Self-Launched Full South Peru: Lima – Arequipa – Colca Canyon – Lake Titicaca – Cusco – Machu Picchu

Fly into Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM). Take the official Airport Express Lima bus to Miraflores (~£4, runs every 15–30 mins) or a pre-booked airport taxi (~£10–12 via inDriver or Uber). Check into your hostel or guesthouse in Miraflores or Barranco — both lively, safe neighbourhoods great for solo travellers. Rest up and explore the seafront Malecón at sunset. Grab a classic Peruvian ceviche dinner at a local market stall for under £5.

🚌Airport Express Lima bus from airport to Miraflores (~£4) or Uber (~£10)

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Miraflores or Barranco (e.g. Hitchhikers Backpackers Lima, The Point Lima) — dorm ~£10–14/night, private ~£22–28/night

• →Airport transfer via Airport Express Lima bus (~£4) or Uber/inDriver taxi (~£10)
• →Explore Miraflores Malecón and Parque Kennedy
• →Dinner at Mercado 28 or a local cevichería

Spend the day exploring Lima's historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Historic Centre is easily walkable — stroll Plaza Mayor, the Government Palace, Archbishop's Palace, Cathedral Basilica, City Council Palace and San Francisco Convent all within a few blocks. Book a self-guided or budget group walking tour via GetYourGuide (free walking tours available, tip-based). In the afternoon, visit the Huaca Pucllana pyramid in Miraflores (entrance ~£3). End the day with a Pisco Sour in Barranco.

🚌Walking and local metro bus (Metropolitano, ~£0.50 per trip)

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Miraflores or Barranco (same as Day 1)

• →Free walking tour of Lima Historic Centre via GetYourGuide or local guides (tip-based, ~£5–8)
• →Visit Plaza Mayor, Government Palace, Cathedral Basilica and San Francisco Convent (entrance ~£2–4)
• →Visit Huaca Pucllana pyramid, Miraflores (entrance ~£3)
• →Pisco Sour tasting in Barranco (~£3–5)

Take a budget domestic flight from Lima (LIM) to Arequipa (AQP) with LATAM, Sky Airlines or JetSmart — book in advance for ~£40–60 one way. Alternatively, Cruz del Sur or Oltursa overnight buses run the route (~£20–30, ~15 hrs — useful if you want to save on a night's accommodation). Arrive in Arequipa and check in near the Plaza de Armas. Spend the afternoon exploring on foot: Plaza de Armas, the Jesuit Church of La Compañía, the Carmen Alto district and the Yanahuara Mirador with its iconic sillar archways and views of El Misti volcano. Book the Monastery of Santa Catalina for ~£10 — it's one of Peru's must-sees and needs a couple of hours.

🚌Taxi from Arequipa airport to centre (~£4–6 via inDriver/Uber)

🛏Hostel or guesthouse near Plaza de Armas (e.g. La Posada del Virrey, El Indio Dormido Hostel) — dorm ~£8–12/night, private ~£18–25/night

• →Budget domestic flight Lima–Arequipa with LATAM/Sky/JetSmart (~£40–60) or overnight bus (~£20–30)
• →Visit Monastery of Santa Catalina (entrance ~£10, self-guided)
• →Walk Plaza de Armas, Jesuit Church of La Compañía (free entry)
• →Visit Yanahuara Mirador and district (free)
• →Explore Carmen Alto neighbourhood

Join a shared day-tour to Colca Canyon from Arequipa — these run daily from most hostels and agencies for ~£18–25pp including guide and transport. Depart early (~3am) to reach the Patapampa viewpoint at 4,910m at dawn, then descend through the typical villages of Yanque and Maca with their colonial churches and pre-Inca terraces. Reach Cruz del Condor by 9–10am for the best condor sightings. Optional: dip in La Calera hot springs (~£3). Have a traditional lunch in Chivay (~£4–6). In the afternoon, your tour bus continues to Puno rather than returning to Arequipa — confirm this 'Arequipa to Puno via Colca' route when booking, as many operators offer it as a through-service (~£25–35pp). Arrive Puno in the evening and check in near the waterfront.

🚌Shared Colca Canyon day-tour bus Arequipa–Colca–Puno (~£25–35pp, included in tour)

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Puno near waterfront (e.g. Hostal Qoni Wasi, Tierra Viva Puno) — dorm ~£8–12/night, private ~£18–28/night

• →Shared Arequipa–Colca Canyon–Puno through-tour via local agency (e.g. Giardino Tours, Pablo Tour) — ~£25–35pp including guide, transport and Colca entry fee
• →Cruz del Condor viewpoint — condor flight observation
• →Visit villages of Yanque and Maca, colonial churches and pre-Inca terraces
• →Patapampa viewpoint at 4,910m
• →Pampa Cañahuas wildlife reserve (vicuñas)
• →Optional: La Calera hot springs (~£3)
• →Traditional lunch in Chivay (~£4–6)

Book a shared boat tour to the Uros Floating Islands and Taquile Island directly at the Puno port or via a local agency the evening before (~£12–18pp). Depart by 7:30am from the Puno port. Visit the Uros floating reed islands and meet the Uros community — hands-on and genuinely fascinating. Continue by boat to Taquile Island (~2 hrs), hike the stone pathways to the hilltop for jaw-dropping lake views, visit the archaeological sites, and enjoy a set traditional lunch (~£5–7) at a family-run restaurant with views across the altiplano. Return to Puno by late afternoon. In the evening, board an overnight Cruz del Sur or Oltursa bus to Cusco (~£12–20, ~6 hrs) — a comfortable way to save on a night's accommodation while covering the distance.

🚌Shared boat tour from Puno port (~£12–18pp); overnight bus Puno–Cusco (~£12–20)

🛏Overnight bus Puno to Cusco (saves accommodation cost)

• →Shared boat tour to Uros Floating Islands (~1 hr, included in tour)
• →Visit Uros Water Tribe community
• →Boat to Taquile Island (~2 hrs)
• →Hike Taquile hills and visit archaeological sites
• →Traditional set lunch on Taquile (~£5–7)
• →Return boat to Puno port
• →Evening overnight bus Puno–Cusco with Cruz del Sur or Oltursa (~£12–20)

Arrive into Cusco Terminal Terrestre early morning. Take a taxi to your hostel in the San Blas or Plaza de Armas neighbourhood (~£2–3). Check in and rest — acclimatisation is key at 3,400m, so take it slow with coca tea. In the afternoon, explore the Inca ruins circuit around Cusco. The Boleto Turístico del Cusco (BTC) covers Sacsayhuaman, Kenko, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay as a combined ticket (~£30 for partial circuit). Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun) is separately ticketed (~£8) but absolutely worth it. You can walk or take a collectivo minibus to the hilltop sites (~£0.50). In the evening, consider the cultural show at the Qosqo Native Art Center (~£5–8, 7–8:30pm).

🚌Collectivo minibus to hilltop ruins (~£0.50pp each way)

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in San Blas or near Plaza de Armas (e.g. Loki Cusco, Pariwana Hostel Cusco, The Point Cusco) — dorm ~£8–14/night, private ~£20–30/night

• →Arrive Cusco by overnight bus, taxi to hostel (~£2–3)
• →Rest and acclimatise with coca tea
• →Visit Qorikancha / Temple of the Sun (entrance ~£8)
• →Boleto Turístico partial circuit: Sacsayhuaman, Kenko, Puca Pucara, Tambomachay (~£30)
• →Optional: Evening cultural show at Qosqo Native Art Center (~£5–8)

The big day — and the most important to pre-book. Machu Picchu entry tickets must be purchased in advance at the official website (machupicchu.gob.pe, ~£35–45 depending on circuit and time slot). Book the Vistadome or Expedition train from Cusco (Poroy or San Pedro station) to Aguas Calientes with Peru Rail or Inca Rail (~£55–80 return) — book weeks ahead as trains sell out fast. From Aguas Calientes, take the official bus up to Machu Picchu (~£12 return). You can book a 2-hour guided group tour at the entrance gate (~£10–15) or explore with the official audio guide app. Allow 3–4 hours to explore. Return by bus to Aguas Calientes, have lunch or explore the town, then take the afternoon/evening train back to Cusco. Optional: thermal baths in Aguas Calientes (~£4). Pro tip: double-check your entry ticket time slot and nationality details very carefully before travel.

🚌Peru Rail or Inca Rail Cusco–Aguas Calientes return (~£55–80); bus Aguas Calientes–Machu Picchu return (~£12)

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Cusco (same as Day 6)

• →Train Cusco–Aguas Calientes with Peru Rail or Inca Rail (~£55–80 return, book well in advance)
• →Bus Aguas Calientes–Machu Picchu (~£12 return)
• →Machu Picchu entrance ticket (~£35–45, pre-book at machupicchu.gob.pe)
• →2-hour guided group tour at entrance or self-guided with audio app (~£10–15 or free)
• →Free exploration and photography time
• →Optional: Thermal baths in Aguas Calientes (~£4)
• →Return train to Cusco

Enjoy a final breakfast in Cusco — the San Pedro Market is a brilliant spot for cheap, fresh local food (~£2–4). Use the morning to pick up last-minute souvenirs in the San Blas artisan quarter or wander the Plaza de Armas one last time. Onward flights from Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport (CUZ) serve Lima with LATAM, Sky Airlines and JetSmart (~£40–80 one way — book in advance). Allow extra time as the airport is small and busy. Your adventure through southern Peru is complete.

🚌Taxi or Uber to Cusco airport (~£4–6); domestic flight Cusco–Lima (~£40–80)

🛏Check-out — no accommodation needed

• →Breakfast at San Pedro Market (~£2–4)
• →Last wander around Plaza de Armas and San Blas artisan quarter
• →Airport transfer to CUZ (~£4–6 via Uber/inDriver)
• →Departure flight Cusco–Lima (~£40–80 with LATAM/Sky/JetSmart)