Lima to La Paz: Self-Launched Sandboarding & Sunsets (Peru & Bolivia)
21 days · Peru & Bolivia
G Adventures charges £1,800
No-markup version: ~£1,210 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 21-day "Lima to La Paz: Sandboarding & Sunsets" (trip code JML), done independently instead of in a group. You cover the same spine of the Andes: Lima → Huacachina and the desert dunes → Nazca → Arequipa and Colca Canyon → Cusco and the Sacred Valley → the 4-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu → Lake Titicaca and a community homestay → La Paz. Where the operator uses a CEO, a private cook/porter team and group transport, you book your own buses, hostels, guided day trips (GetYourGuide / Klook / local agencies) and an official Inca Trail permit with a licensed trek operator — which is the only element that must be booked months in advance. Costs are approximate backpacker rates in GBP, excluding international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Lima — Barranco & Miraflores
Lima, Peru
Land at Jorge Chávez International Airport and take an official taxi or airport bus (around S/60-70) to a hostel in Miraflores or Barranco. Spend the afternoon walking the Malecón cliff-top path and watching surfers at Playa Waikiki, then head to Barranco's Plaza Municipal for a craft beer at a local bar and a cheap ceviche or lomo saltado dinner. Book your onward bus ticket tonight (Cruz del Sur or Peru Hop) for tomorrow's desert leg.
🚌Airport taxi/bus ~£14
🛏Hostel dorm in Miraflores/Barranco (~£12)
- →Malecón coastal walk
- →Barranco street art & Puente de los Suspiros
- →Craft beer at a Barranco bar
Lima → Huacachina: dune buggies & sunset sandboarding
Huacachina, Peru
Take a morning bus from Lima to Ica (Cruz del Sur or Peru Hop, ~4.5-5 hrs, £12-18), then a short taxi to the Huacachina oasis. Check into a hostel beside the lagoon and book a late-afternoon dune buggy + sandboarding tour directly with one of the agencies at the oasis (S/40-60, around £10) — no group markup needed. Sunset from the top of the dunes is the highlight of the day.
🚌Lima-Ica bus ~£15, taxi to oasis ~£2
🛏Hostel dorm by the oasis (~£12)
- →Dune buggy ride
- →Sunset sandboarding
- →Lagoon walk
Huacachina → Nazca via Ballestas Islands & a Pisco winery
Nazca, Peru
Early optional boat trip to the Ballestas Islands from Paracas (book locally in Huacachina or Paracas, ~S/50-70 plus port fee) to see sea lions, pelicans and the Candelabra geoglyph. Then continue south to Nazca by bus, breaking the journey at a Pisco winery near Ica for a tasting (many accept walk-ins for S/20-30). Arrive Nazca in the evening and find a guesthouse near the Plaza de Armas.
🚌Bus Huacachina/Paracas-Nazca ~£8
🛏Guesthouse in Nazca (~£12)
- →Ballestas Islands boat trip (optional)
- →Pisco winery tasting
Nazca Lines & Chauchilla Cemetery, then overnight bus to Arequipa
Nazca → Arequipa, Peru
Choose your Nazca experience: a 30-minute light-aircraft flight over the lines (book a day ahead with a local operator, roughly £70-90) or the cheaper Chauchilla Desert Cemetery and potter's studio tour (S/90, ~£20) where you'll see 1,500-year-old mummies and pottery in the desert. Ask your guesthouse to arrange a pachamanca-style lunch (meat and potatoes slow-cooked in an earth oven). Take a late overnight bus to Arequipa (~9-10 hrs, £15-20) and sleep on board.
🚌Overnight bus to Arequipa ~£18
🛏Overnight bus (no hostel cost)
- →Nazca Lines flight (optional, ~£80)
- →Chauchilla Cemetery & potter's studio tour
- →Pachamanca lunch
Arequipa — the White City
Arequipa, Peru
Arrive early and check into a hostel in the historic centre. Explore the Santa Catalina Monastery (S/60 entry, best in the morning light), the Plaza de Armas and the Jesuit church. For lunch, hunt out a picantería in the San Lázaro or Yanahuara area for alpaca, shrimp soup and rocoto relleno. Optional Juanita Ice Maiden museum at the Universidad Católica (S/25).
🚌Walking
🛏Hostel dorm in central Arequipa (~£12)
- →Santa Catalina Monastery
- →Plaza de Armas & Yanahuara viewpoint
- →Picantería food crawl
Arequipa → Colca Canyon overnight excursion
Chivay / Colca Canyon, Peru
Join a 2-day/1-night Colca Canyon tour booked through any agency on Calle Mercaderes or via GetYourGuide (~£30-40 including transport and a simple hostal in Chivay; park entry S/70 is extra). The route climbs past vicuña and alpaca grazing on the altiplano. In the afternoon soak in the Chivay hot springs (S/15) and eat a local dinner.
🚌Minivan tour transport (included)
🛏Simple hostal in Chivay (~£12, often included in tour)
- →Vicuña & alpaca spotting on the altiplano
- →Chivay hot springs
- →Colca Valley viewpoints
Cruz del Cóndor & back to Arequipa
Colca Canyon → Arequipa, Peru
Leave Chivay at dawn for the Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint to watch Andean condors riding the thermals over the canyon (one of the deepest in the world). Stop at the villages of Maca and Yanque and the pre-Inca terraces on the way back. Return to Arequipa in the early evening; head to Calle Zela for a drink and a cheap menu del día.
🚌Minivan tour transport (included)
🛏Hostel dorm in Arequipa (~£12)
- →Cruz del Cóndor condor viewpoint
- →Maca & Yanque villages
- →Pre-Inca terraces
Arequipa free day, then overnight bus to Cusco
Arequipa → Cusco, Peru
Use the day to take a self-guided walk through Arequipa or a budget city walking tour (tip-based, often free), visit the Museo Santuarios Andinos, and stock up on snacks for the bus. Take an evening overnight bus to Cusco (~10-11 hrs, £18-25). Note the altitude jump — Cusco sits at 3,400m, so plan a slow first day.
🚌Overnight bus Arequipa-Cusco ~£22
🛏Overnight bus (no hostel cost)
- →Free walking tour of Arequipa
- →Museo Santuarios Andinos (optional)
Cusco — acclimatise & orient
Cusco, Peru
Arrive in Cusco and check into a hostel in San Blas. Take it easy: coca tea, a gentle wander around Plaza de Armas, Qorikancha (S/15) and the San Pedro market for a cheap almuerzo. Confirm your Inca Trail permit paperwork and briefing with your trek operator today, and buy your Boleto Turístico if you plan to visit multiple sites. Optional: book a Cusco cooking class (~£20-25).
🚌Walking / short taxis ~£3
🛏Hostel dorm in San Blas, Cusco (~£12)
- →Plaza de Armas & Qorikancha
- →San Pedro Market
- →Cusco cooking class (optional)
Cusco — Rainbow Mountain or a city day
Cusco, Peru
Book a Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) day trip through a local agency on Calle Plateros or GetYourGuide (~£25-35 including transport and breakfast/lunch; entry S/30 extra). It's a 4,500m+ day, so only do it if you've acclimatised. Alternatively stay low: Inka Museum (S/10), San Blas artisan streets and Cusco's best cafés. Sort your laundry and buy any last trek supplies.
🚌Shared tour van (included in day trip)
🛏Hostel dorm in San Blas, Cusco (~£12)
- →Rainbow Mountain day hike (optional)
- →Inka Museum
- →San Blas artisan quarter
Sacred Valley — weaving co-op & Ollantaytambo
Ollantaytambo, Peru
Take a local bus or colectivo from Cusco toward Pisac (S/5) and onward through the Sacred Valley. Visit the Ccaccaccollo women's weaving co-op (ask any local driver or book a small-group Sacred Valley tour from Cusco, ~£20-30, which stops at the co-op and Pisac ruins), then stop at a craft brewery in the valley for a tasting. Finish in Ollantaytambo, where you can climb the terraces and sleep at altitude before the trek.
🚌Colectivos/bus Cusco-Ollantaytambo ~£5
🛏Hostel in Ollantaytambo (~£12)
- →Ccaccaccollo weaving co-op
- →Pisac ruins
- →Sacred Valley craft brewery
- →Ollantaytambo fortress
Inca Trail Day 1: Km 82 → Wayllabamba
Inca Trail, Peru
Your 4-day Inca Trail permit must be booked months in advance (permits are limited and sell out, especially May-Sept) with a licensed operator — expect £380-480 including guide, cook, porters, meals, campsite fees and the Machu Picchu entry. Travel by van to Km 82 at Piscacucho, cross the Urubamba and hike an easy first day past the ruins of Llactapata to camp at Wayllabamba (~12km, 3,000m). Rent a sleeping bag and walking poles at your briefing in Cusco (~S/150 total) to save luggage.
🚌Van to Km 82 (included in trek price)
🛏Camping on the Inca Trail (included in trek price)
- →Inca Trail hiking
- →Llactapata ruins
Inca Trail Day 2: Dead Woman's Pass to Pacaymayo
Inca Trail, Peru
The hardest day: climb steadily to Warmiwañusca (Dead Woman's Pass) at 4,198m — the high point of the trek — then descend steep stone steps to camp at Pacaymayo. Pace yourself, drink water, and let your guide set the rhythm. Roughly 11km with 1,200m of ascent.
🚌Hiking
🛏Camping on the Inca Trail (included)
- →Dead Woman's Pass (4,198m)
- →Andean cloud forest scenery
Inca Trail Day 3: Runkurakay, Sayacmarca & Wiñay Wayna
Inca Trail, Peru
Cross the second pass at Runkurakay, then walk through cloud forest to the ruins of Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamarca and finally Wiñay Wayna, arriving at camp in the afternoon. Roughly 16km. Say goodbye to your porters and cooks tonight — a small tip pool (around £10-15 per trekker) is customary.
🚌Hiking
🛏Camping on the Inca Trail (included)
- →Runkurakay pass
- →Sayacmarca & Phuyupatamarca ruins
- →Wiñay Wayna
Machu Picchu at sunrise, then back to Cusco
Machu Picchu → Cusco, Peru
Leave camp before dawn to reach the Sun Gate as the light comes over Machu Picchu, then descend to the citadel for your guided circuit (Inca Trail hikers are assigned Circuit 3/5 — check the current rules when you book). Afterwards take the shuttle bus down to Aguas Calientes and the train back to Ollantaytambo (~£50-60 for the PeruRail/Inca Rail service — buy in advance), then a colectivo to Cusco. Collapse into your hostel bed.
🚌Machu Picchu shuttle ~£10, train to Ollantaytambo ~£55, bus to Cusco ~£3
🛏Hostel dorm in Cusco (~£12)
- →Sun Gate sunrise
- →Guided Machu Picchu circuit
Cusco — rest, markets & a night out
Cusco, Peru
A well-earned free day. Sleep in, then browse the Mercado San Pedro, buy textiles at Centro de Textiles Tradicionales, and hit the cafés of San Blas. Optional massage (S/50-80, well worth it after the trek). In the evening join a hostel night out or a salsa bar around Plaza de Armas.
🚌Walking
🛏Hostel dorm in Cusco (~£12)
- →San Pedro Market
- →Textile workshops in San Blas
- →Optional massage
Cusco → Puno on the Andean Explorer-style bus
Puno, Peru
Take the daytime bus from Cusco to Puno (~6-7 hrs, £12-18) — the tourist-class buses stop at the Andahuaylillas church, Racchi ruins and La Raya pass at 4,335m. Alternatively a cheaper local bus runs the same road without stops. Arrive in Puno on the shore of Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake, and acclimatise over a bowl of trout soup.
🚌Bus Cusco-Puno ~£15
🛏Hostel in Puno (~£10)
- →Andahuaylillas chapel
- →La Raya high pass
- →Puno lakeside promenade
Lake Titicaca & community homestay on Amantaní
Lake Titicaca (Amantaní), Peru
Book a 2-day island tour from a Puno agency or directly with an Amantaní homestay family (roughly £25-35 including boat, meals and a night with a local family). Visit the Uros floating islands en route, then stay with a Quechua-speaking family on Amantaní — walk to the Pachamama/Pachatata viewpoints and learn to cook with your hosts. This replaces the operator's group homestay but keeps the same experience.
🚌Shared boat (included)
🛏Community homestay on Amantaní (included, ~£15)
- →Uros floating islands
- →Amantaní community walk
- →Pachamama & Pachatata viewpoints
Islands, back to Puno & cross into Bolivia to Copacabana
Puno → Copacabana, Bolivia
Return by boat to Puno in the late morning, then take a bus or shared van across the border to Copacabana, Bolivia (3-4 hrs, £8-12). Bring your passport and be ready for the border stop; UK nationals currently get a free 90-day entry stamp, otherwise check the e-visa rules in advance. Catch sunset from Cerro Calvario overlooking the lake and eat fresh trucha on the shore.
🚌Boat ~included, bus Puno-Copacabana ~£10
🛏Hostel in Copacabana (~£10)
- →Cerro Calvario sunset
- →Copacabana basilica
- →Lakeside trout dinner
Copacabana → La Paz by shared van and ferry
La Paz, Bolivia
Cross the Tiquina Strait by ferry and continue on a shared van to La Paz (~4 hrs total, £6-10). Check into a hostel in the Sopocachi or Centro area, then ride the Mi Teleférico cable cars (S/3 each) for the best cheap views of the city bowl and Illimani. In the afternoon, take a tip-based city walking tour or a local bus up to El Alto to wander the Witches' Market and see cholitas wrestling if it's a Thursday or Sunday.
🚌Shared van + ferry Copacabana-La Paz ~£8, cable cars ~£2
🛏Hostel dorm in La Paz (~£11)
- →Mi Teleférico cable cars
- →Witches' Market
- →Free/tip-based city walking tour
- →Cholitas wrestling (Thu/Sun, optional)
Valley of the Moon & depart La Paz
La Paz, Bolivia
Take a local minibus to the Valley of the Moon (Valle de la Luna) just outside the city (S/3 transport, S/15 entry) for a short walk among eroded lunar landscapes. Return for a final salteña lunch and last souvenir shopping on Calle Sagárnaga before your flight out of El Alto International Airport. If you're flying overnight, a taxi to the airport costs about £8-10.
🚌Local minibuses ~£2, airport taxi ~£0 (paid on departure)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Valley of the Moon
- →Calle Sagárnaga markets
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,210 | £1,800 |
| Duration | 21 days | 21 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £590 per person (33%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,210
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 Lima to La Paz: Self-Launched Sandboarding & Sunsets (Peru & Bolivia) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,210 per person for 21 days in Peru & Bolivia. 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 £1,800 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,210 — a saving of roughly £590 (33%) per person.
How long is the Peru & Bolivia trip?+
This itinerary runs 21 days, covering 21 day-by-day stops through Peru & Bolivia.
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, backpacker trip through Peru & Bolivia, 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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