Self-Launched Huchuy Qosqo Trek to Machu Picchu
3 days · Peru (Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu)
Inkayni Peru Tours charges £475
No-markup version: ~£285 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A solo-traveller, self-launched version of Inkayni Peru Tours' 3-day Huchuy Qosqo trek: an acclimatisation day hiking high Andean passes from Tambomachay via Lake Qoricocha to a village campsite above the Sacred Valley, a short Inca road descent to the remote Huchuy Qosqo citadel, then the train to Aguas Calientes and sunrise at Machu Picchu. Everything is bookable direct: entry permits and Machu Picchu tickets via the official Ministry of Culture portal (or a local agency for Huchuy Qosqo, which sits in a community-protected zone), train tickets with PeruRail/Inca Rail, and buses with Consettur. Costs below are approximate 2026 backpacker rates in GBP per person, excluding international flights.
Day-by-day
Cusco to Qenko via Tambomachay and Lake Qoricocha
Cusco / Qenko (high Andes above the Sacred Valley)
Give yourself 2-3 days in Cusco to acclimatise before this day — it tops out around 4,200m. Take a local colectivo or a cheap taxi from Cusco centre to Tambomachay (S/3-5 by combi, ~£1; taxi ~£5, 20 min). From the Inca water temple at Tambomachay, follow the marked trail west past Qenko and up over the grassy pass towards Lake Qoricocha — roughly 7-8 hours of walking with big views, Andean geese, lapwings and birds of prey. Note that the Huchuy Qosqo route crosses community-protected land and now requires a local community/agency permit: the easiest self-launch is to book the trek portion through a Cusco agency (e.g. via GetYourGuide or a Cusco trekking office) as a 2-day Huchuy Qosqo package, which gives you the permit, a muleteer, and a campsite at Qenko village without the full tour add-ons. Camp at Qenko (basic tents, cold night — bring a -5C rated sleeping bag or hire one in Cusco for ~£8).
🚌Local combi/taxi Cusco to Tambomachay ~£1-5; hiking on foot
🛏Camping at Qenko village camp (own tent or rented via agency, ~£8)
- →Hike from Tambomachay over high passes with Lake Qoricocha views
- →Spot Andean geese, partridges and birds of prey
- →Overnight camp in an Andean village above the Sacred Valley
Qenko to Huchuy Qosqo, then train to Aguas Calientes
Huchuy Qosqo / Lamay / Ollantaytambo / Aguas Calientes
Break camp early and walk the original Inca road down the secluded Piuray valley on a 6-hour, 8km descent to Huchuy Qosqo — a rarely visited Inca complex perched above the Sacred Valley with sweeping views. Stop with your local guide/muleteer to meet a mountain farming family en route. From Huchuy Qosqo descend below the site to the road at Lamay and pick up a local combi or shared taxi to Ollantaytambo (~S/8-12, £2-3, 45-60 min). Buy a PeruRail or Inca Rail Expedition/Executive train ticket from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes in advance (book at perurail.com or incarail.com, ~£55-70 one way — this is the single biggest cost of the trip and prices rise as departure nears). Overnight in Aguas Calientes in a simple guesthouse instead of the 3-star Golden Sunrise — e.g. a basic double/twin in the S/90-140 range (~£20-30).
🚌8km Inca road hike; combi/shared taxi Lamay to Ollantaytambo ~£3; PeruRail/Inca Rail train Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes ~£60
🛏Budget guesthouse in Aguas Calientes, twin room ~£25
- →Hike the original Inca trail through the secluded Piuray valley
- →Guided visit to the Huchuy Qosqo archaeological site
- →Visit a local Andean farming family
Machu Picchu sunrise, then back to Cusco
Machu Picchu / Aguas Calientes / Ollantaytambo / Cusco
Book your Machu Picchu entry ticket in advance on the official Ministry of Culture portal (tuboleto.cultura.pe) or via a reseller — a standard 'Machupicchu Solo' ticket is ~S/152 (~£33); add Huayna Picchu (~S/200, £43) only if you want the extra climb and book it weeks ahead. Take the Consettur bus up from Aguas Calientes (~US$12 one way, ~£9, queue from 05:00 for early slots) or walk up the 1,600 steps for free. You can't legally enter without a guide under current rules, and licensed guides wait at the entrance gate in Aguas Calientes and at the site — hire one for a 2-hour circuit for S/150-200 split between 2-3 travellers (~£10-15 each), which replicates the tour's guided visit at a fraction of the price. Bus back down, then PeruRail/Inca Rail to Ollantaytambo (~£55-70) and a local bus or colectivo Ollantaytambo to Cusco (~S/10-15, £2-3, 1.5-2 hrs) instead of a private transfer.
🚌Consettur bus up and down Machu Picchu ~£18; train Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo ~£60; colectivo Ollantaytambo to Cusco ~£3
🛏Not included — own hostel in Cusco (~£10-15 for a dorm)
- →Early bus up to Machu Picchu for sunrise
- →2-hour guided circuit of Machu Picchu with a licensed gate guide
- →Optional Huayna Picchu climb with a pre-booked permit
Self-launched vs. Inkayni Peru Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Inkayni Peru Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£285 | £475 |
| Duration | 3 days | 3 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £190 per person (40%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Inkayni Peru Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£285
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 Huchuy Qosqo Trek to Machu Picchu cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £285 per person for 3 days in Peru (Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu). 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 Inkayni Peru Tours?+
Yes — Inkayni Peru Tours charges around £475 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £285 — a saving of roughly £190 (40%) per person.
How long is the Peru (Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu) trip?+
This itinerary runs 3 days, covering 3 day-by-day stops through Peru (Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu).
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 (Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu), 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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