Inca Trail & Amazon Rainforest Self-Launched Adventure – 15 Days in Peru

Fly into Jorge Chávez International Airport and make your way to the Miraflores district — the best base in Lima for first-timers. Take the Airport Express Lima bus (~£3) or a pre-booked taxi (~£12) to your hostel. Miraflores is safe, lively and full of great restaurants. Spend the evening exploring the Larcomar seafront mall or grab a classic pisco sour at a local bar.

🚌Airport Express Lima bus to Miraflores (~£3) or taxi (~£12)

🛏Hostal Buena Vista or Pariwana Hostel Lima (Miraflores) — from £18/night in a dorm, £35 private

• →Settle in to your Miraflores hostel
• →Walk the Malecón clifftop promenade at sunset
• →Try ceviche or anticuchos at a local huarique restaurant

Take an early domestic flight from Lima to Puerto Maldonado (~£60–90 booked in advance via LATAM or Sky Airline). On arrival, arrange a pre-booked transfer to the river port, then take a motorised canoe boat deep into the Tambopata National Reserve to your jungle lodge (1.5–3.5 hrs on the river). Watch for caimans, river turtles and macaws en route. All meals are typically included at jungle lodges.

🚌LATAM/Sky Airline domestic flight Lima–Puerto Maldonado (~£70 avg); shared transfer to river port (~£5); motorised canoe to lodge (included by lodge)

🛏Tambopata Research Center, Corto Maltes Amazonia, or similar budget lodge — from £50–70/night including meals

• →Domestic flight Lima → Puerto Maldonado
• →Motorised canoe journey into Tambopata Reserve
• →Spot wildlife: caimans, turtles, tropical birds

Spend a full day exploring the rainforest on foot and by canoe with your lodge guides. Trek through primary jungle, paddle through oxbow lakes and look for giant otters, howler monkeys, macaws, hoatzin, and hundreds of insect and reptile species. Most lodges include guided walks, canoe trips and night walks in their rates.

🚌All transport within lodge grounds

🛏Tambopata jungle lodge (as Day 2)

• →Guided primary jungle walk (included with lodge)
• →Paddle canoe on oxbow lake — spot giant otters
• →Night walk to find caimans and nocturnal wildlife

Another full day in the jungle. Many lodges offer visits to a macaw clay lick (collpa) at dawn — a spectacular sight as hundreds of parrots and macaws descend to feed. Afternoon options include piranha fishing, medicinal plant walks or a visit to a local community. Soak in the extraordinary biodiversity of the world's largest rainforest.

🚌All transport within lodge grounds

🛏Tambopata jungle lodge (as Day 2)

• →Dawn visit to macaw clay lick (collpa)
• →Piranha fishing on the river
• →Medicinal plant walk with local guide

Rise at dawn for the boat back to Puerto Maldonado (howler monkeys are especially vocal at this hour). Fly to Cuzco (~£50–80). At 3,400m, take it easy your first afternoon to acclimatise — drink plenty of coca tea. Wander the Plaza de Armas, browse the San Pedro Market, and explore the colonial streets built on Inca foundations. Book a private room if altitude affects your sleep.

🚌Motorised canoe back to Puerto Maldonado (lodge-arranged); domestic flight Puerto Maldonado–Cuzco (~£65 avg via LATAM/Sky)

🛏Loki Hostel Cuzco or Pariwana Hostel Cuzco — from £12/dorm, £30/private

• →Arrive in Cuzco, acclimatise with coca tea
• →Wander Plaza de Armas and Cathedral
• →Browse Mercado San Pedro for local produce

Use this acclimatisation day to explore Cuzco or take a day trip to the Sacred Valley. A shared minibus tour of the Sacred Valley including Pisac market and Ollantaytambo fortress can be booked locally for ~£15–25. Alternatively, take a colectivo to Sacsayhuaman ruins above the city (entry included in Cuzco Tourist Ticket, ~£35). This is also your last chance to finalise your Inca Trail gear and confirm your permit booking.

🚌Colectivo or shared minibus to Sacred Valley (~£3–5 each way) or organised day tour (~£20)

🛏Loki Hostel Cuzco or Pariwana Hostel Cuzco (as Day 5)

• →Optional Sacred Valley day tour via shared minibus (~£15–25)
• →Visit Sacsayhuaman ruins (Cuzco Tourist Ticket ~£35)
• →Gear check and Inca Trail permit confirmation

Your licensed Inca Trail operator (required by Peruvian law — book well in advance as only 500 permits issued per day) picks you up early in Cuzco for the 1.5hr drive to the trailhead at Km82 (Piscacucho). Check in at the checkpoint with your passport and permit. Trek 11km along the Vilcanota River past cactus gardens and Inca terraces to Llactapata ruins, then up the Cusichaca Valley to camp at Huayllabamba (2,800m). Your licensed operator provides porters, cook and trekking guide as required by law.

🚌Shared transfer from Cuzco to Km82 trailhead (included by operator)

🛏Huayllabamba Camp – full-service camping provided by licensed operator (included in permit package)

• →Trek 11km from Km82 trailhead along Vilcanota River
• →Visit Llactapata Inca ruins
• →Camp at Huayllabamba (2,800m)

The toughest day of the trek. A steady climb through cloud forest leads to the meadows of Llulluchapampa, before the steep ascent to Dead Woman's Pass (Warmihuañusca) — the highest point on the trail at 4,215m. Stunning views reward the effort. Descend steeply on original Inca stone steps to the scenic Pacaymayu River valley campsite (3,600m). Take it slow, stay hydrated and enjoy every step.

🚌On foot

🛏Pacaymayu Camp – full-service camping (included in permit package)

• →Trek 10km — summit Dead Woman's Pass (4,215m)
• →Descend on original Inca stone steps to Pacaymayu
• →Star-gazing at Andean altitude campsite

Trek 12km over the Runquracay Pass (3,930m) past the ruins of Runquracay, then along a beautifully preserved Inca road to the dramatic cliff-top ruins of Sayacmarca (3,625m). Continue through cloud forest to the spectacular ridge campsite at Phuyupatamarca (3,680m) with views of Salkantay mountain. This is considered the most archaeologically rich day of the trail.

🚌On foot

🛏Phuyupatamarca Camp – full-service camping (included in permit package)

• →Trek 12km over Runquracay Pass (3,930m)
• →Explore Sayacmarca cliff-top ruins
• →Sunset views of Salkantay from Phuyupatamarca camp

The final 9km descent begins with the famous 2km Inca stone staircase down into cloud forest. Stop at the beautiful ruins of Wiñay Wayna for lunch before continuing through wild orchid-lined trail to Inti Punku (the Sun Gate). Your first full view of Machu Picchu with Huayna Picchu rising behind — an unforgettable moment. Arrive in the afternoon for unobstructed photos before the buses arrive. Take the return bus (~£10 return) down to Aguas Calientes for a hot shower and well-earned bed.

🚌Bus from Machu Picchu ruins to Aguas Calientes (~£5 one-way)

🛏Hostal Presidente or El Mapi Hotel Aguas Calientes — from £25/dorm, £50/private

• →Trek 9km — descend the legendary Inca stone staircase
• →Explore Wiñay Wayna ruins
• →First views of Machu Picchu from Sun Gate (Inti Punku)

Rise early and take the first bus back up to Machu Picchu (~£24 return). Entrance tickets must be booked in advance online (£30–45 depending on circuit). Hire a local certified guide at the gate (~£25 for 2hrs) or book in advance via GetYourGuide for a private or group guided tour. Spend the morning exploring the citadel before catching the PeruRail or Inca Rail train from Aguas Calientes back to Ollantaytambo (~£35–60), then a shared bus or colectivo back to Cuzco (~£3).

🚌Bus to Machu Picchu ruins and back (~£24 return); train Aguas Calientes–Ollantaytambo (~£40); shared bus/colectivo to Cuzco (~£3)

🛏Loki Hostel Cuzco or Pariwana Hostel Cuzco — from £12/dorm, £30/private

• →Morning guided tour of Machu Picchu (hire guide at gate ~£25 or book via GetYourGuide)
• →Explore the citadel independently — Temple of the Sun, Intihuatana, terraces
• →PeruRail or Inca Rail train Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo (~£40)

Take the tourist bus from Cuzco to Puno (10hrs including stops) operated by companies like Turismo Mer or Peru Hop (~£15–25). The route crosses the sweeping altiplano with stops at Andahuaylillas church, Raqchi ruins and the La Raya pass. Pack snacks and layers — it gets cold at altitude. Arrive in Puno in the evening, a chilly but atmospheric town on the shores of the world's highest navigable lake.

🚌Tourist bus Cuzco to Puno (~£20, ~10hrs with stops, book via Turismo Mer or Peru Hop)

🛏Casona Plaza Hotel or Hostal Los Uros Puno — from £15/private room

• →Tourist bus Cuzco–Puno with scenic altiplano stops (~£20)
• →Stop at Raqchi Inca ruins and Andahuaylillas church (en route)
• →Evening arrive in Puno — explore the lakefront

Book a two-day Lake Titicaca boat tour from the Puno port (from ~£25–35 pp) which includes visits to the Uros floating reed islands and an overnight homestay on Amantani Island. The Uros communities demonstrate traditional reed-weaving and boat-making. On Amantani, stay with a local family — they'll provide meals and share their way of life. Optional sunset hike to the top of the island for panoramic Andean views.

🚌Shared boat tour from Puno port (~£25–35 pp for 2-day tour, bookable at Puno port or via local agencies)

🛏Amantani Island homestay with local family (basic but authentic, meals included) — from £15–20 pp

• →Boat tour from Puno to Uros floating reed islands
• →Visit Titinos/Uros communities — see traditional reed construction
• →Homestay on Amantani Island with local family (meals included)

Morning boat back to the Puno/Chifron Bay peninsula area. Take a shared taxi or bus to Juliaca airport (~45min, ~£5–8). Fly Juliaca to Lima (~£60–90 via LATAM or Sky Airline — book well in advance). Arrive Lima in the afternoon with time to rest or explore Barranco, Lima's bohemian arts district, just south of Miraflores. Treat yourself to a celebratory dinner — Lima has world-class restaurants at every price point.

🚌Shared boat back to mainland (included in tour); shared taxi to Juliaca airport (~£6); domestic flight Juliaca–Lima (~£75)

🛏Hostal Buena Vista or Pariwana Hostel Lima (Miraflores) — from £18/dorm, £35/private

• →Morning boat back to Puno mainland
• →Shared taxi to Juliaca airport (~45 min, ~£6)
• →Fly Juliaca–Lima (~£75); explore Barranco neighbourhood

Your last morning in Peru — enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your hostel or a local café. If time allows before your flight, visit the Larco Museum (pre-Inca artefacts, ~£10) in Pueblo Libre, or stroll through Miraflores and Barranco one more time. Stock up on pisco, chocolate and textiles at the Surquillo market. Head to the airport with plenty of time — Lima traffic can be unpredictable.

🚌Taxi or Airport Express bus to Jorge Chávez International Airport (~£3–12)

🛏Check-out — departure day

• →Visit Museo Larco (~£10) — world-class pre-Columbian collection
• →Browse Mercado de Surquillo for last-minute souvenirs
• →Depart Lima — farewell to Peru