Self-Launched Inca Trail: Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu
7 days · Peru
G Adventures charges £710
No-markup version: ~£620 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 7-day Inca Trail trip: acclimatise in Cusco, tour the Sacred Valley by colectivo, then hike the classic 4-day, 3-night Inca Trail to Machu Picchu with a licensed local trek operator, finishing with the train back to Cusco. You book your own hostel, your own Sacred Valley transport, and your own licensed trek permit/guide through a local Cusco agency — most travellers pay £550-700 all-in versus roughly £700-950 for the commercial group tour (advertised from $899 USD / ~£710 on a 25% sale, regular $1,199 USD / ~£950).
Day-by-day
Arrive Cusco — acclimatise at 3,400m
Cusco
Fly or bus into Cusco and check into a hostel in San Blas or the historic centre. Day 1 is deliberately slow — 3,400m altitude is no joke. Drink coca tea, walk only short distances, and use the afternoon to visit a local trek agency to confirm your Inca Trail permit, briefing time and gear rental (sleeping bag ~£10, trekking poles ~£7, inflatable mat ~£10). Evening: light dinner and an early night. Note that Inca Trail permits are limited (500/day including porters) and sell out months ahead in high season — book your permit as early as possible via an authorised local operator (many are listed on GetYourGuide or bookable directly, e.g. Alpaca Expeditions, SAS Travel, Peru Treks — all licensed by SERNANP).
🚌Taxi from Cusco airport ~£4-5; or overnight bus from Lima ~£20-25 if arriving overland
🛏Hostel dorm in San Blas, Cusco (~£12-16/night)
- →Hostel check-in in San Blas
- →Trek agency briefing and gear rental
- →Inka Museum (~£2) if energy allows
Sacred Valley by colectivo — weaving co-op, Pisac, Ollantaytambo
Cusco to Ollantaytambo
Do the Sacred Valley independently on local transport. Take a colectivo or local bus from Cusco to Pisac (~£1.50, 1hr) for the famous Sunday/high-season market and the hillside ruins, then continue by colectivo to Urubamba (~£1.50). In Urubamba you can visit the Ccaccaccollo women's weaving co-operative independently (many local agencies and hostels arrange a £5-8 visit, or simply take a taxi from Pisac/Urubamba) and have lunch at a community-run farm-to-table spot — the Parwa Community Restaurant model is replicated by several village restaurants in Huchuy Qosqo and Lamay, where a set menu runs ~£5-7. Afternoon: colectivo to Ollantaytambo (~£1) to wander the cobblestone streets, climb the storehouse ruins (free with the Boleto Turístico, ~£18 for 10 sites over 10 days — worth it if you plan to see Pisac and Ollantaytambo ruins) and try chicha at a local chichería. Sleep in Ollantaytambo at 2,800m (lower altitude = better sleep before the trek).
🚌Colectivos Cusco–Pisac–Urubamba–Ollantaytambo (~£4 total)
🛏Guesthouse in Ollantaytambo (~£14-18/night)
- →Pisac market and ruins
- →Ccaccaccollo weaving co-op visit
- →Community farm-to-table lunch in the valley
- →Ollantaytambo storehouse ruins hike
- →Chichería visit
Inca Trail Day 1: Km 82 to Wayllabamba
Inca Trail
Your licensed local trek operator picks you up from Ollantaytambo in a shared van for the 1hr drive to Km 82, Piscacucho (included in your trek package, ~£380-480 for the 4-day trek including permit, guide, cook, porters, meals, campsite fees and the return train ticket — this is the single biggest line item of the trip and cannot be booked direct from SERNANP without an authorised agency). Passport control at the trailhead, then an easy warm-up day: 11km of gentle undulation along the Cusichaca river past Llactapata ruins to Wayllabamba camp at 3,000m. Porters carry up to 6kg of your gear — pack light.
🚌Shared van Ollantaytambo to Km 82 (included in trek package)
🛏Camping (tent, provided by trek operator)
- →Inca Trail checkpoint at Km 82
- →Llactapata ruins
- →First night camping at Wayllabamba
Inca Trail Day 2: Dead Woman's Pass (4,198m)
Inca Trail
The big one. Early start for the relentless climb to Warmiwañusca — Dead Woman's Pass at 4,198m, the highest point of the trek. Pace yourself, chew coca leaves, and expect 5-6 hours of uphill. Descend to Paqaymayo camp (3,600m) for the night. Most hikers are in camp by early afternoon. Bring layers: it gets cold and can rain hard at any time of year.
🚌Hiking (all transport included in trek package)
🛏Camping at Paqaymayo
- →Summit Warmiwañusca / Dead Woman's Pass (4,198m)
- →Camp at Paqaymayo
Inca Trail Day 3: Two passes, cloud forest, Phuyupatamarca
Inca Trail
Cross two passes today: Runquraqay (3,950m), with views of the Cordillera Vilcabamba on a clear day, and a second pass at 3,700m reached through cloud forest and original Inca steps. Stop at the ruins of Phuyupatamarca, the 'town above the clouds', then descend a further 1.5 hours to Wiñay Wayna ('forever young') at 2,650m — the most spectacular campsite of the trek and only 2 hours or so from the Sun Gate.
🚌Hiking (included in trek package)
🛏Camping at Wiñay Wayna
- →Runquraqay pass
- →Cloud forest descent
- →Phuyupatamarca ruins
- →Wiñay Wayna ruins and camp
Sun Gate to Machu Picchu — then train to Cusco
Machu Picchu to Cusco
Pre-dawn start to reach Inti Punku, the Sun Gate, before sunrise and catch your first view of Machu Picchu from above. Descend to the site for the included 2-hour guided tour (entrance ticket is part of your trek permit; circuit assignment is fixed by the park — Inca Trail hikers get a specific circuit plus Sun Gate access). After the tour, take the shuttle bus down to Aguas Calientes (~£10 one-way, or walk the 1,500 steps for free in about an hour) and catch the afternoon PeruRail or Inca Rail train back to Ollantaytambo/Poroy (~£45-65 one-way, included in most local trek packages but sometimes priced separately — check before booking). Shared van or bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco (~£3) or take the train straight through to Poroy and a taxi in. Hostel in Cusco, hot shower, big dinner.
🚌Shuttle bus Aguas Calientes ~£10; train Aguas Calientes–Ollantaytambo ~£50 (often included in trek package); van to Cusco ~£3
🛏Hostel dorm in Cusco (~£12-16/night)
- →Sun Gate sunrise
- →Guided Machu Picchu tour (Circuit assigned by park)
- →Shuttle bus or walk down to Aguas Calientes
- →Scenic train back toward Cusco
Cusco — museums, markets, departure
Cusco
A free day in Cusco before flying out. Options: San Pedro market for breakfast and cheap souvenirs, Qorikancha and the Museo Inka, San Blas artisan lanes, or a half-day Rainbow Mountain trip if you still have legs and altitude tolerance (~£20-25 booked via any Cusco agency or GetYourGuide, including transport and entrance — leave very early). Note Rainbow Mountain sits at 5,000m, so only go if you've fully acclimatised. Taxi to the airport for departure.
🚌Taxi to Cusco airport ~£4-5; local transport in Cusco ~£2
🛏Checkout / onward travel
- →San Pedro market
- →Museo Inka (~£2) or Qorikancha (~£4)
- →San Blas wandering
- →Optional Rainbow Mountain day trip (~£22)
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£620 | £710 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £90 per person (13%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£620
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 Self-Launched Inca Trail: Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £620 per person for 7 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 £710 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £620 — a saving of roughly £90 (13%) per person.
How long is the Peru trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 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, hiking, culture 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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