Self-Launched Machu Picchu & Galápagos — Peru & Ecuador Central Islands

Arrive in Lima at any time. Take the official taxi desk at the airport to Miraflores or Barranco — around £12–15, safer than street taxis. Check into your hostel and explore the local neighbourhood. Lima's Miraflores seafront and Barranco's bohemian streets are great for an evening wander. Grab a cheap menú del día (set lunch/dinner) from a local restaurant for under £5.

🚌Official airport taxi to Miraflores ~£12–15

🛏Hostel in Miraflores or Barranco — e.g. Hitchhikers Backpackers or The Point Hostel (dorm ~£12–18/night, private ~£30–40/night)

• →Settle in and explore Miraflores or Barranco on foot
• →Visit the Larco Mar clifftop shopping and viewpoint area
• →Try ceviche at a local market stall or budget restaurant

Take an early morning flight from Lima Jorge Chávez Airport to Cusco Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport (~£50–80 booked in advance via Sky Airline or LATAM). On arrival, acclimatise briefly then take a shared colectivo from Cusco to Pisac (~£1.50) or a tourist shuttle (~£5). Explore the Pisac ruins independently (entrance via Boleto Turístico ~£35 for a multi-site pass) and visit the Pisac artisan market. Continue by colectivo to Urubamba in the Sacred Valley. You can visit the Ccaccaccollo weaving community directly — ask locally or book via a GetYourGuide day tour. Have dinner at a local Urubamba restaurant.

🚌Lima–Cusco flight ~£60; colectivo Cusco–Pisac ~£1.50; colectivo Pisac–Urubamba ~£1

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Urubamba — e.g. Hostal Los Jardines or Hospedaje Valle Sagrado (dorm ~£10, private ~£25–35)

• →Flight Lima to Cusco (book in advance via LATAM or Sky Airline)
• →Colectivo from Cusco to Pisac (~£1.50)
• →Pisac ruins visit (Boleto Turístico multi-site pass ~£35)
• →Pisac artisan market browse
• →Optional: Ccaccaccollo weaving community visit via GetYourGuide

A full day exploring pre-Incan and Incan sites in the Sacred Valley independently. Hire a local taxi or join a shared day tour (~£15–20 via GetYourGuide or local agencies) to visit the Maras salt pans (Las Salineras) and the Moray circular terraces — both covered under the Boleto Turístico or with a small local entrance fee (~£3 each). Continue to Ollantaytambo ruins in the afternoon (also covered by Boleto Turístico). Enjoy a traditional lunch — look for a local restaurant serving Pachamanca-style roasted meats and potatoes near Urubamba market.

🚌Shared taxi or day tour van ~£15–20 round trip

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Urubamba (as Day 2)

• →Visit Maras salt pans (Las Salineras) — local entrance ~£3 or Boleto Turístico
• →Visit Moray circular terraces — included in Boleto Turístico
• →Explore Ollantaytambo ruins — included in Boleto Turístico
• →Traditional Pachamanca-style lunch at a local restaurant

Take an early shared colectivo from Urubamba to Ollantaytambo station (~£1.50). Board the scenic PeruRail Expedition or Inca Rail train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (~£25–40 one way — book ahead at perurail.com or incarail.com). The train ride winds through cloud forest and is spectacular. Arrive in Aguas Calientes (also called Machu Picchu Pueblo) and browse the local market. Spend the afternoon relaxing or visiting the town's municipal hot springs (~£4). Pre-book your Machu Picchu entry ticket online at machupicchu.gob.pe (~£35–45) as slots are timed and sell out.

🚌Colectivo Urubamba–Ollantaytambo ~£1.50; train Ollantaytambo–Aguas Calientes ~£30

🛏Hostel in Aguas Calientes — e.g. Supertramp Hostel or Rupa Wasi Lodge (dorm ~£12–18, private ~£30–40)

• →Scenic train Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (~£25–40, book at perurail.com or incarail.com)
• →Browse Aguas Calientes artisan market
• →Optional: municipal hot springs soak (~£4)
• →Pre-book Machu Picchu timed entry ticket online (~£35–45)

Rise early to catch the first bus up to Machu Picchu (~£12 return, buses from 5:30am). Book a guided tour of the ruins through GetYourGuide or directly with a licensed guide at the entrance (~£20–25 for a 2-hour guided tour). After the guided tour, explore freely — consider the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) hike for panoramic views, or the Inca Bridge trail. Return by bus to Aguas Calientes and take the afternoon or evening train back to Ollantaytambo (~£25–40), then a colectivo or transfer to Cusco. Check into your Cusco hostel and celebrate with dinner in the Plaza de Armas area.

🚌Bus Aguas Calientes–Machu Picchu return ~£12; train Aguas Calientes–Ollantaytambo ~£30; colectivo to Cusco ~£3

🛏Hostel in Cusco — e.g. Loki Hostel, Pariwana Hostel, or Wild Rover (dorm ~£10–14, private ~£25–35)

• →Bus up to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes (~£12 return)
• →Self-booked guided tour of Machu Picchu ruins (~£20–25 via GetYourGuide or at the gate)
• →Optional: hike to Sun Gate (Inti Punku) or Inca Bridge — free with entry
• →Scenic train back to Ollantaytambo, then colectivo to Cusco

Cusco is endlessly walkable and full of free or cheap sights. Stroll the historic Plaza de Armas, visit the Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun, ~£5), and explore the San Pedro Market for fresh juices and local snacks. The nearby Sacsayhuamán ruins (a short uphill walk or taxi ride) are spectacular and covered by the Boleto Turístico. For thrill-seekers, book whitewater rafting on the Urubamba River (~£25–35 via GetYourGuide), horseback riding, or mountain biking through local agencies along Plateros Street. Finish the evening with a pisco sour on a rooftop bar.

🚌Walking and occasional taxi (~£2–3)

🛏Hostel in Cusco (as Day 5)

• →Walk the Plaza de Armas and historic city centre — free
• →Visit Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun) ~£5
• →San Pedro Market — local food and crafts
• →Sacsayhuamán ruins — included in Boleto Turístico
• →Optional: whitewater rafting on Urubamba River (~£25–35 via GetYourGuide)
• →Optional: mountain biking or horseback riding (~£20–30)

Fly from Cusco back to Lima (book via LATAM or Sky Airline, ~£50–80). Arrive early afternoon with time to explore Lima's historic centre — the Plaza Mayor, the Catedral de Lima, and Barrio Chino (Chinatown) are all walkable and largely free. Lima's food scene is world-class; head to Surquillo Market (Mercado N°1) for incredible cheap eats, or splurge on a set lunch at a cevichería. Stay overnight in Lima ahead of your flight to Quito.

🚌Cusco–Lima flight ~£60; airport taxi ~£12

🛏Hostel in Miraflores or Barranco — e.g. Hitchhikers or The Point Hostel (as Day 1)

• →Flight Cusco to Lima (~£60)
• →Explore Lima's historic centre and Plaza Mayor — free
• →Visit Surquillo Market for street food
• →Optional: Larco Museum (~£10) — world-class pre-Columbian artefacts

Fly Lima to Quito (book via LATAM, Avianca, or Copa Airlines — ~£80–130). Flights are typically 4–5 hours with a connection. Arrive in Quito and take the Aeropuerto Bus or a taxi (~£20) into the city. Check into your hostel in the historic La Mariscal or La Ronda neighbourhood. Quito's UNESCO-listed historic centre is compact and walkable — stroll El Panecillo hill viewpoint in the evening for panoramic city and volcano views. Prepare for your Galápagos departure.

🚌Lima–Quito flight ~£100; airport taxi ~£20

🛏Hostel in Quito — e.g. Secret Garden Hostel or La Mama Quilotoa (dorm ~£12–16, private ~£28–38)

• →Flight Lima to Quito (~£80–130, book via LATAM/Avianca/Copa)
• →Explore Quito's historic La Ronda neighbourhood
• →Walk to El Panecillo viewpoint for city and Andes views — free

Fly from Quito to San Cristóbal Island, Galápagos (via Baltra or San Cristóbal — LATAM and Avianca operate routes, ~£200–280 return). Note: all Galápagos visitors must pay a £15 Transit Control Card at the mainland airport and a £90 Galápagos National Park entrance fee on arrival (cash). Join a pre-booked island-hopping tour or budget liveaboard — several operators offer 5–8 day central island packages from ~£700–1,200 per person (search via naturalhabitats.com, ecoventura.com, or local agencies in Puerto Ayora). Alternatively, base yourself on Santa Cruz and take day trips. Spend the afternoon meeting sea lions on the beach at La Lobería.

🚌Quito–San Cristóbal flight ~£240

🛏Budget guesthouse in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno or aboard a budget liveaboard — e.g. Red Mangrove Inn or shared liveaboard cabin (~£40–80/night)

• →Flight Quito to San Cristóbal Galápagos (~£200–280 return, book via LATAM)
• →Pay Galápagos National Park entrance fee ~£90 (cash on arrival)
• →Pay Transit Control Card ~£15 at mainland airport
• →Afternoon at La Lobería beach — sea lions, marine iguanas — free with park entry

Join a self-booked day tour from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (~£50–70 via local agencies or GetYourGuide) to snorkel at Kicker Rock (León Dormido) — one of the Galápagos' most spectacular dive sites with hammerhead sharks, sea turtles, and rays. Return to town for the afternoon. Visit the Interpretation Centre (free) for Galápagos history, then walk the waterfront boardwalk where sea lions lounge on benches.

🚌Included in day tour

🛏Budget guesthouse or liveaboard on San Cristóbal (as Day 9)

• →Day snorkelling tour to Kicker Rock (León Dormido) ~£50–70
• →Snorkelling with hammerhead sharks, sea turtles, and rays
• →Visit the Interpretation Centre — free
• →Walk the waterfront — sea lions on benches

Take the public inter-island ferry from San Cristóbal to Santa Cruz (~£25, 2.5 hours — expect rough seas, take seasickness tablets). Check into Puerto Ayora, the main town on Santa Cruz. Hike to Tortuga Bay, a pristine white-sand beach 2.5km from town (free, bring water and reef-safe sunscreen) — marine iguanas, white-tip reef sharks in the lagoon, and sea turtles are regularly spotted. In the afternoon, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station (free) and Fausto Llerena Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre to see Galápagos tortoises up close.

🚌Inter-island ferry ~£25

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Puerto Ayora — e.g. Casa del Lago Hostel or Hostal Gardner (dorm ~£15–20, private ~£35–50)

• →Inter-island ferry San Cristóbal to Santa Cruz ~£25
• →Hike to Tortuga Bay — free, 2.5km walk from Puerto Ayora
• →Snorkel in the marine iguana lagoon at Tortuga Bay
• →Visit Charles Darwin Research Station — free
• →Fausto Llerena Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre — free

Join a local half-day tour to the Santa Cruz Highlands (~£20–30) to spot wild Galápagos giant tortoises roaming freely in their natural habitat — a genuinely magical experience. Visit lava tunnels (Los Túneles de Lava) in the afternoon — ~£5 local entrance. In the late afternoon, snorkel at Academy Bay or Las Grietas (a stunning freshwater-saltwater lagoon, free, 20 min walk from town). Enjoy a fresh seafood dinner at the Puerto Ayora fish market — incredibly cheap and local.

🚌Local taxi to highlands ~£5–8 each way

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Puerto Ayora (as Day 11)

• →Santa Cruz Highlands tour — wild giant tortoises in natural habitat (~£20–30)
• →Visit lava tunnels — ~£5
• →Snorkel at Las Grietas lagoon — free
• →Fresh seafood dinner at Puerto Ayora fish market

Take an optional day trip to Isabela Island (speedboat ~£35 each way, 2 hours) for snorkelling with penguins, sea lions, and marine iguanas at Los Túneles or the Wall of Tears hike. Alternatively, spend a final morning exploring Santa Cruz — kayak hire from Puerto Ayora (~£10/hour), or revisit favourite snorkel spots. Return to Puerto Ayora in the afternoon. Pack up and transfer to the Baltra ferry and airport for your return flight to Quito in the evening.

🚌Optional Isabela speedboat ~£70 return; Baltra ferry channel ~£1

🛏Overnight flight or final night guesthouse in Puerto Ayora

• →Optional day trip to Isabela Island (speedboat ~£35 each way)
• →Snorkelling with penguins and marine iguanas at Los Túneles
• →Optional: Wall of Tears hike on Isabela — free
• →Kayak hire in Puerto Ayora ~£10/hour
• →Ferry Baltra channel crossing (~£1) and transfer to Baltra airport

Fly from Baltra (or San Cristóbal) back to Quito (included in your return Galápagos flight, ~£240 total). Arrive in Quito with time to explore if your onward international flight allows. Quito's Old Town UNESCO historic centre is a 20-min taxi ride from the Mariscal area (~£5). The Basílica del Voto Nacional and Plaza de la Independencia are standout free sights. Depart Quito from Mariscal Sucre International Airport for your home country.

🚌Baltra–Quito flight (return leg); taxi to airport ~£20

🛏N/A (departure day) or airport hotel if needed

• →Flight Baltra to Quito (return leg of Galápagos ticket)
• →Optional: explore Quito Old Town — Basílica del Voto Nacional, Plaza de la Independencia
• →Depart Quito for home