Aguas Calientes Peru Guide: The Town Below Machu Picchu

What Is Aguas Calientes and Where Is It?

Aguas Calientes: the gateway town for Machu Picchu, roughly 70 miles by rail northwest of Cusco. The town lies in a narrow canyon where the Aguas Calientes stream meets the Urubamba River, surrounded by cloud forest. Machu Picchu Pueblo exists almost entirely for visitors, with hotels, restaurants, a train station and the bus stop.

The name means "hot waters" in Spanish and comes from the thermal springs above town. In 1901 a few farming families settled here, and the camp grew around the Cusco to Santa Ana railway before tourism took over.

Today Aguas Calientes belongs to the Machupicchu district of Urubamba Province. Some travel sites place it in La Convención Province, but Wikipedia and most references list Urubamba.

Is Aguas Calientes the Same as Machu Picchu?

No. Aguas Calientes is the modern town in the valley, while Machu Picchu is the Inca citadel on the ridge about 1,300 feet above it. The two are roughly 5 miles apart by the switchback road. Your train ticket ends in Aguas Calientes, and you still need a timed Machu Picchu entry ticket plus a bus ride or hike.

Train companies label the final stop "Machu Picchu" station, which confuses many first-time visitors. The station is in the middle of Aguas Calientes, not at the ruins.

You cannot buy your way into the citadel at the gate, so book entry in advance using our Machu Picchu tickets guide. The town itself is free to walk around.

How Do You Get to Aguas Calientes?

You reach Aguas Calientes by train from Cusco (Poroy or San Pedro), Ollantaytambo or Urubamba, by a multi-day trek such as the Inca Trail or Salkantay, or by the budget route through Hidroeléctrica followed by a riverside walk. No public road connects the town with Cusco, so private cars and taxis cannot drive in.

Classes, stations and luggage limits are covered in our train to Machu Picchu guide. For every door-to-gate option, read how to get to Machu Picchu. Flying in from the US? Our traveling from Lima to Machu Picchu covers the first leg, and trek access is covered in Inca Trail permits explained.

How Do You Get From Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu?

From Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu you either ride the Consettur shuttle bus, about 20 to 30 minutes up a switchback road, or hike a steep stone stairway for roughly 1.5 to 2 hours. The bus costs about $12 each way for foreign adults and starts running around 5:30 a.m. The hike is free but demanding.

Ticket offices, first-bus times and queue planning by entry hour are covered in the Machu Picchu bus tickets and schedule guide.

Should You Stay Overnight in Aguas Calientes?

Staying one night in Aguas Calientes is worth it for most visitors who want an early entry, plan to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, or arrive by an afternoon train. A day trip from Cusco works if you only want a standard circuit, but it means about 8 or more hours of travel in one day.

Hikers heading up early should read our Huayna Picchu climbing guide to match entry slots with the right bus time. If you prefer someone else to handle trains, buses and guides, our full-day Machu Picchu trip shows how a guided same-day visit runs.

What Are the Best Things to Do in Aguas Calientes?

The best things to do in Aguas Calientes are soaking in the thermal baths, browsing the artisan market, visiting the Manuel Chávez Ballón site museum, and walking to Mandor waterfall or the Mariposario butterfly farm nearby. Most attractions take one to three hours, so they fit neatly around your Machu Picchu visit rather than replacing it.

• Hot springs (Baños Termales): public thermal pools about a 10-minute walk uphill from the main plaza; small entry fee, reported at roughly S/10 to S/20.
• Artisan market: stalls next to the train station selling alpaca textiles, ceramics and souvenirs; bargaining is normal.
• Manuel Chávez Ballón site museum: Inca artifacts and the story of Machu Picchu's excavation, about a 30-minute walk along the river road toward the bus bridge.
• Mariposario (butterfly house): a small conservation garden near the museum road, with hours reported as 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Allcamayo waterfall: a short forest walk along the railway with a small fee reported at about S/10.
• Putucusi Mountain: a very steep trail with ladders opposite Machu Picchu; often closed after rain, so ask locally.
• Mandor gardens and waterfall: a private reserve about 2.5 miles along the tracks; it has had closures, so check before walking out.

For fees, hours and the best time to soak, see our Aguas Calientes hot springs guide. Hotels have Aguas Calientes hotels guide.

Where to Stay and Eat in Machu Picchu Town

Machu Picchu town has lodging for every budget, from simple hostels near the hot springs to luxury lodges by the river and the train tracks. Restaurants cluster around the plaza and along Avenida Pachacutec, serving Peruvian dishes, pizza and craft beer. Expect prices well above Cusco, because nearly everything arrives by train.

For an early start, choose a hotel within a few minutes' walk of the bus stop near the river bridge. Hotel areas, well-known properties and how many nights to book are compared in our guide to Machu Picchu hotels and where to stay.

Many restaurants open early for breakfast on Machu Picchu mornings and offer boxed lunches. Food is not sold inside the citadel, and only small snacks are tolerated, so eat well before the bus.

What Is the Weather and Altitude in Aguas Calientes?

Aguas Calientes is warmer, wetter and lower than Cusco. At about 6,690 feet, it sits roughly 4,500 feet below Cusco and about 1,300 feet below the Machu Picchu citadel. Days are mild and humid all year, with frequent showers from November to March and cooler, drier nights from May to September.

Because of the lower elevation, most travelers sleep better here than in Cusco, and serious altitude illness is uncommon. Monthly temperatures and rainfall for the area appear in our Machu Picchu weather guide, and the full height profile is in our Machu Picchu elevation guide.

Live forecasts for the town are easiest to check on AccuWeather or the BBC weather site. Plan for rain gear in any month, because clouds form quickly in this river canyon. Season and crowd advice sits in our best months to visit Machu Picchu guide.

Practical Tips: Money, Safety and Services

Aguas Calientes is generally safe and compact enough to walk everywhere in 15 minutes. Carry Peruvian soles in cash, since ATMs exist but can run empty in busy periods and small shops rarely take cards. Keep your passport with you for bus and entry checks, and pack light for strict train luggage limits.

• Cash: withdraw soles in Cusco before you travel; US dollars are accepted in some hotels but at poor rates.
• Luggage: most trains limit carry-on bags to about 11 lb (5 kg), so leave big suitcases in Cusco.
• Passport: needed for the bus, Machu Picchu entry and the train.
• Health: a small health center operates in town; serious cases are moved to Cusco, so carry travel insurance.
• Insects: biting sandflies are commonly reported near the river; use repellent and long sleeves.
• Rainy season: landslides have cut the railway in the past, notably in 2010, so keep a buffer day if your schedule is tight.