Self-Launched Lares Trek & Machu Picchu: Sacred Valley to the Inca Citadel Independently
7 days · Peru
G Adventures charges £710
No-markup version: ~£480 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 7-day Lares Trek: acclimatise in Cusco, tour the Sacred Valley by colectivo and shared taxi, then hike the quieter 3-day Lares route (Cuncani–Kuyoc–Pumahuanca) with a locally hired guide and arriero, finishing with a Vistadome-style train to Aguas Calientes and an early-morning Machu Picchu entry. Book the Machu Picchu circuit ticket, train and entry-level trek logistics yourself (or through a small Cusco trek agency) and keep the community stays, weaving co-op and pottery visits by booking directly with the villages. Costs are rough backpacker estimates in GBP and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Cusco — acclimatise in San Blas
Cusco
Land at Alejandro Velasco Astete airport and take a taxi or the airport minibus (~£2-3) into the centre. Check into a hostel in San Blas or around Plaza de Armas and spend the day taking it very easy at 3,400m: coca tea, a slow wander through the Plaza de Armas and San Pedro market, early dinner. Use the afternoon to lock in the practical bits — buy your Machu Picchu circuit ticket online in advance (Perurail/joinnus), confirm your Lares trek guide, and pick up a Boleto Turístico if you plan on Sacred Valley ruins.
🚌Airport taxi ~£2-3
🛏Hostel in San Blas or Cusco centre (dorm or private twin, ~£12-18)
- →San Pedro market wander
- →Plaza de Armas and Cusco Cathedral exterior
- →Trip admin: Machu Picchu ticket, train, Lares guide
Sacred Valley: weaving co-op, pottery and Ollantaytambo
Cusco → Ollantaytambo
Take a colectivo or shared van from Cusco towards Pisac/Calca (~£2-4) and stop at the Ccaccaccollo community just off the main road — the women's weaving co-op sells textiles directly, and a small donation or textile purchase keeps it in the community's hands. Continue to a family pottery workshop near Lamay or Huchuy Qosco for a hands-on demonstration (~£5-8 arranged directly). Lunch at a community-run farm-to-table spot such as Parwa near Lamay (~£5-7) — book ahead by phone/WhatsApp. Afternoon in Ollantaytambo: hike up to the Inca storehouses (Pinkuylluna) for the valley view, then wander the cobbled streets and try chicha at a local chicheria.
🚌Colectivo/shared van Cusco–Calca–Ollantaytambo ~£3-5
🛏Guesthouse in Ollantaytambo (~£12-18)
- →Ccaccaccollo women's weaving co-op
- →Pottery making demonstration
- →Parwa-style community farm-to-table lunch
- →Pinkuylluna storehouse hike
- →Chicheria visit
Trek day 1: Lares town to Cuncani
Ollantaytambo → Lares → Cuncani
Take an early shared van from Ollantaytambo over the Abra Lares pass to Lares town (~3 hrs, ~£6-9 per person in a shared taxi/van — arrange the evening before with your guesthouse or guide). Meet your locally hired guide and arriero in Lares, then hike the gentle valley route ~4km to Chancachaca for lunch and on to the Cuncani community campsite (~3,480m). Take it slowly: rest, rehydrate, and expect a cold night. Camp fees and community contributions are paid in cash on arrival (~£8-12 including basic facilities). Your duffel goes on mules/llamas; you carry a daypack.
🚌Shared van/taxi Ollantaytambo–Lares ~£6-9
🛏Community campsite, Cuncani (own tent or rented; ~£8-12 camping/community fee)
- →Scenic drive over Abra Lares
- →Lares Trek: Lares–Chancachaca–Cuncani
- →Overnight at Cuncani community campsite
Trek day 2: Sicllaccasa high pass (4,800m) and down to Kuyoc
Cuncani → Kuyoc
Start early for the big day: hike ~12km from the foothills of Sicllaccasa to the high pass at 4,800m, with views over lagoons and snow-capped Chicon. Make a small coca-leaf offering at the top — your guide will show you how. Descend steadily to camp near a stream at Kuyoc (~4,100m). This is the toughest day of the trip; pace yourself, drink plenty, and let your guide manage the mules and cooking. Cash only up here — bring small soles for community fees and tips.
🚌On foot — no transport today
🛏Camp near Kuyoc stream (~£8-12 camping/community fee)
- →Lares Trek over Sicllaccasa pass
- →Coca-leaf offering to the Andean gods
- →High-altitude lagoon viewpoints
Trek day 3: Pumahuanca valley, then train to Aguas Calientes
Kuyoc → Pumahuanca → Ollantaytambo → Aguas Calientes
Finish the trek with a few hours of descent through the Pumahuanca valley — look for llamas and alpacas, Quechua farmsteads and Inca storehouses along the way. Reach the road head, catch a shared taxi back to Ollantaytambo (~£3-5), then board the train to Aguas Calientes (book PeruRail or Inca Rail online in advance; tickets run ~£45-60 one way for the standard Vistadome/Expedition classes — book 4-6 weeks ahead in peak season). Check into a guesthouse, eat well and sleep early for the ruins.
🚌Shared taxi to Ollantaytambo ~£3-5; train Ollantaytambo–Aguas Calientes ~£45-60
🛏Guesthouse in Aguas Calientes (~£18-25)
- →Pumahuanca valley descent
- →Quechua village walk
- →Scenic train Ollantaytambo–Aguas Calientes
Machu Picchu at dawn, back to Cusco
Aguas Calientes → Machu Picchu → Cusco
Take the first buses up (from ~05:30, ~£10-12 return) to be at the gate for your timed entry — you must book your circuit ticket in advance online (Q1/Q2 for classic views, or Circuit 3 if you want the extended route). Consider a small-group or private guide at the gate (shared guided tours from ~£10-15 per person, bookable on GetYourGuide or in Aguas Calientes). Machu Picchu itself is ~£38-45 for foreign adults. Afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo or Poroy (~£45-60) and a colectivo/train connection into Cusco.
🚌Bus up/down ~£10-12; train ~£45-60; colectivo to Cusco ~£2-4
🛏Hostel in Cusco (~£12-18)
- →Bus to Machu Picchu
- →Machu Picchu guided visit (circuit ticket)
- →Train back to Cusco region
Cusco — optional museum or Rainbow Mountain, then depart
Cusco
Final morning: the Inka Museum (~£2), a Qorikancha visit, or a last San Blas café. If you have a late flight and energy left, the Rainbow Mountain day trip (leave ~04:00, ~£25-30 booked locally or on GetYourGuide) is doable but demanding straight after the trek. Head to the airport by taxi (~£2-3) or start an onward bus to Puno/Lima.
🚌Airport taxi ~£2-3
🛏Check out — no overnight (add ~£12-18 if staying another night)
- →Inka Museum or Qorikancha
- →Optional Rainbow Mountain day trip
- →San Blas shopping
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£480 | £710 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £230 per person (32%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£480
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.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Lares Trek & Machu Picchu: Sacred Valley to the Inca Citadel Independently cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £480 per person for 7 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 £710 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £480 — a saving of roughly £230 (32%) per person.
How long is the Peru trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.