Amazon to the Andes: Self-Launched Peru Adventure (12 Days)
12 days · Peru
G Adventures charges £1,879
No-markup version: ~£1,455 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of G Adventures' "Amazon to the Andes" — Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley, the classic 4-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, and a Tambopata jungle stay. Everything is bookable yourself: the Inca Trail permit and licensed guide via a local trek operator or GetYourGuide, the Amazon lodge direct, and all transport by local flights and buses. Expect a demanding, high-altitude trip — acclimatise properly in Cusco before the trek and book your Inca Trail permit 4-6 months ahead (only 500 permits/day, and they sell out in peak season). Costs below assume shared hostel/guesthouse dorms or budget doubles, set-menu meals and public/shared transport; they are rough estimates, not quotes.
Day-by-day
Arrive Lima — Miraflores & the coast
Lima
Land at Jorge Chávez (LIM) and take an airport bus (Airport Express Lima, ~£8) or a registered taxi/rideshare (~£12-15) to Miraflores or Barranco. Check into a hostel dorm or budget double. Spend the afternoon walking the Malecón cliff path, then eat at a menú del día spot for £4-6. If you want a cooking class, book a Lima ceviche-and-pisco class on GetYourGuide (~£30-40) — book ahead for morning slots. Go to bed early; you fly to altitude tomorrow.
🚌Airport Express bus ~£8 or taxi ~£13
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Miraflores/Barranco (~£14-20)
- →Malecón coastal walk
- →Optional GetYourGuide Lima cooking class (~£35)
- →Barranco street art wander
Fly to Cusco — gentle acclimatisation day
Cusco
Book a morning flight Lima–Cusco on Sky, JetSMART or LATAM (~£55-85 one way, cheaper booked 4-8 weeks out). At 3,400m, do almost nothing: check into a guesthouse in San Blas, drink coca tea, and walk slowly to Plaza de Armas and Qorikancha's exterior. Buy a Boleto Turístico (130 PEN, ~£28) if you plan on several sites. Pick up a local SIM (Claro/Bitel, ~£5 for data). Reconfirm your Inca Trail briefing with your trek operator this evening.
🚌Flight Lima–Cusco ~£55-85
🛏Guesthouse in San Blas, Cusco (~£15-22)
- →Plaza de Armas and San Blas wander
- →Optional Boleto Turístico (~£28)
- →Inca Trail briefing with local operator
Sacred Valley — Pisac, weaving co-op, Ollantaytambo
Ollantaytambo
Join a small-group Sacred Valley day tour booked via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£25-35), which covers Pisac ruins and market, the Ccaccaccollo weaving co-operative, a pottery demo in Cuyo Chico and a community lunch — the same stops the group tour makes, without the private coach. Alternatively take a local colectivo from Cusco to Pisac (~£2), then bus Pisac–Urubamba–Ollantaytambo (~£3 total). Sleep in Ollantaytambo at 2,800m, which is lower and better for trek prep. Optional: climb the Pinkuylluna storehouse ruins for free sunset views.
🚌Shared Sacred Valley tour van ~£30, or colectivos ~£5
🛏Budget guesthouse, Ollantaytambo (~£15-20)
- →Pisac ruins and market
- →Ccaccaccollo weaving co-op
- →Cuyo Chico pottery demo
- →Community lunch
- →Pinkuylluna storehouse hike (free)
Inca Trail Day 1 — KM82 to Wayllabamba
Inca Trail
Your 4-day Inca Trail permit must be booked through a licensed agency (roughly £450-600 per person including guide, porters, cook, campsites, meals, entrance and return transport — book 4-6 months ahead; permits sell out fast for Jun-Aug). Early transfer to Piscacucho/KM82 (2,600m), then an easy first day of ~11km and ~400m gain to Wayllabamba (3,000m), passing Llactapata. Porters carry up to 6kg of your gear; you carry your daypack. Bring good boots, layered clothing and cash for drinks/snacks at trail stalls.
🚌Operator minibus to KM82 (~1.5 hrs, included)
🛏Trek campsite, Wayllabamba (included in permit package)
- →Inca Trail hike Day 1 (~11km)
- →Llactapata viewpoint
Inca Trail Day 2 — Dead Woman's Pass
Inca Trail
The hardest day: ~12km and ~1,200m of climbing up to Warmiwañusca (Dead Woman's Pass, 4,200m), then a steep descent to Pacaymayo (3,600m). Start early, go slow, drink water and chew coca. All meals and camp are provided by your trek crew. Trekking poles (rentable for ~£8-10) are genuinely useful on the descent.
🚌On foot
🛏Trek campsite, Pacaymayo (included)
- →Inca Trail hike Day 2 (~12km)
- →Dead Woman's Pass summit at 4,200m
Inca Trail Day 3 — Runkurakay, Phuyupatamarca, Wiñay Wayna
Inca Trail
The most scenic day: ~16km past Runkurakay, Sayacmarca, the cloud-forest tunnel, Phuyupatamarca and down to Wiñay Wayna (2,650m). Big views over the Urubamba Valley and the Cordillera Vilcabamba. Arrive at camp for an early dinner and an early night — tomorrow is a 4am start.
🚌On foot
🛏Trek campsite, Wiñay Wayna (included)
- →Inca Trail hike Day 3 (~16km)
- →Wiñay Wayna ruins
Sun Gate sunrise at Machu Picchu, then back to Cusco
Machu Picchu / Cusco
Pre-dawn start to reach the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) as the light breaks over Machu Picchu, then a guided tour of the citadel with your trail guide (~2 hrs, included). Note the circuit system: Circuit 2 is generally the recommended option for classic views — confirm which circuit your permit includes when booking. Take the bus down to Aguas Calientes (~£10) and the Expedition/Vistadome train + bus combo back to Cusco (~£55-80 booked direct with PeruRail or Inca Rail). Check into a Cusco guesthouse and eat a big meal.
🚌Machu Picchu shuttle bus ~£10 + train/bus to Cusco ~£60
🛏Guesthouse in San Blas, Cusco (~£15-22)
- →Sun Gate sunrise
- →Machu Picchu guided tour
- →Train through the Urubamba Valley
Cusco museums or Rainbow Mountain
Cusco / Rainbow Mountain
Choose your pace. Culture day: Inka Museum (10 PEN), San Pedro Market, San Blas galleries and Qorikancha. Or book the Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) day hike on GetYourGuide (~£25-35 including transport, breakfast and lunch) — a 4,500-5,000m day so only do it if you've acclimatised well. Both are easy to arrange the evening before. Stock up on cash and a few supplies for the jungle.
🚌Local taxis/on foot; Rainbow Mountain tour minibus if chosen
🛏Guesthouse in San Blas, Cusco (~£15-22)
- →Inka Museum and Qorikancha
- →San Pedro Market
- →Optional Rainbow Mountain hike (~£30)
Cusco to the Tambopata rainforest
Puerto Maldonado / Tambopata
Fly Cusco–Puerto Maldonado (~£50-80, LATAM or JetSMART, 45 mins) and book a 2-night Amazon lodge direct or via Klook — ecolodges in the Tambopata reserve run ~£120-200pp for two nights full board, including guided excursions. Budget lodges closer to Puerto Maldonado (Sandoval Lake area) come in cheaper. Afternoon boat transfer upriver, then a night walk to spot insects, frogs and nightjars.
🚌Flight ~£65 + boat transfer (included in lodge package)
🛏Jungle ecolodge, shared cabin (~£60-90/night full board)
- →Upriver boat transfer
- →Guided night walk
Tambopata — oxbow lakes, macaws and caiman
Tambopata
Full day with your lodge guide: pre-dawn parrots at a clay lick or macaw clay lick if your lodge offers it, a canoe trip on an oxbow lake (Sandoval is the classic, with giant river otters and hoatzins), canopy walkway or trail hike, then an evening caiman-spotting boat cruise. Lodge guides are included in the package; tip ~£5-10/day.
🚌Guided canoe/walking (included)
🛏Jungle ecolodge, shared cabin (~£60-90, full board)
- →Oxbow lake canoe trip
- →Macaw/parrot clay lick
- →Canopy or trail hike
- →Caiman-spotting night cruise
Back to Lima
Lima
Morning wildlife walk and breakfast, then boat back to Puerto Maldonado for a flight to Lima (~£55-85; book the afternoon departure to leave buffer). Check into a Miraflores hostel and go out for a final dinner and pisco sours in Barranco (~£15-20).
🚌Boat + flight to Lima ~£70
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Miraflores (~£14-20)
- →Final wildlife walk
- →Barranco night out
Depart Lima
Lima
Slow breakfast, last-minute souvenir shopping (Mercado Indio or Dedalo in Barranco), then the Airport Express bus or a taxi to Jorge Chávez for your flight home. If you have a late flight, a surf lesson at Punta Hermosa or a free walk along the Costa Verde fills the day nicely.
🚌Airport Express bus ~£8 or taxi ~£13
🛏—
- →Souvenir shopping
- →Optional surf lesson or Costa Verde walk
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,455 | £1,879 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £424 per person (23%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,455
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 Amazon to the Andes: Self-Launched Peru Adventure (12 Days) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,455 per person for 12 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 £1,879 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,455 — a saving of roughly £424 (23%) per person.
How long is the Peru trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 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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