Self-Launched Cusco Mini Adventure: Temple of the Moon & Inca Ruins on Foot
3 days · Cusco, Peru
G Adventures charges £419
No-markup version: ~£168 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 3-day self-launched version of G Adventures' 18-to-Thirtysomethings Cusco Mini Adventure — same Sacred Valley-adjacent walking route from Cusco's Plaza de Armas through San Blas, the Temple of the Moon (Templo de la Luna) and the lesser-visited Kusillochayoc ruins, a countryside picnic, and a well-earned drink back on the plaza. You do it solo or with mates you meet at the hostel: no CEO, no group vehicle, just a good pair of boots, a cash-stuffed money belt and Cusco's cheap, brilliant local infrastructure. Day 2 is a choose-your-own free day — Rainbow Mountain, mountain biking, or slow pancake mornings. All costs are rough estimates for one person from a budget/backpacker perspective.
Day-by-day
San Blas, Temple of the Moon & a Countryside Picnic
Cusco
Start easy — Cusco sits at ~3,400m, so nothing is a race. Grab a hostel breakfast (free at most Cusco hostels) then walk to the Plaza de Armas for ~9am and head uphill into San Blas, the steep, whitewashed artisan quarter with its tiny cafés and street stalls. From San Blas follow the old Inca pathway (a genuine stretch of Qhapaq Ñan) west and up out of the city toward the Temple of the Moon complex at Qenqo — the site is a natural limestone outcrop with carved altars, a ritual tunnel and an altar said to honour the moon goddess. Entry is collected in cash at the gate (roughly 15-20 PEN, or covered if you buy the Boleto Turístico). Continue on to the quiet Kusillochayoc ruins — far fewer tour buses than Sacsayhuamán, mostly locals walking their dogs — then descend on foot back into Cusco with city views most visitors never see. Do it alone with a downloaded offline map (Maps.me or Wikiloc has GPS tracks for the Qenqo–Templo de la Luna loop), or join a cheap group walking tour booked through GetYourGuide/Klook if you'd rather have commentary. Buy bread, cheese, olives and fruit at Mercado San Pedro the night before or on the way out and picnic on the hillside. Back in town, finish with a pint or pisco sour at one of the expat-friendly pubs on the plaza (Norton Rat's, Paddy's — ~15-25 PEN a beer).
🚌All on foot. Optional local bus/taxi within Cusco 3-8 PEN (~£1).
🛏Hostel dorm in Cusco historic centre (e.g. bed in 4-6 bed dorm, shared bathroom) — ~£18/night
- →Self-guided walk: Plaza de Armas → San Blas → Inca trail path → Temple of the Moon (Templo de la Luna)
- →Kusillochayoc ruins (cash entry ~15-20 PEN)
- →San Pedro market picnic supplies (~15-20 PEN)
- →Plaza de Armas pub drink (~20 PEN)
Free Day: Rainbow Mountain, Mountain Biking or Slow Cusco
Cusco / Rainbow Mountain
The whole day is yours. The headline option is the Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) day trip — it leaves Cusco around 3:30-4:30am and takes 1.5-2 hours by minivan, then a 1.5-2 hour uphill walk at 5,000m. Book direct with a Cusco agency on arrival day (~90-130 PEN / £20-30 per person, usually including breakfast, lunch and entry) rather than the pricier online marketplaces; prices are no higher than G Adventures' own optional add-on. If altitude worries you, an alternative is mountain biking with a local operator, or the far quieter Palcoyo alternative Rainbow Mountain (lower, shorter, no crowds). For a zero-transport day: the Inka Museum (10 PEN), Qorikancha, or a long breakfast-and-read session in San Blas. Eat lunch out at a menú del día spot (10-15 PEN for soup, main and drink), and be in bed early if you did Rainbow Mountain.
🚌Shared minivan pick-up included in the Rainbow Mountain tour; otherwise walking or taxi (5-10 PEN).
🛏Same hostel dorm in Cusco historic centre — ~£18/night
- →Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) day trip booked direct in Cusco (~90-130 PEN)
- →Alternative: Palcoyo rainbow mountain or mountain biking (~100 PEN)
- →Inka Museum (10 PEN)
- →Cusco café / market eating
Last Cafés & Departure
Cusco
No group departure briefing to sit through — take the morning at your own pace. Wander the plaza at sunrise, pick up souvenirs at San Pedro market (cheaper than the tourist shops around the plaza), and grab one last cheap breakfast. If you're heading onward, the easiest connections from Cusco are: a shared taxi or 'colectivo' to Ollantaytambo (~15-25 PEN) then PeruRail/Inca Rail to Aguas Calientes for Machu Picchu (from ~£50, book in advance online); an overnight Cruz del Sur or Oltursa bus to Lima (~18 hours, ~£20-30); or a flight from Alejandro Velasco Astete airport. Airport taxi from the centre is a fixed ~20-30 PEN. Allow a buffer for altitude or a delayed bus, and check PeruRail's luggage limits if a backpack is your whole life.
🚌Airport taxi ~20-30 PEN; colectivo to Ollantaytambo ~15-25 PEN; onward train/bus/flight booked separately.
🛏None included (checkout by hostel's standard time)
- →San Pedro market souvenir shopping
- →Plaza de Armas sunrise walk
- →Optional: Qorikancha or Sacsayhuamán if time allows
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£168 | £419 |
| Duration | 3 days | 3 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £251 per person (60%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£168
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 Mini Adventure: Temple of the Moon & Inca Ruins on Foot cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £168 per person for 3 days in Cusco, 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 £419 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £168 — a saving of roughly £251 (60%) per person.
How long is the Cusco, Peru trip?+
This itinerary runs 3 days, covering 3 day-by-day stops through Cusco, 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, culture, hiking trip through Cusco, 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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