Self-Launched Cusco, Inca Trail & Lake Titicaca (9 Days)
9 days · Peru
Inkayni Peru Tours charges £1,420
No-markup version: ~£733 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A solo-friendly DIY version of Inkayni Peru Tours' 9-day Cusco–Inca Trail–Titicaca loop. You'll acclimatise in Cusco, self-book the classic 4-day Inca Trail with a licensed trek operator (permits are mandatory and sell out months ahead), finish at Machu Picchu, then take the public tourist bus across the altiplano to Puno and explore the Uros and Taquile islands on a locally booked boat tour. Accommodation is hostels and simple guesthouses instead of 3-star hotels, transport is public bus and train, and the whole thing costs roughly a third of the packaged price. Costs are rough backpacker estimates.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Cusco & acclimatise
Cusco
Land at Cusco's Alejandro Velasco Astete airport (CUZ) and take a taxi (~S/25-30, £5-6) or the local combi into the historic centre. Cusco sits at 3,400 m, so today is deliberately slow: check into a hostel in San Blas or around Plaza de Armas, drink coca tea, and avoid alcohol or heavy exertion. In the afternoon wander gently to the Inka Museum (Museo Inka, entry ~S/10) and Qorikancha from outside — both are low-effort, high-reward. Eat an early, light dinner and sleep early.
🚌Airport taxi ~S/25-30 (£5-6)
🛏Hostel dorm or private room, San Blas / historic centre (~£12-18)
- →Inka Museum (self-guided, ~S/10)
- →Gentle walk around Plaza de Armas and San Blas
- →Coca tea and acclimatisation rest
Sacred Valley day trip: Chinchero, Moray & Maras
Cusco / Sacred Valley
Book a shared Sacred Valley day tour through a Cusco agency or GetYourGuide the day before (roughly £20-28 including transport and guide; entry tickets to Moray and the Maras salt pans are usually extra, ~S/10-20 each). The standard route covers Chinchero's Inca walls and colonial church plus a weaving demonstration, the concentric agricultural terraces at Moray, and the salt mines at Maras. Alternatively, do it independently by colectivo to Urubamba and local taxis between sites for more flexibility. Back in Cusco by early evening — pack tonight for the trek and leave large luggage at the hostel.
🚌Shared tour minibus (included in tour price); or colectivos ~S/5-10 each way
🛏Hostel dorm or private room, San Blas / historic centre (~£12-18)
- →Moray circular terraces
- →Maras Salt Mines
- →Chinchero Inca walls & colonial church
- →Andean weaving demonstration
Inca Trail Day 1: Km 82 to Wayllabamba
Inca Trail
Early colectivo or operator transfer from Cusco to Pichari/Km 82 (about 1.5-2 hrs, usually included in your trek package). Cross the checkpoint at Km 82, then walk relatively gently upstream along the Urubamba to the ruins of Patallacta (Llactapata) and the hilltop outpost of Willkarakay, camping at Wayllabamba (3,000 m). Note: private trekking without a licensed guide is illegal on the Inca Trail — your self-launched element is booking a reputable small-group trek direct or via GetYourGuide rather than through a full package tour. Budget roughly £350-420 for a 4-day/3-night classic Inca Trail group trek including permits, guide, cook, porters and meals.
🚌Trek operator transfer from Cusco to Km 82 (included)
🛏Camping at Wayllabamba (included in trek package)
- →Patallacta ancient Inca town
- →Willkarakay military outpost
- →Trek Km 82 to Wayllabamba (~12 km)
Inca Trail Day 2: Dead Woman's Pass to Pacaymayo
Inca Trail
The hardest day: a steady climb through Llulluchapampa to Warmihuañusca (Dead Woman's Pass) at 4,215 m, with plenty of snack and warm-drink stops at Tres Piedras and Llulluchapampa. Descend steep stone steps to the Pacaymayo campsite. Pace yourself, drink water constantly, and let the porters set up camp. All meals, snacks and camp gear are covered by the trek package.
🚌On foot
🛏Camping at Pacaymayo (included in trek package)
- →Warmihuañusca (Dead Woman's Pass) 4,215 m
- →Tres Piedras viewpoint
- →Llulluchapampa rest stop
- →Trek to Pacaymayo campsite
Inca Trail Day 3: Runkurakay, Sayacmarca & Wiñayhuayna
Inca Trail
Climb to the Runkurakay pass and the circular Inca resting lodge of Runkurakay, then drop into high cloud forest past Sayacmarca and Chaquicocha, with views of Phuyupatamarca. Finish at the Wiñayhuayna camp beside the terraced ruins, well positioned for tomorrow's early start. Meals and camp included in the trek package. Sort your daypack tonight and keep your passport handy for the Machu Picchu checkpoint.
🚌On foot
🛏Camping at Wiñayhuayna (included in trek package)
- →Runkurakay ruins & pass
- →Sayacmarca archaeological site
- →Chaquicocha cloud forest
- →Phuyupatamarca viewpoint
- →Wiñayhuayna terraces
Machu Picchu via the Sun Gate, then train to Ollantaytambo
Machu Picchu / Ollantaytambo
Pre-dawn start to reach Inti Punku (the Sun Gate) for the classic first view of Machu Picchu, then a 2-hour guided circuit of the citadel (included in your trek). Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain add-on tickets must be booked months in advance with your permit — normally £12-18 per person. Take the bus down to Aguas Calientes (~£10 one-way) and the PeruRail/Inca Rail Expedition service to Ollantaytambo (~£45-70 depending when booked; it's the priciest single item of the trip). Overnight in Ollantaytambo's budget hostels, or push on to Cusco by colectivo.
🚌Machu Picchu shuttle bus ~£10; train Aguas Calientes–Ollantaytambo ~£45-70
🛏Hostel in Ollantaytambo (~£10-16) or Cusco
- →Inti Punku (Sun Gate) sunrise
- →Guided Machu Picchu tour
- →Optional Huayna Picchu / Machu Picchu Mountain hike (pre-booked)
Altipano crossing: Cusco to Puno
Cusco to Puno
Take the public tourist bus from Cusco to Puno (roughly 10 hrs, £15-25 booked online or through a Cusco agency), which breaks at Andahuaylillas' painted church, the Raqchi temple of Wiracocha, the La Raya pass at 4,338 m, and the Pucara pre-Inca site — essentially the same sightseeing stops as the tour bus, with entry fees ~S/5-10 each. Cheaper local buses exist but run without sightseeing stops and are less comfortable. Arrive Puno (3,830 m) by evening and check into a hostel near the Plaza de Armas.
🚌Tourist bus Cusco–Puno ~£15-25
🛏Hostel private room, Puno (~£12-18)
- →Andahuaylillas church
- →Raqchi Inca temple of Wiracocha
- →La Raya pass photo stop
- →Pucara ceremonial site
Uros floating islands & Taquile Island
Lake Titicaca
Book a shared full-day Lake Titicaca boat trip through your hostel or a Puno agency (~£20-30 including a family-cooked lunch on Taquile — ask for the slower day boat rather than the fast 2-hour version). Visit the Uros reed islands mid-morning, then continue to Taquile for the hike up to the village and the Pachamama and Pachatata temples, where the local weaving cooperative is worth supporting with a small purchase. Back in Puno by early evening.
🚌Shared boat from Puno harbour (included in tour)
🛏Hostel private room, Puno (~£12-18)
- →Uros Floating Islands
- →Taquile Island hike
- →Pachamama & Pachatata temples
- →Traditional family lunch
Puno to Juliaca airport
Puno / Juliaca
Final morning for coffee on the main street, then a shared tourist shuttle or colectivo from Puno to Juliaca's Inca Manco Cápac airport (JUL), about 1 hr, £3-6. Budget a 2-3 hr buffer for flights to Lima. If your flight is later, the Sillustani funerary towers are a 30-minute detour and cost ~S/15 with transport.
🚌Shared shuttle/colectivo Puno–Juliaca ~£3-6
🛏None (departure day)
- →Optional Sillustani chullpa towers detour
Self-launched vs. Inkayni Peru Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Inkayni Peru Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£733 | £1,420 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £687 per person (48%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Inkayni Peru Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£733
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 Self-Launched Cusco, Inca Trail & Lake Titicaca (9 Days) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £733 per person for 9 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 Inkayni Peru Tours?+
Yes — Inkayni Peru Tours charges around £1,420 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £733 — a saving of roughly £687 (48%) per person.
How long is the Peru trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 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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