Self-Launched Peru Family Adventure: Lima, Amazon & Machu Picchu
9 days · Peru
Intrepid Travel charges £2,290
No-markup version: ~£835 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
This self-launched version of Intrepid Travel's Peru Family Holiday covers all the same iconic stops — Lima's historic centre, the Amazon jungle near Puerto Maldonado, Cusco's ancient streets, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu — at a fraction of the guided tour price. You'll swap the group tour operator markup for direct bookings, local buses, and independent hostel/guesthouse stays, while keeping every core experience intact. Costs below are estimated per person and assume a family of 2 adults sharing rooms; internal flights (Lima–Puerto Maldonado, Puerto Maldonado–Cusco) are the biggest variable cost and are included in estimates. All figures are approximate.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Lima — Miraflores & Historic Centre
Lima
Fly into Jorge Chávez International Airport and take the Airport Express Lima bus (~£4pp) or a pre-booked taxi (~£12 for the car) to your guesthouse in Miraflores. Spend the afternoon exploring Miraflores on foot — stroll through Parque Kennedy (Central Park), visit Lovers' Park overlooking the Pacific cliffs, and wander the seafront Malecón. In the evening, head to the historic centre via Lima's Metropolitano BRT bus (~£0.50pp) to visit the free Museum of the Inquisition and the stunning San Francisco Monastery & Catacombs (bookable directly or via GetYourGuide, ~£10pp). End with a classic Pisco Sour at a local bar in Barranco.
🚌Airport Express Lima bus from airport to Miraflores (~£4pp); Metropolitano BRT to city centre (~£0.50pp)
🛏Hostal El Patio Miraflores or similar 3-star guesthouse in Miraflores (~£20–28pp/night in a private twin)
- →Explore Miraflores on foot: Parque Kennedy, Lovers' Park, Malecón clifftop walk
- →San Francisco Monastery & Catacombs guided tour — book via GetYourGuide (~£10pp)
- →Museum of the Inquisition — free entry
- →Pisco Sour tasting at a local bar in Barranco (~£5)
- →Optional: Day trip to Pachacamac archaeological site by taxi/colectivo (~£8pp return + £5 entry)
Lima to Puerto Maldonado — Into the Amazon
Puerto Maldonado / Amazon Jungle
Take an early flight from Lima to Puerto Maldonado (book in advance via LATAM or Sky Airline, ~£80–110pp one-way). On arrival, arrange a motorised canoe transfer upriver to a jungle lodge in the Tambopata Reserve. Several lodges accept independent bookings — Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica and Posada Amazonas (run by the Ese Eja community) are great options. Your lodge package will typically include a nocturnal caiman-spotting river boat tour in the evening. Dinner is included at the lodge.
🚌Domestic flight Lima–Puerto Maldonado (~£80–110pp); motorised canoe to lodge (~£10–15pp)
🛏Posada Amazonas Eco-Lodge or similar community lodge in Tambopata (~£55–70pp/night full board)
- →Flight Lima to Puerto Maldonado — book via LATAM/Sky Airline (~£80–110pp)
- →Motorised canoe transfer upriver to jungle lodge (~£10–15pp, arranged via lodge)
- →Traditional Amazonian archery lesson at lodge (usually included in lodge package)
- →Nocturnal river boat caiman-spotting tour (included in most lodge packages)
Amazon Jungle — Wildlife, Lake & Shaman
Amazon Jungle, Tambopata
A full day immersed in the Amazon. Most Tambopata lodges offer guided hikes to Tres Chimbadas oxbow lake for birdwatching and wildlife spotting (giant river otters, macaws, capybaras). In the afternoon, join the lodge's traditional medicine garden tour with a local guide or shaman, including a visit to the medicine preparation laboratory. End the day with a guided night nature walk through the jungle. All meals included at the lodge.
🚌No transport needed — all activities based at/near lodge
🛏Posada Amazonas Eco-Lodge or similar (full board, ~£55–70pp/night)
- →Guided hike to Tres Chimbadas oxbow lake — birdwatching and wildlife spotting (included in lodge)
- →Traditional medicine garden tour and shaman demonstration (included in lodge)
- →Medicine preparation laboratory visit (included in lodge)
- →Guided night nature walk (included in lodge)
Amazon to Cusco — City of the Incas
Puerto Maldonado → Cusco
Take the morning canoe back to Puerto Maldonado, then catch an afternoon flight to Cusco (book via LATAM/Sky Airline, ~£60–80pp). On arrival in Cusco (altitude 3,400m — take it easy and hydrate well), check into your guesthouse in the San Blas or Plaza de Armas neighbourhood. Spend the rest of the afternoon acclimatising with a gentle walk around the Plaza de Armas, admiring the Cathedral and the perfectly fitted Inca stone walls. Grab dinner at a local restaurant on Plateros street.
🚌Domestic flight Puerto Maldonado–Cusco (~£60–80pp); walk or taxi from airport (~£5 for the car)
🛏Casa San Blas Boutique Hotel or Pariwana Hostel Cusco (~£18–28pp/night in a private twin)
- →Canoe transfer back to Puerto Maldonado (included with lodge)
- →Flight Puerto Maldonado to Cusco — book via LATAM/Sky Airline (~£60–80pp)
- →Gentle acclimatisation walk around Plaza de Armas — free
- →Visit Inca walls around the historic centre — free
- →Dinner at local restaurant on Plateros street (~£8–12pp)
Cusco — San Blas, Music & Boleto Turístico
Cusco
A full day exploring Cusco independently. Start with a self-guided walk through the artisan neighbourhood of San Blas, stopping to watch local craftspeople at work. Book a local music experience through GetYourGuide or Klook — traditional Peruvian music lessons including zampona (panpipe) making are widely available (~£20–30pp). Purchase the Boleto Turístico del Cusco (full pass ~£35pp), which grants access to 16 archaeological sites including Sacsayhuamán, Qorikancha (Coricancha), and several museums. Optional afternoon: join a Cusco cooking class via Airbnb Experiences or GetYourGuide (~£25pp).
🚌Walking throughout; taxi to Sacsayhuamán if needed (~£3 for the car)
🛏Casa San Blas Boutique Hotel or Pariwana Hostel Cusco (~£18–28pp/night)
- →Self-guided walk through San Blas artisan neighbourhood — free
- →Traditional Peruvian music lesson and zampona (panpipe) making — book via GetYourGuide (~£20–30pp)
- →Boleto Turístico del Cusco full pass — 16 sites (~£35pp, buy at COSITUC office)
- →Visit Sacsayhuamán fortress with Boleto Turístico (included in pass)
- →Optional: Cusco cooking class via GetYourGuide or Airbnb Experiences (~£25pp)
- →Optional: Pisco Making Urban Adventure — book via GetYourGuide (~£20pp)
Sacred Valley — Weaving, Llamas, Maras & Moray
Sacred Valley / Ollantaytambo
Take a shared colectivo minivan from Cusco's Pavitos terminal to Pisac (~£1.50pp, 1hr) and explore the Sacred Valley independently. Head to the Andean community of Ocotuan or Chinchero for a weaving demonstration and the chance to feed llamas, alpacas, and guinea pigs — community tourism visits can be booked via local operators in Cusco (~£15–20pp including lunch). Afterwards, hire a local taxi for the day (~£40–50 for the car) to visit the stunning Maras salt ponds and the circular Moray agricultural terraces. End the day in Ollantaytambo, a living Inca town where you'll base yourself for the Machu Picchu day.
🚌Colectivo Cusco–Pisac (~£1.50pp); shared taxi for Maras/Moray (~£40–50 for the car); local taxi to Ollantaytambo (~£8–10 for the car)
🛏KB Tambo Hotel Ollantaytambo or Hostal Los Andes (~£15–22pp/night in a private twin)
- →Colectivo minivan from Cusco to Sacred Valley (~£1.50pp)
- →Weaving demonstration and community lunch at Andean community (~£15–20pp via local operator)
- →Feed llamas, alpacas, and guinea pigs (included in community visit)
- →Visit Maras Salt Ponds — entrance ~£3pp (taxi from Valley ~£40 for the car shared)
- →Visit Moray terraces — covered by Boleto Turístico pass
- →Explore Ollantaytambo archaeological site — covered by Boleto Turístico pass
Machu Picchu Day Trip
Ollantaytambo → Aguas Calientes → Machu Picchu
The highlight of the trip. Take the Inca Rail or Peru Rail train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (~£35–50pp each way — book well in advance at incarail.com or perurail.com). From Aguas Calientes, take the Consettur bus up to Machu Picchu (~£12pp return). Book your Machu Picchu entrance ticket in advance online at machupicchu.gob.pe (~£35–45pp) — slots sell out months ahead, so book as early as possible. A self-guided audio tour app (e.g. Rick Steves or Izi.travel) works well, or hire an on-site licensed guide at the entrance (~£20 for the group). Return by bus and train to Ollantaytambo in the afternoon/evening.
🚌Train Ollantaytambo–Aguas Calientes return (~£70–100pp); bus Aguas Calientes–Machu Picchu return (~£12pp)
🛏KB Tambo Hotel Ollantaytambo or Hostal Los Andes (~£15–22pp/night)
- →Peru Rail or Inca Rail train Ollantaytambo–Aguas Calientes (~£35–50pp each way — book in advance)
- →Consettur bus Aguas Calientes–Machu Picchu return (~£12pp)
- →Machu Picchu entrance ticket — book online at machupicchu.gob.pe (~£35–45pp)
- →Self-guided tour with audio app or hire licensed guide at entrance (~£20 for the group)
- →Explore Aguas Calientes town and hot springs on return (~£5pp for hot springs)
Ollantaytambo to Cusco — Final Explorations
Ollantaytambo → Cusco
Take a colectivo or shared taxi back to Cusco in the morning (~£2–3pp, 1.5hrs from Ollantaytambo). Use your remaining Boleto Turístico credit to visit Qorikancha (Coricancha Temple) — the most important Inca temple, now partly overlaid by Santo Domingo church. Wander the Plaza de Armas, browse the San Pedro market, and pick up souvenirs. Enjoy a farewell dinner at one of Cusco's excellent restaurants — try Chicha by Gastón Acurio for upscale Peruvian or MAP Café for something special.
🚌Colectivo/shared taxi Ollantaytambo–Cusco (~£2–3pp)
🛏Casa San Blas Boutique Hotel or Pariwana Hostel Cusco (~£18–28pp/night)
- →Colectivo or shared taxi Ollantaytambo to Cusco (~£2–3pp)
- →Visit Qorikancha (Coricancha Temple) — partially covered by Boleto Turístico or ~£8pp entry
- →Plaza de Armas walk and Cusco Cathedral visit (~£8pp for Cathedral)
- →Browse San Pedro market — free
- →Farewell dinner at a local Cusco restaurant (~£15–25pp)
Depart Cusco
Cusco
Final morning in Cusco. Depending on your departure flight, grab a last breakfast at Mercado San Pedro or a café in San Blas. Take a taxi to Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (~£5 for the car) for your onward flight. Note: international flights home are not included in the cost estimates for this itinerary — book separately.
🚌Taxi to Cusco airport (~£5 for the car)
🛏N/A — departure day
- →Final breakfast at Mercado San Pedro or local café (~£3–5pp)
- →Last-minute souvenir shopping in San Blas (~budget as desired)
- →Taxi to Cusco airport (~£5 for the car)
Self-launched vs. Intrepid Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Intrepid Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£835 | £2,290 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,455 per person (64%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Intrepid Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£835
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 Peru Family Adventure: Lima, Amazon & Machu Picchu cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £835 per person for 9 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 Intrepid Travel?+
Yes — Intrepid Travel charges around £2,290 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £835 — a saving of roughly £1,455 (64%) per person.
How long is the Peru trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 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, wildlife 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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