Self-Launched Inca Trail: Cusco to Machu Picchu in 8 Days
8 days · Peru
Exodus Adventure Travels charges £1,930
No-markup version: ~£735 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of Exodus Adventure Travels' classic 8-day Inca Trail trip. You'll acclimatise in Cusco, walk the full 4-day classic Inca Trail (Km82 to Machu Picchu) with a locally licensed trek operator — mandatory in Peru, since permits can only be issued through registered agencies — then descend to Aguas Calientes and take the train back to Cusco. Costs are estimated for a solo traveller booking a shared-permit group trek directly with a Cusco-based agency (roughly £450–550 for the 4-day trek including permits, guide, cook, porters, meals and bus/train back), plus hostel stays before and after. All figures are approximate backpacker rates in GBP and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Cusco — gentle acclimatisation
Cusco
Fly or bus into Cusco (altitude 3,400m) and check into a hostel in San Blas or the historic centre. Take it very easy on day one: no big walks, plenty of water and coca tea. In the evening, meet the trekking agency (booked in advance) to hand over passport copies, confirm your permit details and get a briefing on the trail. A light dinner near Plaza de Armas is a good chance to meet other travellers heading onto the trail.
🚌Taxi from Cusco airport to centre (~S/25 / £5); colectivo from Lima if overland (~£20)
🛏Hostel dorm in San Blas, Cusco (~£12/night)
- →Check in and acclimatise
- →Pre-trek briefing with local agency
- →Evening wander around Plaza de Armas
Cusco city sights and Sacred Valley warm-up
Cusco
Spend the morning acclimatising with a gentle self-guided loop: Qorikancha (Sun Temple), Plaza de Armas and the Mercado San Pedro for cheap local lunch and souvenirs. In the afternoon, take a shared colectivo or bus to the Sacred Valley — Pisac market and the Pisac ruins are the easiest half-day option, or head to Ollantaytambo by colectivo (~£3) to get a taste of trail-day-one terrain. Buy your Boleto Turístico if you plan to visit several sites. Back to Cusco for an early night before the trek.
🚌Colectivo/minibus Cusco–Pisac or Ollantaytambo return (~£5–8)
🛏Hostel dorm in San Blas, Cusco (~£12/night)
- →Qorikancha Sun Temple (entry ~£3)
- →Mercado San Pedro food market
- →Pisac market and ruins (shared transport)
- →Optional: Sacsayhuaman fortress ruins (~£5)
Inca Trail Day 1: Km82 to Huayllabamba
Inca Trail
An early pickup from your hostel takes you through Ollantaytambo to Piscacucho (Km82, ~2,600m), the trailhead. Cross the Urubamba River on the footbridge, show your permit at the checkpoint and walk the relatively gentle first day past Patallacta and Llactapata ruins, with Nevado Verónica appearing ahead. Arrive at Huayllabamba camp (~3,000m) in the afternoon. Your trek agency provides tents, cook and meals — porters carry the group kit; you carry a daypack.
🚌Agency minibus Cusco–Ollantaytambo–Km82 (included)
🛏Camping on trail (included in trek package)
- →Inca Trail permit checkpoint at Km82
- →Llactapata ruins
- →Urubamba River valley walk
Inca Trail Day 2: Dead Woman's Pass to Pacaymayu
Inca Trail
The hardest day. Climb steadily through cloud forest to Llulluchapampa, then push on to Warmihuañusca — Dead Woman's Pass — at 4,215m. Take it slow, hydrate and use trekking poles. The descent on original Inca steps to Pacaymayu camp (~3,600m) is long and knee-punishing. Pack layers: it can be hot in the sun and near-freezing at the pass.
🚌On foot
🛏Camping at Pacaymayu (included in trek package)
- →Llulluchapampa cloud forest
- →Dead Woman's Pass summit (4,215m)
- →Inca stone steps descent
Inca Trail Day 3: Runquracay Pass to Phuyupatamarca
Inca Trail
A more varied day: climb past Runquracay ruins and cross Runquracay Pass (3,930m), then drop into cloud forest. Visit the curved Sayacmarca ruins and walk the stone causeway, with views towards Salkantay. Camp at Phuyupatamarca ('town above the clouds', ~3,650m) — arguably the best campsite on the trail.
🚌On foot
🛏Camping at Phuyupatamarca (included in trek package)
- →Runquracay ruins and pass
- →Sayacmarca archaeological site
- →Sunset at Phuyupatamarca camp
Inca Trail Day 4: Wiñay Wayna, Sun Gate, Aguas Calientes
Aguas Calientes
Start early to descend the famous Inca Steps, then explore the terraced ruins of Wiñay Wayna. Follow the cloud-forest path to Inti Punku — the Sun Gate — for your first view of Machu Picchu (weather permitting). Descend to the site entrance and take the shuttle bus down to Aguas Calientes. Check into a guesthouse, have a hot shower, and optionally hit the hot springs (entry ~£6). Dinner and early night before the Machu Picchu visit.
🚌Machu Picchu–Aguas Calientes shuttle bus (~£10, usually included in trek package)
🛏Guesthouse/hostel in Aguas Calientes (~£20/night)
- →Wiñay Wayna ruins
- →Inti Punku (Sun Gate)
- →Optional Aguas Calientes hot springs
Machu Picchu and train back to Cusco
Machu Picchu / Cusco
Take the first buses up (from ~05:30) for the opening, ideally with a timed entry slot. Do a self-guided circuit of the citadel — the 2-hour Circuit 1 or 2 covers the classic viewpoints — or hire a licensed guide at the gate (~£25 for 2 hours, shareable). Optional climb of Huayna Picchu must be booked months in advance (separate permit). Mid-afternoon, collect your bag and take the Expedition train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo, then a shared van to Cusco (~2 hours). Back in Cusco for dinner.
🚌Bus up to Machu Picchu (~£12 return); PeruRail/Inca Rail Expedition to Ollantaytambo (~£45–60, often included in trek package via agency); shared van Ollantaytambo–Cusco (~£5)
🛏Hostel dorm in Cusco (~£12/night)
- →Sunrise entry to Machu Picchu
- →Self-guided citadel circuit
- →Optional Huayna Picchu climb (pre-booked permit)
- →Scenic train through the Urubamba valley
Cusco: markets, museums and departure
Cusco
A relaxed final morning: San Pedro market for breakfast, the Museo Inka or the free-ish Museo de Arte Precolombino, and souvenir shopping in San Blas (better prices than the airport). If you have time, add on a Lake Titicaca trip from Puno (overnight bus ~£12) or an Amazon rainforest extension from Puerto Maldonado — both bookable independently through local agencies. Fly out or catch an overnight bus to your next stop.
🚌Taxi to airport (~£5) or overnight bus onward (~£12–20)
🛏Hostel dorm in Cusco (~£12/night) or onward travel
- →Mercado San Pedro breakfast
- →Museo Inka or MAP museum
- →Souvenir shopping in San Blas
Self-launched vs. Exodus Adventure Travels
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus Adventure Travels | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£735 | £1,930 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,195 per person (62%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus Adventure Travels-style trips? Check them out here.~£735
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.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Inca Trail: Cusco to Machu Picchu in 8 Days cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £735 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 Exodus Adventure Travels?+
Yes — Exodus Adventure Travels charges around £1,930 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £735 — a saving of roughly £1,195 (62%) 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 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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