Machu Picchu & the Galápagos: Self-Launched Version
17 days · Peru & Ecuador (Machu Picchu & Galápagos)
G Adventures charges £5,990
No-markup version: ~£1,608 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched take on G Adventures' classic 17-day Peru & Ecuador combo. You'll fly into Lima, eat your way through its cevicherías, ride the Sacred Valley by combi and train up to Machu Picchu, then cross into Ecuador and spend a week island-hopping the Galápagos by public speedboat and land-based day tours — snorkelling with sea lions, hiking the Sierra Negra crater rim, and walking Darwin Bay's coral sands. Same destinations, same headline experiences, booked independently with hostels, guesthouses and GetYourGuide/Klook day tours instead of a small-group tour and a private yacht. All costs are approximate per-person estimates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Lima — Miraflores & ceviche
Lima, Peru
Land in Lima and take a shared shuttle or the Airport Express bus (~£6) to a hostel in Miraflores or Barranco. Ease in with a walk along the Malecón cliff-top path, then hunt down a cevichería for your first leche de tigre. Evening: sunset at Parque del Amor and street food in Barranco.
🚌Airport Express bus Lima (~£6) or shared shuttle
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Miraflores/Barranco (dorm £10-14, private £20-28)
- →Malecón cliff walk
- →Ceviche dinner in Barranco
Lima food & history walking day
Lima, Peru
Do a self-guided morning through Plaza de Armas, the catacombs of San Francisco and the Mercado de Surquillo for fruit and anticuchos. Book a small-group Lima food tour on GetYourGuide for the afternoon if you want the market tastings covered. Overnight bus to Cusco tonight to save a hotel night.
🚌Walking + taxi; overnight Cruz del Sur/Oltursa bus Lima→Cusco (~£28, 21 hrs)
🛏Overnight bus to Cusco (cama seat, ~£28)
- →Plaza de Armas & San Francisco catacombs
- →Mercado de Surquillo market tasting
- →Optional GetYourGuide Lima food tour (~£35)
Cusco arrival & acclimatisation
Cusco, Peru
Arrive Cusco in the morning and check into a hostel in San Blas. Go slow — you're at 3,400m. Light walking around Plaza de Armas, Qorikancha and the San Pedro market for coca tea and soup. Pick up your Machu Picchu entry ticket and train ticket today if you haven't already (book these well in advance online).
🚌Local colectivo/taxi in town (~£3)
🛏Hostel in San Blas, Cusco (dorm £9-13)
- →San Blas wander
- →San Pedro market
- →Qorikancha ruins
- →Collect Machu Picchu & train tickets
Sacred Valley: Pisac, Ollantaytambo & community weaving
Sacred Valley, Peru
Take a shared combi or book a small-group Sacred Valley day trip via GetYourGuide/Klook (~£30-40) covering Pisac ruins and market, the Ccaccaccollo women's weaving co-op (the same community project G Adventures visits), lunch at the Parwa Community Restaurant in Huchuy Qosqo, and Ollantaytambo fortress. Stay overnight in Ollantaytambo rather than returning to Cusco.
🚌Shared combi/van tour Sacred Valley (~£30-40 incl. sights)
🛏Guesthouse in Ollantaytambo (£12-20)
- →Pisac ruins & market
- →Ccaccaccollo Women's Weaving Co-op
- →Parwa Community Restaurant lunch (farm-to-table)
- →Ollantaytambo fortress
Train to Aguas Calientes & Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu, Peru
Morning train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (book PeruRail or Inca Rail, ~£55-70 one way). Drop bags, then take the shuttle bus up to Machu Picchu for your timed entry slot. Hire a guide at the gate (~£25 split) or pre-book a GetYourGuide guided entry to hear the history of the citadel. Return to Aguas Calientes for the night and soak in the hot springs.
🚌PeruRail/Inca Rail train (~£55-70) + shuttle bus up (£10 return)
🛏Guesthouse Aguas Calientes (£15-25)
- →Scenic train Ollantaytambo→Aguas Calientes
- →Machu Picchu entry with guide
- →Aguas Calientes hot springs
Optional Huayna Picchu or Inca Trail hike, back to Cusco
Machu Picchu / Cusco, Peru
If you snagged a Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain permit (book months ahead), climb at dawn for the classic view. Otherwise do the short Sun Gate or Inca Bridge walk. Afternoon train back toward Ollantaytambo/Cusco. Note: the one-day Inca Trail add-on can be booked independently with licensed operators for around £200 if you want the trek experience.
🚌Train Aguas Calientes→Ollantaytambo (~£55-70) + combi to Cusco (~£4)
🛏Hostel in Cusco (dorm £9-13)
- →Huayna Picchu / Machu Picchu Mountain hike (permit required)
- →Optional one-day Inca Trail with licensed operator (~£200)
- →Return train to Cusco
Cusco cooking class & free day
Cusco, Peru
Sleep in, then take a Cusco cooking class (~£25-35 via GetYourGuide) making causa, lomo saltado and pisco sours. Afternoon: Sacsayhuamán and Q'enqo ruins on the outskirts (buy the Cusco tourist ticket or walk up). Evening flight or overnight bus hop toward Lima/your onward connection.
🚌Taxi to ruins (~£4); onward flight Cusco→Lima (~£55-90)
🛏Hostel Cusco (dorm £9-13)
- →Cusco cooking class
- →Sacsayhuamán & Q'enqo ruins
- →San Blas galleries
Fly Lima → Quito, transfer to Puerto Ayora
Lima/Quito → Galápagos
Fly Cusco/Lima to Quito (Latam/Avianca, ~£90-140 booked ahead), clear immigration and fly on to Baltra or San Cristóbal in the Galápagos (return flight ~£350-450, book early). Pay the Galápagos National Park entrance fee (~£85) and the INGALA transit card (~£16) on arrival. Bus + ferry to Santa Cruz's Puerto Ayora for the night.
🚌Flight Lima/Cusco→Quito (~£90-140) + flight Quito→Galápagos return (~£350-450) + bus/ferry (~£8)
🛏Guesthouse Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz (£15-25)
- →Galápagos National Park entry & transit card
- →Transfer across Santa Cruz to Puerto Ayora
Santa Cruz: Charles Darwin Station & Tortuga Bay
Santa Cruz, Galápagos
Morning at the Charles Darwin Research Station to meet giant tortoises and learn about the breeding programme (free). Afternoon walk the white-sand trail to Tortuga Bay for marine iguanas and calm swimming. Book tomorrow's island-hopping day trip at one of the Puerto Ayora tour agencies on the main street.
🚌Walking + water taxi (~£1)
🛏Guesthouse Puerto Ayora (£15-25)
- →Charles Darwin Research Station
- →Tortuga Bay beach walk
- →Book island-hopping day trip
Island-hopping: Bartolomé & Pinnacle Rock
Bartolomé Island, Galápagos
Yacht day trip to Bartolomé (~£140-170 via local agency) — hike the wooden steps to the summit for the iconic Pinnacle Rock panorama, then snorkel with Galápagos penguins, sea lions, turtles and reef fish. Lunch aboard included. This is the same site and experience G Adventures' guests get from the Yolita.
🚌Day-trip yacht with panga transfers (included in ~£140-170 trip)
🛏Guesthouse Puerto Ayora (£15-25)
- →Bartolomé summit hike
- →Snorkelling at Bartolomé (penguins, sea lions, turtles)
- →Pinnacle Rock viewpoint
Island-hopping: North Seymour or Genovesa
North Seymour / Genovesa, Galápagos
Second yacht day trip — either North Seymour for frigatebirds, blue-footed boobies and land iguanas, or the longer Genovesa (Darwin Bay) run to walk white coral sand among nesting frigatebirds, gulls and boobies (~£140-180). Both are bookable last-minute through Puerto Ayora operators. Snorkel stop usually included.
🚌Day-trip yacht with panga transfers
🛏Guesthouse Puerto Ayora (£15-25)
- →North Seymour wildlife walk OR Genovesa/Darwin Bay visit
- →Snorkelling stop
- →Boobie & frigatebird nesting colonies
Speedboat to Isabela: Sierra Negra volcano hike
Isabela Island, Galápagos
Public morning speedboat from Santa Cruz to Isabela (~£30, 2 hrs, bring seasickness tablets). Afternoon guided hike to the Sierra Negra crater rim (~£35-45 with a licensed local guide) — the largest basaltic caldera in the Galápagos, with moon-like lava fields and views north to Fernandina. Stay in Puerto Villamil.
🚌Public speedboat (~£30) + local guide transport
🛏Guesthouse Puerto Villamil, Isabela (£15-25)
- →Public speedboat Santa Cruz→Isabela
- →Sierra Negra volcano crater-rim hike
- →Volcán Chico lava fields extension
Isabela: Los Túneles, flamingos & beaches
Isabela Island, Galápagos
Do the Los Túneles snorkel tour (~£80-100) through lava-tube channels for seahorses, rays and white-tipped reef sharks, or keep it cheap with the free flamingo lagoons, the Wall of Tears bike ride and Puerto Villamil's long white beach. Afternoon speedboat back to Santa Cruz.
🚌Public speedboat Isabela→Santa Cruz (~£30) + bike rental (~£10)
🛏Guesthouse Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz (£15-25)
- →Los Túneles snorkel tour (optional)
- →Flamingo lagoons & Wall of Tears bike ride
- →Puerto Villamil beach time
Santa Cruz highlands & fly to Quito
Santa Cruz → Quito
Morning highlands excursion to see wild giant tortoises in the Santa Cruz hills and the lava tunnels (~£35), plus Los Gemelos craters on the way to the airport. Fly from Baltra back to Quito, then check into a hostel in the historic La Mariscal or Centro district.
🚌Bus/ferry to Baltra (~£8) + flight Galápagos→Quito (~£ included in return ticket)
🛏Hostel Quito (£10-18)
- →Santa Cruz highlands giant tortoise spotting
- →Los Gemelos twin craters
- →Flight Galápagos→Quito
Quito old town & equator line
Quito, Ecuador
Full day in Quito: the UNESCO-listed Centro Histórico (Basílica del Voto Nacional, Plaza Grande, La Compañía church), then a taxi out to the Mitad del Mundo equator monument or the more authentic Intiñan Museum (~£10 entry). Eat hornado and encebollado at Mercado Central.
🚌Taxi/colectivo to equator (~£8 return)
🛏Hostel Quito (£10-18)
- →Quito Centro Histórico walking route
- →Basílica del Voto Nacional tower climb
- →Mitad del Mundo / Intiñan equator museum
- →Mercado Central food stalls
Otavalo market day trip or Cotopaxi option
Otavalo / Quito, Ecuador
Day trip to Otavalo indigenous market (public bus ~£2.50, 2 hrs) for textiles and crafts, with a stop at the Peguche waterfall. Alternatively, book a Cotopaxi National Park day tour (~£45 via GetYourGuide) for Andean scenery and the volcano. Evening back in Quito.
🚌Public bus Quito→Otavalo (~£2.50 each way)
🛏Hostel Quito (£10-18)
- →Otavalo market
- →Peguche waterfall
- →Alternative: Cotopaxi National Park tour
Quito departure
Quito, Ecuador
Final morning for last coffee and empanadas before heading to Mariscal Sucre Airport. If your flight falls on one of Quito's scheduled 2026 runway-maintenance dates, double-check your schedule in advance with the airline — the airport closes for maintenance on selected dates.
🚌Airport taxi/shuttle (~£8)
🛏N/A — departure day
- →Final breakfast in La Mariscal
- →Departure transfer
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,608 | £5,990 |
| Duration | 17 days | 17 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £4,382 per person (73%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,608
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.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Machu Picchu & the Galápagos: Self-Launched Version cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,608 per person for 17 days in Peru & Ecuador (Machu Picchu & Galápagos). 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 £5,990 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,608 — a saving of roughly £4,382 (73%) per person.
How long is the Peru & Ecuador (Machu Picchu & Galápagos) trip?+
This itinerary runs 17 days, covering 17 day-by-day stops through Peru & Ecuador (Machu Picchu & Galápagos).
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 Peru & Ecuador (Machu Picchu & Galápagos), 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.