Peru Jewels Self-Launched: Lima, Huacachina, Cusco & the Amazon (10 Days)
10 days · Peru
Waman Adventures charges £1,280
No-markup version: ~£1,245 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Waman Adventures' "Peru Jewels" route: Lima and the Pacific cliffs, a Paracas + Huacachina desert-and-oasis day, Cusco and the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu by train, Rainbow Mountain, then three nights in a Tambopata rainforest lodge near Puerto Maldonado. Everything is bookable yourself — local colectivos and Cruz del Sur buses, the Expedition train to Aguas Calientes, official Machu Picchu tickets bought direct at tuboleto.cultura.pe, and an Amazon eco-lodge direct by email. Costs are rough backpacker/mid-range estimates in GBP; book Machu Picchu and train tickets early as they sell out months ahead.
Day-by-day
Land in Lima, explore Miraflores & the old centre
Lima
Land at Jorge Chávez airport and take an official taxi or the Airport Express Lima bus (about £6-8) to Miraflores — plenty of hostels and budget guesthouses around Parque Kennedy for £15-25/night. In the afternoon walk the Malecón to Parque del Amor for Pacific views, then hop a Metropolitano bus or cheap taxi to the Centro Histórico. Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral exterior and the Convento de Santo Domingo are all walkable; the Museo del Banco Central de Reserva (gold vault and pre-Inca collection) is free or a couple of pounds. Finish with an artisanal ice cream and a cheap menú del día in the centre.
🚌Airport Express Lima bus (~£7) + Metropolitano/taxis (~£3)
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Miraflores (~£18-25)
- →Malecón & Parque del Amor walk
- →Plaza Mayor and Centro Histórico wander
- →Museo del Banco Central de Reserva
- →Convento de Santo Domingo
Paracas Ballestas Islands & Huacachina dunes
Paracas / Ica / Huacachina
This is the long day the tour runs privately — you can replicate it by booking a GetYourGuide or Viator 'Paracas + Huacachina full-day from Lima' tour (roughly £45-60 including boat, buggy and lunch), or do it independently: a Cruz del Sur bus Lima-Paracas takes about 3.5 hours (~£10 each way). The Ballestas Islands boat trip (~£12) delivers penguins, sea lions and the Candelabrum geoglyph. Then a local bus or shared taxi to Ica (~£2), a vineyard tasting at a bodega, and a dune buggy + sandboarding session at Huacachina (~£15-20). Buses back to Lima run into the evening; expect a late return.
🚌Cruz del Sur bus Lima-Paracas-Ica-Lima (~£20 total) or day tour transfer
🛏Same Lima hostel (~£20)
- →Ballestas Islands boat tour
- →Candelabrum geoglyph viewpoint
- →Ica vineyard wine & pisco tasting
- →Huacachina dune buggy & sandboarding
- →Sunset at the oasis lagoon
Fly to Cusco and acclimatise
Cusco
Take a morning domestic flight Lima-Cusco with Sky, LATAM or JetSMART — book well ahead for £45-75 one way. From Alejandro Velasco Astete airport it's a £2-3 taxi into the centre. Settle into a hostel in San Blas or near the Plaza de Armas (£15-25/night). Spend the afternoon going slow: coca tea, a gentle stroll around Plaza de Armas and Qorikancha's exterior, and an early night. Buy your Boleto Turístico and Machu Picchu entry online the moment you have dates — the citadel circuits sell out fast.
🚌Domestic flight LIM-CUS (~£55) + airport taxi (~£3)
🛏Hostel in Cusco centro/San Blas (~£20)
- →Acclimatisation walk around Plaza de Armas
- →Coca tea and San Blas wander
- →Buy Machu Picchu & Boleto Turístico tickets online
Sacred Valley: Chinchero, Moray, Maras & train to Aguas Calientes
Sacred Valley / Aguas Calientes
Join a shared Sacred Valley day tour (GetYourGuide, ~£25-35, or a local agency on arrival) covering Chinchero's Inca walls, a weaving demonstration, the Moray circular terraces and the Maras salt pans (small extra entry ~£3). The tour drops you at Ollantaytambo, where you catch the PeruRail or Inca Rail Expedition service to Aguas Calientes (~£45-55 one way, book weeks ahead — bring your passport). Aguas Calientes hostels run £15-25; buy your Consettur bus ticket up to Machu Picchu (~£10) the same evening to avoid the morning queue.
🚌Shared Sacred Valley tour van + Expedition train Ollantaytambo-Aguas Calientes (~£50)
🛏Budget hotel/hostel in Aguas Calientes (~£20)
- →Chinchero village and weaving co-op
- →Moray terraces
- →Maras salt mines
- →Scenic train through the Sacred Valley
Machu Picchu at sunrise, back to Cusco
Machu Picchu / Cusco
Take the first Consettur buses up (from ~5:30am) with your passport and pre-bought entry ticket (~£28 for the standard circuit; Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain add ~£22-25 and must be booked months ahead). Walk the citadel independently or pick up a licensed guide at the gate (~£10-15 each in a small group). Head back down for lunch in town, then take the afternoon Expedition train to Ollantaytambo (~£45) and a shared van or bus onward to Cusco (~£5). Evening back in your Cusco hostel.
🚌Consettur bus (~£10), Expedition train (~£45), shared van to Cusco (~£5)
🛏Hostel in Cusco (~£20)
- →Machu Picchu citadel circuit
- →Optional Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain hike
- →Optional local guide at the gate
Rainbow Mountain day hike
Vinicunca / Cusco
Book a shared Rainbow Mountain day trip locally or on GetYourGuide the night before (~£25-35, including transport, breakfast and buffet lunch; entry ~£6). Pick-up is brutal — around 4am — followed by a two-hour drive to Cusipata and the Pulawasipata trailhead at 4,600m. The hike is roughly two hours up at altitude, so take it slowly, drink water and chew coca. Horses can be hired on the trail for a small fee if the altitude bites. Back in Cusco by late afternoon — a cheap menú and early night.
🚌Shared tour minibus (~£8 of the tour price)
🛏Hostel in Cusco (~£20)
- →Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) hike
- →Ausangate views
- →Cusipata buffet lunch
Fly to Puerto Maldonado and into the Tambopata jungle
Puerto Maldonado / Tambopata
Fly Cusco-Puerto Maldonado (~£45-60; most services route via Lima, so check timings). Book a Tambopata eco-lodge directly by email or via Klook/GetYourGuide — Monte Amazónico, Sandoval Lake Lodge or similar 3-night all-inclusive packages run roughly £160-230 per person including all meals, boat transfers and guided excursions. Lodges collect you at the airport, register you, then run a motorised canoe ~1 hour down the Madre de Dios River. After lunch, walk to Monkey Island for capuchins and squirrel monkeys, then an evening boat trip looking for white caimans and capybaras.
🚌Domestic flight CUS-PEM (~£50) + lodge boat transfer
🛏Tambopata eco-lodge, dorm or private room (~£55/night all-in)
- →Madre de Dios river boat journey
- →Monkey Island
- →Night caiman-spotting boat trip
Lake Sandoval & Tambopata night walk
Tambopata National Reserve
Lodge-guided day, included in the package price. A 3km rainforest walk brings you to Lake Sandoval inside the Tambopata National Reserve (~£10 reserve entry usually extra). Navigate by traditional rowing canoe and watch for hoatzins, herons, giant river otters, black caimans, monkeys and sloths. Back for a traditional Amazonian lunch and siesta in a hammock, then a guided night walk to spot insects, frogs and nocturnal mammals. Bring a headtorch, long sleeves and light quick-dry clothing.
🚌On foot and by canoe with lodge guides
🛏Tambopata eco-lodge (~£55 all-in)
- →Lake Sandoval canoe safari
- →Rainforest nature walk
- →Guided night walk
Canopy walkway, zip-line, fishing & sunset kayak
Tambopata / Madre de Dios River
A 5:30am start for the canopy walkway, 30m above the forest floor — one of the best toucan and macaw lookouts in the Amazon. After breakfast, ride the zip-lines between platforms (included at most lodges; bring closed shoes). The afternoon is piranha and catfish fishing on the Madre de Dios, followed by a sunset kayak along the riverbank. Dinner at the lodge and one last listen to the jungle at night.
🚌Walking, zip-line and kayak (lodge-operated)
🛏Tambopata eco-lodge (~£55 all-in)
- →Canopy walkway at dawn
- →Zip-lining
- →Piranha fishing
- →Sunset kayaking
Boat out of the jungle and depart
Puerto Maldonado
Breakfast at the lodge, then the motorised canoe back upriver to Puerto Maldonado. The lodge drops you at the airport or long-distance bus terminal for your onward flight (most return via Lima) or overnight bus south. If you have time, the Mercado Central in town is a cheap and vivid introduction to Amazonian produce.
🚌Lodge boat + airport transfer (~£5)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Final river journey
- →Mercado Central wander if time allows
Self-launched vs. Waman Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Waman Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,245 | £1,280 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £35 per person (3%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Waman Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,245
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 Peru Jewels Self-Launched: Lima, Huacachina, Cusco & the Amazon (10 Days) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,245 per person for 10 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 Waman Adventures?+
Yes — Waman Adventures charges around £1,280 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,245 — a saving of roughly £35 (3%) per person.
How long is the Peru trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 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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