Inca Explorer: Self-Launched Peru Highlights
15 days · Peru
G Adventures charges £2,350
No-markup version: ~£1,180 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 15-day "Inca Explorer" loop from Lima back to Lima — coast, desert, colonial highlands, Lake Titicaca and Machu Picchu. Instead of a CEO-led group in comfort hotels with private vans and two domestic flights, you'll use Peru's excellent long-distance buses (Cruz del Sur, Oltursa), colectivos, the PeruRail/Inca Rail valley train and one cheap domestic flight, staying in hostels and family guesthouses along the way. All the headline experiences — Ballestas Islands boat trip, Huacachina oasis, Chauchilla mummies, Santa Catalina Convent, the Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu and the Uros/Taquile islands — are bookable direct or via GetYourGuide/Klook for a fraction of the tour price. Costs are rough backpacker estimates in GBP and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Lima — Miraflores & Barranco
Lima
Land at Jorge Chávez International Airport and make your own way into town: the official airport taxi desk charges a fixed ~£22 (about $27) to Miraflores, or take the Airport Express Lima bus for ~£7. Check into a Miraflores or Barranco hostel. Spend the late afternoon walking the Malecón clifftop path and the Barranco street-art lanes, then eat ceviche and lomo saltado at a local menú del día spot (~£5-7). Note: central Lima can be sketchy at night — stick to well-lit areas and use taxis after dark.
🚌Official airport taxi ~£22 or Airport Express Lima bus ~£7
🛏Hostel dorm in Miraflores/Barranco (~£12-15/night)
- →Malecón sunset walk
- →Barranco street art & Puente de los Suspiros
- →Ceviche dinner in a local huarique
Lima to Paracas — coastal bus & Pisco Sours
Paracas
Take an early Cruz del Sur or Oltursa bus from Lima to Paracas (~4 hours, ~£10-13 for a reclining seat, book online in advance). Drop bags at a guesthouse near the waterfront and spend the afternoon in the Paracas National Reserve — hire a shared taxi or join a small shuttle tour to the red-sand Playa Roja and the Cathedral rock formation (~£8). Evening: sample a Pisco Sour at a seafront bar in this sleepy little town.
🚌Cruz del Sur Lima–Paracas bus ~£11; local shared taxi into the reserve ~£8
🛏Beach guesthouse/hostel in Paracas (~£14/night)
- →Paracas National Reserve & Playa Roja
- →Cathedral rock viewpoint
- →Pisco Sour at the harbour
Ballestas Islands, Huacachina & on to Nazca
Nazca
Take the 8am shared boat out to the Ballestas Islands (~£15-18, book direct at the pier or via GetYourGuide) to see sea lion colonies, Humboldt penguins and guano-covered bird cliffs — bring a hat and sunglasses, there's spray. Return, then catch an afternoon bus south to Ica/Nazca (~2 hrs). Stop at Huacachina oasis for dune views (and optional sandboarding/buggy ride ~£15 if you fancy it), then continue to Nazca town for the night.
🚌Shared boat ~£16; bus Paracas–Ica ~£5, Ica–Nazca ~£4; colectivo to Huacachina ~£1
🛏Family hostal in Nazca (~£12/night)
- →Ballestas Islands boat trip
- →Huacachina oasis
- →Optional dune buggy & sandboarding
Nazca mummies, pottery & optional Nazca Lines flight
Nazca
Hire a local taxi or join a small-group tour to the Chauchilla Cemetery (~45 min out of town, ~£10-15 including entry) to see the 1,500-year-old mummies, bones and pottery lying in the desert. Combine with a visit to a local pottery workshop in Nazca town for a live demonstration. In the afternoon, brave the optional light-aircraft flight over the Nazca Lines (~£70-90, book direct with one of the airstrip operators) — or view the lines cheaper from the Mirador metal tower just outside town. Dinner: a traditional pachamanca-style meal if a local restaurant has it on.
🚌Local taxi/tour to Chauchilla ~£12
🛏Family hostal in Nazca (~£12/night)
- →Chauchilla Cemetery mummy tour
- →Nazca pottery workshop demonstration
- →Optional Nazca Lines overflight or Mirador viewpoint
Long bus day to Arequipa
Arequipa
A full travel day down the coast and up into the Andes. Take a morning Cruz del Sur bus Nazca–Arequipa (~10-11 hrs, ~£22-28 for a cama/reclining seat with meals served onboard). It's scenic once you climb inland — the desert gives way to volcanic peaks. Arrive after dark; grab a taxi (~£2) to your hostal in the historic centre and eat at a picantería.
🚌Cruz del Sur Nazca–Arequipa overnight/day bus ~£25
🛏Hostal in the Arequipa historic centre (~£14/night)
- →Scenic Andean bus crossing
- →Evening picantería dinner
Arequipa — Santa Catalina Convent & city
Arequipa
Visit the Monastery of Santa Catalina (entry ~£11, open daily) — a surreal walled city-within-a-city of cloisters and candy-coloured alleys. Then take a self-guided wander of the Plaza de Armas, the cathedral (small entry fee) and the Juanita mummy museum at Museo Santuarios Andinos (~£7). Check out the free rooftop views from a café terrace. Optional half-day rafting or Colca Canyon day tour can be booked locally if you want to extend your stay.
🚌Walking city day
🛏Hostal in Arequipa (~£14/night)
- →Santa Catalina Monastery
- →Plaza de Armas & cathedral
- →Museo Santuarios Andinos (Juanita mummy)
Fly to Cusco — acclimatise
Cusco
Fly Arequipa to Cusco (~1 hr, ~£55-80 one-way with LATAM/Sky/Viva, book 2-4 weeks ahead). The altitude hits hard (3,400 m) — take it slow. Check into a hostal in San Blas, drink coca tea, and wander the Plaza de Armas and the San Pedro market. Avoid heavy meals and booze today. Buy your Boleto Turístico (partial ~£12 or full ~£25) for Cusco-area ruins here.
🚌Domestic flight Arequipa–Cusco ~£65; airport taxi ~£4
🛏Hostal in San Blas, Cusco (~£15/night)
- →Plaza de Armas & San Blas lanes
- →San Pedro Market
- →Boleto Turístico purchase
Sacred Valley: Pisac, Ollantaytambo & weaving co-op
Ollantaytambo / Urubamba
Skip the private van — take a colectivo or local bus from Cusco to Pisac (~1 hr, ~£2) for the famous Sunday-style craft market and hillside ruins. Continue by colectivo to Urubamba (~£1.50), then on to Ollantaytambo (~£1) to explore the terraced fortress ruins (included in your Boleto Turístico). En route, visit the Ccaccaccollo women's weaving co-operative — reachable by colectivo from Pisac/Calca, or book a small-group Sacred Valley tour (~£25-35 via GetYourGuide) that includes weaving demos and a community lunch, which often replicates the Parwa farm-to-table experience at a fraction of the group tour price. Overnight in Ollantaytambo or Urubamba.
🚌Colectivos Cusco–Pisac–Urubamba–Ollantaytambo ~£5 total
🛏Guesthouse in Ollantaytambo/Urubamba (~£14/night)
- →Pisac market & ruins
- →Ccaccaccollo weaving co-op
- →Ollantaytambo fortress ruins
- →Sacred Valley community lunch
Train through the Urubamba Valley to Aguas Calientes
Aguas Calientes
Take the morning PeruRail or Inca Rail train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (~1.5 hrs, ~£45-60 one-way; book weeks ahead — this sells out). The valley scenery is spectacular. Drop bags and head for the hot springs (~£4 entry) or the Mandor butterfly gardens (~£5) if you want a gentle afternoon. Buy your Machu Picchu entry ticket online in advance (~£35-45 adult) plus the bus up (~£10 round trip). Sleep early — tomorrow is a big day.
🚌PeruRail/Inca Rail train ~£50; Machu Picchu shuttle bus ~£10 return
🛏Hostal in Aguas Calientes (~£18/night)
- →Scenic Urubamba Valley train ride
- →Aguas Calientes hot springs
- →Optional Mandor Gardens or butterfly house
Machu Picchu & return to Cusco
Cusco
Catch the first buses up (~5:30am) for sunrise over the citadel. Enter with your pre-booked ticket and either self-guide with an audio guide/app (~£5) or hire a licensed guide at the gate (~£15-20 split between a few travellers). Walk to the Inca Bridge (free, passport check) if you have the energy. Train back to Ollantaytambo or Poroy in the afternoon (~£50), then colectivo/bus to Cusco (~£3). Collapse in your hostal.
🚌Shuttle bus up/down Machu Picchu ~£10 (already counted); train back ~£50; onward bus to Cusco ~£3
🛏Hostal in Cusco (~£15/night)
- →Sunrise at Machu Picchu
- →Inca Bridge walk
- →Optional licensed guide or audio guide
Free day in Cusco
Cusco
Pick your Cusco highlight: the Museo de Arte Precolombino (~£7), Qorikancha Sun Temple (~£5) and Sacsayhuamán ruins (covered by your Boleto Turístico), or something active — whitewater rafting (~£25-30), mountain biking or via ferrata. Book through a San Blas agency the day before. Evening: eat at a mercado comedor or a cheap Chifa; Cusco is great value.
🚌Walking / local taxi ~£3
🛏Hostal in Cusco (~£15/night)
- →Museo de Arte Precolombino or Qorikancha
- →Sacsayhuamán ruins
- →Optional rafting or mountain biking
Cusco to Puno across the Altiplano
Puno
Travel to Puno by Cruz del Sur or Oltursa overnight/day bus (~6-7 hrs, ~£15-20) or by the scenic Inca Express/PeruRail Titicaca train (~£190 — pricey, skip unless you love trains). The bus crosses the high Altiplano past herds of alpaca. Arrive into Puno, an atmospheric port town on Lake Titicaca, and check into a guesthouse near the centre. Eat trucha (trout) from the lake.
🚌Bus Cusco–Puno ~£17
🛏Guesthouse in Puno (~£12/night)
- →Altiplano bus crossing
- →Puno lakeside walk
- →Trucha dinner
Uros floating islands & Taquile Island
Puno
Book a full-day Lake Titicaca boat tour from the pier or via GetYourGuide (~£18-25 including entry fees), visiting the Uros floating reed islands and Taquile Island, where you'll walk to the hilltop plaza and eat a home-cooked lunch with a local family. Slow boats take about 6-7 hrs; book the speedboat option if short on time. Back in Puno by evening — optional side trip to the Sillustani burial towers next morning if you like.
🚌Shared lake boat ~£20
🛏Guesthouse in Puno (~£12/night)
- →Uros floating islands
- →Taquile Island hike & community lunch
Puno to Lima
Lima
Fly Puno (Juliaca airport, ~45 min by shared taxi ~£4) back to Lima (~1.5 hrs, ~£60-90 with LATAM/Sky, book ahead) or take a long overnight bus back to Lima (~21 hrs, ~£30-40 cama). Flying is worth it for a 15-day trip. Spend the evening in Miraflores catching your breath before departure — a last pisco sour and a barrio supper.
🚌Shared taxi to Juliaca ~£4; domestic flight ~£75
🛏Hostel in Miraflores (~£13/night)
- →Return to Lima
- →Miraflores evening stroll
Depart Lima
Lima
Last breakfast in a local café, optional souvenir stop at the Mercado Indio in Miraflores, then taxi or Airport Express bus to Jorge Chávez for your international flight home. If you have spare hours, the Museo Larco in Pueblo Libre (~£8, taxi ~£4) is superb for pre-Columbian ceramics.
🚌Taxi to airport ~£22 or Airport Express bus ~£7
🛏None (departure day)
- →Mercado Indio souvenir shopping
- →Optional Museo Larco
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,180 | £2,350 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,170 per person (50%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,180
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 Inca Explorer: Self-Launched Peru Highlights cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,180 per person for 15 days in Peru. 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 £2,350 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,180 — a saving of roughly £1,170 (50%) per person.
How long is the Peru trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 day-by-day stops through Peru.
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, 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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