Aguas Calientes: What to Do, Where to Eat and Where to Stay Before Machu Picchu
Aguas Calientes: What to Do, Where to Eat and Where to Stay Before Machu Picchu
Aguas Calientes, officially Machu Picchu Pueblo, is the town at the foot of the citadel. Almost every traveler passes through: it is where the train arrives and where the bus up to Machu Picchu leaves from. Many people treat it as a simple transit stop, but spending one night here completely changes your Machu Picchu visit. This guide covers what to do, where to eat, where to sleep and how to plan your time.
Quick facts
- Altitude: about 2,040 m (6,690 ft), much lower than Cusco (3,400 m). Breathing is easier and it is warmer.
- How to get there: only by train (from Ollantaytambo or Cusco) or on foot from Hidroeléctrica. There is no road for cars from Cusco.
- Size: you can cross it on foot in 15 minutes. The station, plaza, market and bus stop are all close together.
- Weather: humid and mild all year, with heavy rain from December to March.
Why sleeping in Aguas Calientes is worth it
If you do Machu Picchu as a day trip from Cusco, you spend about 7 hours on the train and bus and reach the citadel when it is already crowded. Staying overnight in Aguas Calientes means:
- You can catch the first buses (from 5:30 am) and enter with fewer people and better light.
- You are not racing against the return train.
- You get a free afternoon to rest and explore the town.
That is why our best-selling tour is Machu Picchu 2D/1N, from US$280 with tourist train, hotel with breakfast, bus, entrance ticket and guide. We explain all the advantages in Machu Picchu in 2 days 1 night.
Things to do in Aguas Calientes
Hot springs
The town is named after its thermal baths, a 10-minute walk from the plaza. They are not a luxury spa: they are simple warm pools with the river and mountains as a backdrop. They are perfect after the journey or after a day walking the citadel. Bring a swimsuit, sandals and a towel, and go in the late afternoon if you can.
Mandor gardens and waterfall
A flat walk of about 40 minutes along the railway, following the Urubamba River, takes you to the Mandor gardens: private land with orchids, birds and a waterfall at the end of the trail. There is a small entrance fee. It is a relaxed plan, ideal for your arrival afternoon.
Puente Ruinas and the Manuel Chávez Ballón Site Museum
Next to the bridge where the road up to the citadel begins is the Site Museum, with objects found at Machu Picchu and explanations of how it was built. There is a botanical garden next to it. We strongly recommend visiting before you go up: you will understand much more of what you see.
Craft market and the plaza
The craft market sits between the station and the town. You will find textiles, replicas and souvenirs, although prices are usually higher than in Cusco. If you plan to buy alpaca, read our guide to shopping in Cusco first.
Walking up to the citadel
Instead of taking the bus, you can climb the Inca stairway on foot: roughly 1 hour 20 minutes of steep ascent. It is free but tiring. Many people ride up and walk down, which is much easier.
The bus to Machu Picchu
- Price: about US$24 round trip for foreigners (around US$12 each way).
- Duration: 25-30 minutes on a zigzag road.
- Schedule: from 5:30 am. In high season the line starts forming before 5 am.
- Important: the bus ticket does not include citadel entry, and you cannot go up before your entry time slot.
On our 2D/1N tour the bus up and down is already included.
Where to eat
- Central market: the cheapest set menus in town, with soup, a main course and a drink.
- Avenida Pachacútec: the street climbing up from the plaza is lined with restaurants at every price point. Compare before you sit down, as some add a service charge.
- For visit day: eating is not allowed inside the citadel, and the only restaurant at the entrance is expensive. Buy fruit, sandwiches and water in town the night before.
Where to stay
There is lodging for every budget, from simple hostels to luxury hotels by the river. What matters most:
- Close to the bus stop if you plan to catch the first buses.
- Away from the railway if you are a light sleeper: trains start running very early.
- Early breakfast, or a packed breakfast to take with you.
On our Machu Picchu 2D/1N the hotel is included and chosen so you are close to everything.
Suggested one-night itinerary
- Morning: leave Cusco, transfer to Ollantaytambo and take the train to Aguas Calientes.
- Midday: lunch and check-in.
- Afternoon: Site Museum or Mandor, then the hot springs at sunset.
- Evening: early dinner, check your ticket and passport, sleep early.
- Day 2: first bus, guided tour of Machu Picchu and the return train in the afternoon.
How to get to Aguas Calientes? Compare PeruRail, Inca Rail and the local train in our guide to the train to Machu Picchu.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth staying a night in Aguas Calientes?
Yes. It lets you enter Machu Picchu early with fewer crowds and avoids cramming 7 hours of travel plus the visit into a single day. The town also has good afternoon plans, such as the hot springs and Mandor.
How much is the bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu?
About US$24 round trip for foreigners. You can also walk up for free, in about 80 minutes of stairs.
Can you drive to Aguas Calientes?
Not from Cusco. You can only arrive by train or by walking from Hidroeléctrica, about 2-3 hours along the railway.
What can you do in Aguas Calientes when it rains?
The hot springs stay open in the rain, and the Site Museum is a good indoor option. Bring a rain poncho: from December to March it rains almost every day.
