Explore Northern Peru & Machu Picchu – Self-Launched

Arrive at Jorge Chávez International Airport at any time. Take the Airport Express Lima bus (~£3) or a pre-booked taxi (~£10) to the Miraflores or Barranco district. Check into your hostel and spend the evening strolling the clifftop Malecón or grabbing ceviche in a local cevichería.

🚌Airport Express Lima bus to Miraflores (~£3) or taxi (~£10)

🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Miraflores or Barranco (e.g. Pariwana Hostel Lima or similar) — approx £15–20/night

• →Settle into Miraflores or Barranco neighbourhood
• →Explore the Malecón clifftop walkway
• →Try ceviche at a local cevichería for dinner

Book an early domestic flight from Lima (Jorge Chávez) to Jaén with LATAM or Sky Airline (~£50–80 booked in advance). From Jaén airport, take a shared colectivo taxi or bus to Pedro Ruiz (~£3), then a connecting bus onward to Chachapoyas (~£3, 2.5 hrs). Check into your hostel in 'Chacha' — your base for the next few days.

🚌Domestic flight Lima–Jaén (~£60), shared colectivo + bus to Chachapoyas (~£6)

🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Chachapoyas (e.g. Hostal Johumaji or Casa Vieja Hostel) — approx £12–18/night

• →Fly Lima to Jaén (book in advance with LATAM or Sky Airline)
• →Shared colectivo from Jaén to Pedro Ruiz, then bus to Chachapoyas
• →Evening wander around Chachapoyas Plaza de Armas

Take a shared colectivo from Chachapoyas to Cocachimba village (~£2), the trailhead for Gocta Falls — one of the world's tallest waterfalls at 771m. Pay the entrance fee (~£2) at the community checkpoint and hike through stunning cloud forest. The trail to the lower falls is around 2–3 hrs return; extending to the base of the upper falls adds another 2 hrs. Return to Chachapoyas by colectivo in the afternoon.

🚌Shared colectivo Chachapoyas–Cocachimba return (~£4)

🛏Hostel in Chachapoyas (as Day 2)

• →Shared colectivo to Cocachimba village trailhead
• →Hike through cloud forest to Gocta waterfall lower viewpoint (2–3 hrs return)
• →Optional extension hike to the base of the upper falls
• →Free afternoon back in Chachapoyas

Head to Nuevo Tingo (~£2 by colectivo) and ride the Kuelap cable car (~£8 return) up to the extraordinary mountaintop fortress of Kuelap — over 400 circular stone buildings built by the pre-Inca Chachapoyan 'Cloud Warriors'. Hire a local guide at the entrance (~£10) for deeper context. On the way back, stop at a local coffee farm in the valley for a guided tasting of the region's exceptional arabica coffee. Return to Chachapoyas by colectivo.

🚌Colectivo to Nuevo Tingo and back (~£4), cable car (~£8)

🛏Hostel in Chachapoyas (as Day 2)

• →Colectivo from Chachapoyas to Nuevo Tingo
• →Cable car ride up to Kuelap fortress (~£8 return)
• →Self-explore Kuelap ruins; hire local guide at entrance (~£10)
• →Visit a sustainable coffee farm and tasting session
• →Birdwatching in surrounding ecological reserve (spatula-tailed hummingbird territory)

Take the long but scenic overland bus from Chachapoyas to Chiclayo (~£12–15, approx 9–11 hrs with companies like Móvil Tours or GH Bus). Book an evening/overnight service to save time. Arrive in Chiclayo — a lively coastal city rich with pre-Columbian history — and check in to your hostel.

🚌Bus Chachapoyas–Chiclayo (~£13)

🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Chiclayo (e.g. Inti Hotel or Hostal Sican) — approx £12–18/night

• →Long-distance bus Chachapoyas to Chiclayo (book with Móvil Tours or GH Bus)
• →Arrive and settle into Chiclayo
• →Evening exploration of Chiclayo's markets and Plaza de Armas

Spend the day exploring the Lambayeque region's world-class archaeology. Take a shared taxi or mototaxi to Lambayeque (~30 min, ~£2) to visit the Museo Tumbas Reales de Sipán — one of Latin America's most important archaeological museums, housing the spectacular gold treasures of the Lord of Sipán. Return to Chiclayo and visit the Mercado Modelo, one of Peru's largest markets, to browse artisanal goods and street food.

🚌Shared taxi/combi to Lambayeque and back (~£4)

🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Chiclayo (as Day 5)

• →Shared taxi or combi to Lambayeque (~30 min)
• →Visit Museo Tumbas Reales de Sipán — Royal Tombs of Sipán museum (~£5 entry)
• →Optional visit to Huaca Rajada (actual burial site, ~30 min further by mototaxi)
• →Chiclayo Mercado Modelo browse and street food lunch

Take a bus south from Chiclayo to Trujillo (~£5–8, 3 hrs with Línea or Emtrafesa). Check in to your hostel, then head out to Chan Chan — the largest pre-Columbian city in South America and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The vast eroded adobe ruins of this ancient Chimú capital are just 5km west of Trujillo (taxi ~£3 each way). Enter independently (~£5) and explore the Tschudi Palace complex.

🚌Bus Chiclayo–Trujillo (~£6), taxi to Chan Chan (~£6 return)

🛏Hostel in Trujillo (e.g. Naylamp Hostel or Munay Wasi Hostel) — approx £12–16/night

• →Bus from Chiclayo to Trujillo (Línea or Emtrafesa, ~3 hrs, ~£6)
• →Taxi to Chan Chan UNESCO World Heritage ruins (~£3 each way)
• →Self-guided exploration of Chan Chan's Tschudi Palace complex (~£5 entry)
• →Evening stroll around Trujillo's colourful colonial Plaza de Armas

Spend the morning at the extraordinary Huacas del Sol y de la Luna (Temples of the Sun and Moon) — impressive Moche adobe pyramid temples from around 100–800 AD, just 5km from Trujillo. Guided tours run regularly from the entrance (~£6 entry + £5 guide). The afternoon is free to explore Trujillo's lively colonial centre, catch a marinera dance performance, or rest up before the journey south.

🚌Taxi/combi to Huacas del Sol y de la Luna return (~£4)

🛏Hostel in Trujillo (as Day 7)

• →Taxi or combi to Huacas del Sol y de la Luna (~£2 each way)
• →Guided visit to Moche temples (~£11 total entry + guide)
• →Free afternoon in Trujillo colonial centre
• →Optional: marinera dance show or cooking class

Either take an overnight bus from Trujillo to Lima (~£18–25, 8–9 hrs with Cruz del Sur or Oltursa — a comfortable option that saves a night's accommodation) or book a short domestic flight (~£45–70). Arrive in Lima in the morning, freshen up at your hostel, and spend the afternoon revisiting highlights — Barranco's street art, the Larco Museum, or the Miraflores food scene.

🚌Overnight bus Trujillo–Lima (~£20) or flight (~£55)

🛏Hostel in Miraflores or Barranco (as Day 1) — approx £15–20/night

• →Overnight bus Trujillo–Lima (Cruz del Sur or Oltursa, ~8–9 hrs) or domestic flight
• →Check in and refresh in Lima
• →Optional: Larco Museum visit (~£12 entry) or Barranco street art wander
• →Dinner in Barranco neighbourhood

Fly from Lima to Cusco with LATAM or Sky Airline (~£50–80 booked in advance). Altitude in Cusco is around 3,400m — take it easy on arrival. Check into your hostel, drink plenty of coca tea, and acclimatise with a gentle walk around the Plaza de Armas and the San Blas artisan quarter. Avoid heavy meals and alcohol for the first evening.

🚌Domestic flight Lima–Cusco (~£60)

🛏Hostel in Cusco (e.g. Loki Hostel, Pariwana Cusco, or Wild Rover) — approx £12–18/night

• →Fly Lima–Cusco (book in advance with LATAM or Sky Airline, ~£60)
• →Acclimatisation walk around Plaza de Armas
• →Visit San Blas artisan quarter and Qorikancha sun temple exterior
• →Coca tea and light dinner — altitude rest essential

Take a shared minibus from Cusco to Pisac (~£1.50) and explore the famous Pisac market and Inca terraces. Head to the 'Parque de la Papa' (Potato Park) near Pisac, a network of rural Quechua communities preserving over 900 native potato varieties — entrance and guided community walk bookable locally (~£10). In the afternoon, have lunch at the Parwa Community Restaurant (reservation recommended — check parwarestaurant.com), a celebrated farm-to-table restaurant run by the local community. Return to Cusco by shared minibus.

🚌Shared minibus Cusco–Pisac–Cusco (~£3 return)

🛏Hostel in Cusco (as Day 10)

• →Shared minibus from Cusco to Pisac (~£1.50)
• →Pisac artisan market and Inca terraces
• →Guided walk through Parque de la Papa (Potato Park) with community guide (~£10)
• →Lunch at Parwa Community Restaurant — farm-to-table, reserve ahead
• →Shared minibus back to Cusco

Purchase the Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico, ~£32) which grants access to Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puca Pucara, Tambomachay and more. Hike up to the impressive Sacsayhuamán fortress above the city in the morning. Spend the afternoon exploring Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun, ~£8 separate entry) and Cusco's museums. Rest up ahead of the early Machu Picchu departure.

🚌Walking and taxis within Cusco (~£5)

🛏Hostel in Cusco (as Day 10)

• →Purchase Cusco Tourist Ticket (~£32, covers multiple sites)
• →Walk or taxi up to Sacsayhuamán Inca fortress
• →Visit Qenqo, Puca Pucara, and Tambomachay ruins
• →Qorikancha Temple of the Sun (~£8)
• →Rest and early night ahead of Aguas Calientes trip

Take the early train from Cusco Poroy or Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes with Peru Rail or Inca Rail (~£35–55 each way — book weeks in advance). From Aguas Calientes, take the shuttle bus up to Machu Picchu (~£12 return) or hike the Sungate trail. Machu Picchu entry must be pre-booked online at machupicchu.gob.pe (~£30–45 depending on circuit). Time slots are limited — book as early as possible. Hire a certified guide at the gate (~£15) or book in advance via GetYourGuide for a guided tour. Spend 3–4 hours exploring the iconic citadel. Return to Aguas Calientes, or push back to Ollantaytambo and Cusco by evening.

🚌Train Cusco–Aguas Calientes return (~£80), shuttle bus (~£12), taxi Ollantaytambo–Cusco (~£8)

🛏Hostel in Cusco (as Day 10) — or budget guesthouse in Aguas Calientes if staying over

• →Early train Cusco/Ollantaytambo–Aguas Calientes (Peru Rail or Inca Rail, pre-book)
• →Shuttle bus up to Machu Picchu entrance (~£12 return)
• →Pre-booked timed entry to Machu Picchu (~£35 — book at machupicchu.gob.pe)
• →Guided tour of the citadel — hire at gate or book via GetYourGuide (~£15)
• →Optional Sun Gate (Inti Punku) hike for panoramic views
• →Return train to Ollantaytambo and bus/taxi to Cusco

Visit the Cusco Planetarium in the Llaullipata Ecological Reserve for an evening star-gazing session — see thousands of stars through professional telescopes, learn southern hemisphere constellations, and discover the ancient Inca relationship with the cosmos. Book direct at cuscoplanetarium.com (~£20–25). Spend the rest of the day at leisure — browse San Pedro Market, join a free walking tour of the historic centre, or take a Peruvian cooking class bookable via GetYourGuide (~£30).

🚌Taxi to Planetarium (~£5 return)

🛏Hostel in Cusco (as Day 10)

• →Leisurely morning — San Pedro Market or colonial centre
• →Optional Peruvian cooking class via GetYourGuide (~£30)
• →Evening visit to Cusco Planetarium — star-gazing and Inca astronomy (~£22)
• →Final night dinner in Cusco — try lomo saltado or alpaca steak

Fly back to Lima from Cusco (~£60 booked in advance). Spend your final full day in Lima properly — visit the impressive Larco Museum (~£12), walk the clifftop Malecón in Miraflores, and have a farewell dinner in Barranco or at a mid-range restaurant in Miraflores. Peru's capital has a legendary food scene — splurge slightly on your last night.

🚌Domestic flight Cusco–Lima (~£60), taxi from airport (~£10)

🛏Hostel in Miraflores or Barranco (as Day 1) — approx £15–20/night

• →Fly Cusco–Lima (~£60)
• →Visit Museo Larco — stunning pre-Columbian gold collection (~£12)
• →Walk Miraflores Malecón clifftop promenade
• →Farewell dinner in Barranco or Miraflores — try tiradito or anticuchos

Depart from Jorge Chávez International Airport at any time. Take the Airport Express Lima bus (~£3) or taxi (~£10) from your hostel to the airport. Allow plenty of time for check-in — Lima's airport can be busy. Safe travels!

🚌Airport Express Lima bus (~£3) or taxi (~£10)

• →Final breakfast at hostel or local café
• →Transfer to Jorge Chávez International Airport
• →Depart Lima