Cusco & Machu Picchu Express — Self-Launched (3 Days)
3 days · Cusco & Machu Picchu, Peru
CondeTravel charges £460
No-markup version: ~£224 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 3-day version of CondeTravel's "Cusco Express": the same Cusco city and Sacsayhuaman-area ruins circuit, the same train-and-bus run to Aguas Calientes, and the same Machu Picchu visit — but you book the parts yourself. Key tips: buy your Machu Picchu entry ticket (Circuit 2) and PeruRail/Inca Rail tickets weeks in advance, and book the Cusco archaeological site ticket (Boleto Turístico Parcial) locally. Take your time on day one for altitude, and if you can, arrive in Cusco a day early to acclimatise.
Day-by-day
Cusco old town & Sacsayhuaman ruins loop
Cusco
Acclimatise gently. Start with a self-guided walk around the Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral and the Convent of Santo Domingo (Qorikancha) — the colonial church built directly on top of the Inca Temple of the Sun. Entry is around £4-5. In the early afternoon, buy the Boleto Turístico Parcial (partial tourist ticket, ~£17) which covers Sacsayhuaman, Q'enqo, Pukupukara and Tambomachay. Walk uphill from San Blas to Sacsayhuaman (20-25 min) and then follow the road or a short taxi hop (~£2-3) between the three smaller sites on the same loop. Return to the centre for dinner in San Blas. Drink coca tea, go easy on alcohol, and take it slowly at 3,400m.
🚌On foot around the centre; local taxi between ruins ~£2-3; colectivo back from Tambomachay ~£1
🛏Hostel or small guesthouse in Cusco historic centre (e.g. private room in San Blas or near Plaza de Armas), ~£12-18/night
- →Self-guided Cusco Plaza de Armas & Cathedral walk
- →Qorikancha / Convent of Santo Domingo entry (~£4-5)
- →Boleto Turístico Parcial (~£17) covering Sacsayhuaman, Q'enqo, Pukupukara, Tambomachay
Train to Aguas Calientes & Machu Picchu
Cusco → Ollantaytambo → Aguas Calientes → Machu Picchu
Book the early PeruRail Expedition or Inca Rail service from Poroy/Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes. Cheapest is usually a colectivo or shared minivan from Cusco to Ollantaytambo (~£6-8, 1.5 hrs) then the Vistadome/Expedition train onwards (~£40-55 return if you buy the round trip). Collect your pre-booked Machu Picchu entry ticket (Circuit 2, ~£38-42) and buy the Consettur bus up to the ruins (~£10 return) — or walk up the steps for free, ~1.5 hrs. Join a site-guide at the gate if you want a 2-hour guided walk (~£8-10 shared, bookable on GetYourGuide in advance), then explore freely. Return by bus and train, arriving Cusco late evening.
🚌Shared minivan Cusco–Ollantaytambo ~£6-8; PeruRail Expedition/Inca Rail return ~£45-55; Consettur bus Aguas Calientes–Machu Picchu ~£10 return; evening transport back in Cusco ~£2
🛏Same Cusco guesthouse (keep the room for all 3 nights), ~£12-18/night
- →PeruRail/Inca Rail scenic train through the Sacred Valley
- →Machu Picchu entry (Circuit 2) — book weeks ahead at machupicchu.gob.pe or via GetYourGuide
- →Optional shared 2-hour site guide (~£8-10)
- →Free time at the ruins and Aguas Calientes for lunch
Cusco markets, viewpoints & departure
Cusco
Slow morning: breakfast at a local café, browse San Pedro market for fruit juice and souvenirs, and if you have time walk up to the San Blas viewpoint or Mirador de San Cristóbal. Optional half-day alternatives if your flight is late: a cooking class (~£25) or a Maras/Salineras day trip. Head to Alejandro Velasco Astete airport or the bus terminal — a taxi to the airport is roughly £4-5.
🚌Taxi to airport ~£4-5, or local bus ~£0.50
🛏Checkout (no night included; extend a night for ~£12-18 if needed)
- →San Pedro market visit
- →San Blas viewpoint and artisan streets
- →Optional Peruvian cooking class (~£25)
Self-launched vs. CondeTravel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | CondeTravel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£224 | £460 |
| Duration | 3 days | 3 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £236 per person (51%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more CondeTravel-style trips? Check them out here.~£224
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 Cusco & Machu Picchu Express — Self-Launched (3 Days) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £224 per person for 3 days in Cusco & Machu Picchu, 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 CondeTravel?+
Yes — CondeTravel charges around £460 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £224 — a saving of roughly £236 (51%) per person.
How long is the Cusco & Machu Picchu, Peru trip?+
This itinerary runs 3 days, covering 3 day-by-day stops through Cusco & Machu Picchu, 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 culture, adventure, hiking trip through Cusco & Machu Picchu, 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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