Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo)
Machu Picchu Pueblo
A river-valley town at the foot of Machu Picchu, the end of the train line and the starting point for the bus up the mountain, full of guesthouses, restaurants, and hot springs, and the best base for staying overnight to get an early start.
Machu Picchu Pueblo lies on the floor of the Urubamba River valley at about 2,040 meters above sea level. There are no roads, so you can reach it only by train from Ollantaytambo (about 1.5 hours) or from Poroy station in Cusco, or on foot by walking about 3 hours along the railway from the hydroelectric station. The town centers on the train station and a handicraft market, and guesthouses and restaurants crowd the riverbanks. To the north is an open-air hot spring of the same name, which costs about 20 soles and gets busy in the evening. The Consettur bus to the mountain leaves from the riverside in the town center and reaches the site entrance in about 25 minutes. A round trip costs about $24, and in peak season there are long lines early in the morning. You can also walk up in about 1.5 hours. Stay the night before so you can catch the first entry time slot, and buy your bus ticket in town and bring a raincoat.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Manuel Chávez Ballón Site Museum
- Inti Punku (Sun Gate)
- Machu Picchu
- Huayna Picchu
- Machu Picchu Mountain
- Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
- Salkantay Trek
- Humantay Lake