The Inca Trail Experience — Self-Launched 8 Days in Peru
8 days · Peru
Alpaca Expeditions charges £1,010
No-markup version: ~£700 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Alpaca Expeditions' 8-day Inca Trail programme: Cusco acclimatisation, the Sacred Valley, the classic 4-day Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu, and a Rainbow Mountain day hike. You book the Inca Trail permit and trail trek through a licensed operator (or chase a last-minute permit), arrange your own Sacred Valley and Rainbow Mountain days with local colectivos and shared tours, and stay in hostels and guesthouses in Cusco and Ollantaytambo. The big win is flexibility and lower accommodation/food costs, though note that Inca Trail permits are a fixed government fee that can't be avoided.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Cusco — acclimatise and explore
Cusco
Land at Alejandro Velasco Astete airport (or arrive by bus from Lima/Arequipa) and take a cheap taxi or airport bus into the historic centre (~£3-5). Check into a hostel in San Blas or near Plaza de Armas. Spend the day very gently: coca tea, a slow walk around Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral and the Qorikancha exterior. Buy a Boleto Turistico (partial ticket S/70 ~£15) and get a SIM card (Claro/Bitel, ~£5). Drink plenty of water and sleep early — altitude at 3,400m is no joke.
🚌Airport taxi to centre ~£3-5; no other transport needed
🛏Hostel dorm or private room in Cusco historic centre (£10-18)
- →Plaza de Armas and Cusco Cathedral
- →Qorikancha (Convent of Santo Domingo)
- →Coca tea and altitude acclimatisation walk in San Blas
Sacred Valley by colectivo — Pisac, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo
Ollantaytambo
Take a local colectivo or shared minibus from Cusco's Puputi/Arcopata street to Pisac (~£2, 45 min). Wander the famous Pisac market, then walk or take a taxi up to the Pisac ruins (~£4 entry, included on Boleto Turistico). Continue by colectivo to Urubamba (~£2) for a cheap menú del día lunch (~£3), then another colectivo to Ollantaytambo (~£1.50). Explore the Ollantaytambo fortress terraces in the late afternoon light, then sleep in Ollantaytambo to acclimatise at 2,800m before the trek.
🚌Local colectivos Cusco–Pisac–Urubamba–Ollantaytambo, ~£6 total
🛏Guesthouse in Ollantaytambo (£12-20)
- →Pisac market
- →Pisac archaeological site
- →Ollantaytambo fortress
Inca Trail Day 1 — KM82 to Ayapata
Inca Trail — KM82 to Ayapata
Early transfer from Ollantaytambo to KM82 (~£6 shared van, or included in your trek package). Pass the Piscacucho checkpoint with your passport and permit, then walk the fairly flat 14km along the Vilcanota river past the Llactapata and Qhanabamba ruins to Ayapata camp (3,300m). If you're trekking unguided, book a licensed trail operator who provides a cook and porter support — independent hiking without a licensed guide is not permitted on the Inca Trail. Rent a sleeping bag and poles in Cusco beforehand (~£8-10 for the trek).
🚌Shared van Ollantaytambo–KM82 ~£6; then on foot
🛏Camping at Ayapata (tent, typically supplied by trail operator)
- →Llactapata Inca site
- →Qhanabamba Inca site
- →Inca Trail KM82 checkpoint
Inca Trail Day 2 — Dead Woman's Pass to Chaquicocha
Inca Trail — Pacaymayu / Chaquicocha
The hardest day: 16km with a steady climb to Warmiwañusca (Dead Woman's Pass) at 4,215m, then a steep descent to Pacaymayu for lunch, followed by a climb to the Runcu Raccay and Sayacmarca ruins and on to Chaquicocha camp. Start early, go slowly, and keep coca leaves handy. Views across the Vilcanota and Vilcabamba ranges are the reward.
🚌On foot only (~16km)
🛏Camping at Chaquicocha
- →Dead Woman's Pass (4,215m)
- →Runcu Raccay Inca site
- →Sayacmarca Inca site
- →Pacaymayu valley
Inca Trail Day 3 — Cloud forest to Wiñay Wayna
Inca Trail — Phuyupatamarca / Wiñay Wayna
A gentler 10km day: climb briefly to the Phuyupatamarca ruins (3,600m), then descend through spectacular cloud forest and orchids to Wiñay Wayna camp (2,600m). Arrive early enough to visit the Wiñay Wayna ruins in the afternoon and get an early night before the 4am start.
🚌On foot only (~10km)
🛏Camping at Wiñay Wayna
- →Phuyupatamarca ruins
- →Cloud forest walk
- →Wiñay Wayna ruins
Sun Gate to Machu Picchu, then back to Cusco
Machu Picchu / Aguas Calientes / Cusco
Leave camp around 4am to reach the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) at sunrise and walk down into Machu Picchu for your timed entry. Book a 2-hour licensed guide at the gate (~£25-30 per person shared) or join a small group tour via GetYourGuide. Optionally pre-book Huayna Picchu (~£25-30 direct through the official Machu Picchu ticket site, sold out months ahead). Take the bus down to Aguas Calientes (~£10) and the afternoon Vistadome/Expedition train to Ollantaytambo (~£45-60), then a colectivo or shared van back to Cusco (~£4).
🚌Machu Picchu–Aguas Calientes bus ~£10; PeruRail/Inca Rail to Ollantaytambo ~£45-60; colectivo to Cusco ~£4
🛏Hostel in Cusco (£10-18)
- →Sun Gate (Inti Punku) at sunrise
- →Guided tour of Machu Picchu
- →Optional Huayna Picchu hike
Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley day hike
Vinicunca / Cusco
Book a shared Rainbow Mountain day tour the day before in Cusco (~£22-30 including transport, breakfast and lunch) — pickups are around 3-4am. Hike 1.5-2 hours up to Vinicunca at 5,100m (entry ~£7), then descend via the quieter Red Valley. Back in Cusco by late afternoon; eat a proper meal and rest.
🚌Shared tour minibus from Cusco (~4 hrs each way, included in tour price)
🛏Hostel in Cusco (£10-18)
- →Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain hike
- →Red Valley hike
Cusco free morning and departure
Cusco
Slow breakfast, a last wander through San Pedro market and the Museo Inka or the weaving centre on Avenida El Sol, then taxi to the airport (~£4) or onward bus. If you have a late flight, consider a cheap massage and a menú del día lunch before you go.
🚌Taxi to airport ~£4
🛏None (checkout)
- →San Pedro market
- →Museo Inka or El Sol weaving centre
- →Optional souvenir shopping in San Blas
Self-launched vs. Alpaca Expeditions
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Alpaca Expeditions | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£700 | £1,010 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £310 per person (31%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Alpaca Expeditions-style trips? Check them out here.~£700
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 The Inca Trail Experience — Self-Launched 8 Days in Peru cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £700 per person for 8 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 Alpaca Expeditions?+
Yes — Alpaca Expeditions charges around £1,010 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £700 — a saving of roughly £310 (31%) per person.
How long is the Peru trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 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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