmiwañusca (Dead Woman's Pass, 4,198m), the high point of the trek. Slow and steady with coca leaves and lots of water; most hikers reach camp at Pacaymayo by early afternoon. Rest, eat well, sleep early — tomorrow is two passes.

🚌On foot

🛏Inca Trail camp, Pacaymayo (included)

• →Warmiwañusca / Dead Woman's Pass
• →High-altitude trekking

Cross Runkurakay pass (3,950m) with views to the Cordillera Vilcabamba, drop into cloud forest past Sayacmarca and Phuyupatamarca — the 'town above the clouds' at 3,650m. Most groups camp at Wiñay Wayna so the final morning to the Sun Gate is short. Tip pool for the trek crew is customary (~£35–50 total per hiker).

🚌On foot

🛏Inca Trail camp, Wiñay Wayna (included)

• →Runkurakay & Sayacmarca ruins
• →Phuyupatamarca
• →Wiñay Wayna ruins

Pre-dawn start to reach Inti Punku (the Sun Gate) for first light over Machu Picchu, then descend for a guided tour of the ruins with your trek guide (included; entry ticket with Circuit 5). Bus down to Aguas Calientes (~£10), then PeruRail or Inca Rail to Ollantaytambo (~£35–55 expedia/one-way, book weeks ahead) and a colectivo or bus back to Cusco (~£4). Hostel in Cusco, hot shower, long dinner.

🚌Bus Aguas Calientes ~£10; train ~£45; colectivo to Cusco ~£4

🛏Hostel in Cusco (£12–20)

• →Sun Gate sunrise
• →Guided Machu Picchu tour
• →Scenic train ride

Options: a day trip to Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountain, 5,000m) with a GetYourGuide/agency tour (~£32–45 including breakfast, lunch and entry), a San Pedro market food crawl (£6–10), the Inka Museum (~£2.50), or mountain biking above Sacsayhuamán (~£25). Book your Puno bus for tomorrow evening at a Cruz del Sur or Peru Hop office today.

🚌Local transport / tour pick-up ~£5

🛏Hostel in Cusco (£12–20)

• →Optional Rainbow Mountain day trip
• →San Pedro market
• →Inka Museum

Full-day scenic bus to Puno (~£18–30 with Cruz del Sur or Peru Hop; ~9–10 hrs, with stops at Andahuaylillas and La Raya pass on the tourist-class services). Arrive after dark, check into a hostel near the Plaza de Armas, drink coca tea and acclimatise — Puno sits at 3,830m. Arrange tomorrow's kayak/homestay with a Puno operator this evening or in advance via GetYourGuide.

🚌Tourist bus Cusco–Puno ~£22

🛏Hostel in Puno (£10–16)

• →Altiplano scenic bus
• →Puno waterfront stroll

Two-day kayak and homestay package booked with a Puno operator (~£70–100 including kayak, guide, meals and family stay). Paddle out among the reeds to the Uros floating islands, then on toward Amantaní for an afternoon walk to Pachatata/Pachamama temples and a night with a local family. Bring warm layers — nights are cold.

🚌Kayak + support boat (included in package)

🛏Amantaní family homestay (included)

• →Kayaking Lake Titicaca
• →Uros floating islands
• →Amantaní homestay

Kayak or boat across to Taquile island, walk the terraced trails and meet the weaving co-operatives (Taquile textiles are UNESCO-listed), lunch on the island, then return to Puno by boat/kayak. Optional afternoon visit to the Sillustani chullpa burial towers (~£15 with transport and entry). Last night in Puno — good spot for a trout dinner.

🚌Boat/kayak return (included); optional Sillustani transport ~£15

🛏Hostel in Puno (£10–16)

• →Taquile island & weaving co-ops
• →Optional Sillustani towers

Either take the long overnight or daytime bus back to Cusco/Arequipa for onward travel, or grab a cheap flight from Juliaca (JUL, ~45 min from Puno, ~£10 shared transfer) to Lima (~£50–80). In Lima, head to Barranco or Miraflores for a final night: street food, a craft beer, and a sunset on the Malecón.

🚌Shared transfer to Juliaca ~£10; flight to Lima ~£65

🛏Hostel in Miraflores/Barranco (£10–16)

• →Transfer to Juliaca or bus onward
• →Lima evening stroll

Final morning: Mercado Surquillo or Mercado de Magdalena for fruit and a cheap breakfast (£3–5), an optional Lima city walking tour (free, tip-based) or the Museo Larco (~£6). Airport Express Lima to LIM for your international flight.

🚌Airport Express Lima ~£6

🛏—

• →Local market breakfast
• →Optional free walking tour
• →Museo Larco