Aguas Calientes Machupicchu

Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo, is a small village located at the base of the famous Machu Picchu ruins in Peru. It is the closest town to the ancient Inca city and serves as a gateway for tourists visiting Machu Picchu.

Where is Aguas Calientes?

Aguas Calientes, known as Machu Picchu-Pueblo, distinguished it from the archaeological zone, is the Peru of Machu Picchu area, located in the province of Urubamba at 2400 meters above sea level in the province of Cusco.
Aguas Calientes is the place and main road to the wonder of the world Machu Picchu. Its origin starts in 1901, that is, the year of the railroad construction where the population of Cusco and Santa Ana were united.
In 1928, the railroad reached the Machinachayoq camp area. The Machinachayoq camp became the center of the project and the heavy equipment of the project, and the railroad workers surrounded the project. According to Law 9396 in 1941, the real name of the people is Machupicchu Pueblo. Aguas Calientes is the name of the river in the middle of the city, and there are two rivers, Alcamayo and Vilcanota (also widely known as the Urubamba River).

What is the weather like in Aguas Calientes?

The weather in the town of Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu is mostly temperate, it rains about 15 days a month. The temperature in Machu Picchu during the day is around 18 degrees C (64F) and average lows during the night around 6C (42F). April is a moderately humid month, but calm and suitable for trekking.

What to do in Aguas Calientes?

Aguas Calientes has tourist attractions that allow you to enjoy more of your stay in this beautiful town which are:

Inca City of Machu Picchu

The wonder of the world Machupicchu is located very close to the town of Aguas Calientes at a walking distance of 1 hour or more, this will depend on the good physical condition of the person hiking and you can also go by bus that takes a duration of 20 minutes from Aguas Calientes. The arrival to Aguas Calientes is undoubtedly see the perfect work of the Incas.

Putucusi Mountain

Putucusi or called ‘Happy Mountain’ is one of the mountains surrounding Machu Picchu. Located at 2,560 m.a.s.l. (8500 ft.) from the top you can have another view of everything surrounding the Wonder of the World.
Climbing Putucusi mountain does not cost anything and you only need to have the strength and courage to climb the difficult sections of the mountain. You get there walking from the town of Aguas Calientes in a journey of more than 4 hours.

Mandor Gardens

The gardens of Mandor is an ecological reserve belonging to Aguas Calientes a place full of landscapes of the low jungle located 1 hour walk from Aguas Calientes. The gratification will be great to see a waterfall of several meters high, this place is not well known but ideal to spend the day in Aguas Calientes.

Aguas Calientes hot springs

The hot springs of Aguas Calientes is a point of relaxation for many tourists, its waters have a temperature of 38 ° C (100 ° F) to 42 ° C (110 ° F). Its waters have healing properties and is located just a step away from the town itself, 5 minutes from the train station and costs 10 and 5 soles.

Craft center

The handicraft center of Aguas Calientes is the ideal place to take souvenirs of Machupichu in this center you will find handicrafts in all its presentations gold, silver, alpaca fibers, etc. and is located next to the train station in Aguas Calientes.

Manuel Chávez Ballón Site Museum

The Manuel Chavez Ballon Museum is named after the great work of the Peruvian archaeologist of the same name, in this museum of Machupicchu you will observe findings in ceramics, utensils, textiles and more. Located 20 minutes walking from the town of Aguas Calientes.

Restaurants and bars

The purpose of a trip is also to spend a pleasant stay for this reason Aguas Calientes has places name restaurants such as: Indio Feliz, el Mapi, Tinkuy etc. and if the option is to economize the local market is also a good option. If it is about staying overnight we have hotels with good ratings such as Sanctuary Lodge, Inkaterra, Casa Sol Machupicchu and Casa Andina.
Aguas Calientes does not have many bars, but we mention the most recognized ones such as Papacho and Rock’n Roses Bar.

Questions and answers about Aguas Calientes in Machupicchu?

How to get from Aguas Calientes to Machupicchu?

It is important to note that Aguas Calientes is located 10 kilometers from Machu Picchu, and to get to the latter place you can get a bus. It is also possible to get there on foot, and the route is characterized by hundreds of stone steps and the typical flora and fauna of the area.
The bus ride takes about 20 minutes, while the hike can take between 1 and 2 hours, depending on physical fitness.

How far is Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes?

Machupicchu is about 10 kilometers from the town of Aguas Calientes by bus and the walking route is 8 kilometers.

Are there cabs in Aguas Calientes?

No, the town of Aguas Calientes is small and there is no need for a cab to get around.

Does it rain a lot in Aguas Calientes?

Aguas Calientes is in the low jungle and sometimes it rains during the day.

How much is the entrance fee to the Mandor gardens?

The entrance fee is 10 foreign soles and 5 Peruvian soles, which includes a visit to the ecological area.

How much is the entrance fee to the Manuel Chavez Ballon museum?

Tickets are priced at 22 foreign soles and 11 Peruvian soles.

How much is the entrance fee to Putucusi mountain?

There is no cost, it is totally free.

In addition, Aguas Calientes is a charming town that offers a convenient base for exploring the incredible ruins of Machu Picchu. Its hot springs, beautiful surroundings and the variety of services it offers make it a very popular destination for tourists visiting Peru.