Welcome to Aguas Calientes
Also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo, this town lies in a deep gorge below the ruins. A virtual island, it’s cut off from all roads and enclosed by stone cliffs, towering cloud forest, and two rushing rivers. Despite its gorgeous location, Aguas Calientes has the feel of a gold rush town, with a large itinerant population, slack services that count on one-time customers and an architectural tradition of rebar and unfinished cement. With merchants pushing the hard sell, it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed. Your best bet is to go without expectations.
Top experiences in Aguas Calientes
Amazing hotels and hostels
We've pre-picked the best hotels, hostels and bed and breakfasts to make your stay as enjoyable as possible.
Travel guides
Starting at $33.79
Aguas Calientes activities
Machu Picchu Full-Day All-Inclusive Guided Tour from Cusco
Receive an early-morning pickup from your hotel around 5:00am, driving to the train station in Ollantaytambo for the rail journey to the mysterious lost city of Machu Picchu. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu, walk to the bus stop for a short ride (25 minutes) up the hill to the Inca citadel. Spend the next two hours enjoying a guided walking tour, providing you with an overview of the key landmarks and history of this enigmatic Inca center. You will also have some extra time to explore this fascinating site on your own, relax, and take pictures. At the end of your visit, take the bus down to Aguas Calientes for lunch. Then board the train for the ride back to the train station in Ollantaytambo. Here you will receive a drop-off back at your hotel in Cusco.P.S: Train times may change according the booking time and will be provided according the train company timetable availability.Important note about Machupicchu: The Peruvian Ministry of Culture changes the rules to Visit Machupicchu and split into 2 entrance times. AM Entrance, from 6 am – 12 pm. PM Entrance, from 11 am – 17.30 pm. Visitors must leave the site within the time frame stated, and can not re-enter once visitors have left the site. Visitors and guides who don’t enter and leave within the time frame stated, will be assisted to the exit by the competent authorities! You have been warned. For the full day tour, the start time counts from the moment we make the check-in in Machupicchu. Thant means if we enter at 9:am, we can be in the park until 13:00pm which is enough time to visit the Amazing Machupicchu.
Cusco to Machu Picchu Inca Jungle Trail 4-Day Adventure Tour
Day 1: Cusco - Abra Malaga - Huamanmarka - Santa Maria (L) (D)You will be picked up at 6am and then go to the Sacred Valley to the town of Ollantaytambo. Take a short break and then continue to the highest point (4,316 meters or 14,156 feet) at Abra Malaga. Here you will receive protective equipment and bike with full suspension. The guide will give an explanation of security and then start downhill biking for about 3 hours or 55 km. In this part you see and feel the temperature change. The town of Marka Huaman marks the end of your descend and from this part you will continue aboard a van to the town of Santa Maria. Optional activity: RaftingDay 2 : Santa Maria - Quellomayo - Cocalmayo - Santa teresa (B) (L) (D)The second day you'll wake up early and after breakfast you'll begin to walk the Inca Trail with a varied vegetation of different fruits like oranges, pineapples, coffee and coca plants. After 40 minutes you'll reach the viewpoint of Huacarcasa from which you can see the valley of Santa Teresa and Santa Maria. After a break, you'll continue down to the small town of Quellomayo for lunch. After lunch you continue the walk to the thermal baths of Cocalmayo to relax in this beautiful place with swimming pools of different temperatures. You'll then walk to Santa Teresa and have dinner .Day 3 : Santa teresa - Hidroelectrica - Machu Picchu Town (B) (L) (D) This third day after breakfast you'll start walking from Santa Teresa to Hydroelectrica. This hike is approximately 3 hours long and follows the banks of the river to Hydroelectrica place. Here, you'll have lunch and then continue walking for 3 hours to the town of Aguas Calientes. Along the way you will see a lot of vegetation and a little mountain Machu Picchu. In Aguas Calientes you can enjoy dinner and rest. Optional Activity: ZiplineDay 4: Machu Picchu - Ollantaytambo - Cusco (B)Very early and after breakfast, you'll start to walk to the archaeological remains of Machu Picchu. There you'll enjoy a guided tour of approximately 2 hours. During this time the guide will show you the most important places and explain to you the history of Machu Picchu. After the guided tour, you have free time to explore the site and then you'll return to Cusco where the tour ends.
4 Day Inca Trail Cachicata
Enjoy the 4 day hike to Inca Trail Trek Cachicata, this trek involves 2 day hike to Cachicata and 2 day hike to short Inca Trail. We drive from Cusco to Pachar located in the Sacred Valley, arrive Huaroncondor to trailhead, here we will meet with muleteer and horses and we will prepare the camping equipment, then we climb up the stairs and visit to Huarocondor terraces. continue the trek to Raphcca, 2,900 m.a.s.l (9,514ft.) From here we hike up the valley, along the route we appreciate inka terraces, water channels, Quechua comunities and endemic flora and fauna. We follow an steep trail that eventually bring us to a tall waterfall where we can pause to refresh our body and mind. Walking further, we visit the little known Inka site of Corimarca, our first campsite. the next day We climb across open meadows, reaching a zone of high altitude shrubland known as Puna, approaching the pass of Chancachuco 4,400 m.a.s.l (14,435ft). This part of the trek offers panoramic views of the highest peaks in Cusco region. Our route continues across a high plateau, we pass mountain lakes where we may see andean and wetland birds, descending to Qeuñacancha, 4080 m.a.s.l (13,385ft).We hike downhill following the trail until we join the Inka water channel which comes from Maracocha lake, from here we reach the temple call Intiwatana, which is located on the edge of the mountain called Apu Alambre, in front of the Veronica snow peak. Then we continue downhill to Choquetacarpo an archaeological site, which was most likely the residence of architects who managed the Inca quarries and performed ceremonies at Intipunku, after lunch we wend our way downward, exploring different sectors of one of the biggest Inka quarries, where massive carved blocks of pink rhyolite lie scattered in disarray. The quarried stones, testimony to a great building project that was never finished and were destined for the Inka site of Ollantaytambo. Spend a night in a camping in small town. the third day continue the hike will arrive to Inca Ollantaytambo archeological village and ruins, where you will take the train to Inca Trail, you will walking up to Wiñaywayna. During this hike you will enjoy the nature of the Andean highlands spend a night in Aguas Calientes town. On the fourth day we reach Machu Picchu through the sun gate, and you have time explore the site on your own. If you like you can meet up with the rest of the group and have lunch in the picturesque town of Aguas Calientes. It takes an hour on foot to get to town. It’s a lovely descending walk in which you have the chance to take some beautiful pictures. Alternatively you can take the shuttle bus. Then you take the train back from Aguas Calitentes to Ollantaytambo and bus to Cusco
1-Day Inca Trail and 1-Day in Machu Picchu: Private Hiking Tour
DAY 1: CUSCO or SACRED VALLEY - ROYAL INCA TRAIL TO MACHUPICCHUPick up at your hotel and transfer to the Ollantaytambo Train Station to catch the train until the Km 104 (1:20 minutes train ride, altitude 8250 feet), where we start to hike - with wonderful landscapes of the Cloud Forest, its flora and fauna - on the Royal Inca Trail to Machupicchu visiting first the Inca remain of Chachabamba. Later we continue hiking up-hill for about 3 hours until getting, visiting the famous and fascinating Inca Citadel of Winayhuayna (8860ft.). The hike continues after lunch for 1 - 1 1/2 hours until Inti Punku (Sun Gate, altitude 9050). From where we will have the first fantastic view of the "Holy City of the Incas": Machupicchu; the highlight of any trip to South America. Finally you hike downhill until Machupicchu (altitude 8000 feet) for 45 minutes. From Machupicchu you take a bus for 30 minutes to Aguas Calientes town (altitude 6600 feet) to overnight.Notes:- Included: PRIVATE Transportation: Hotel - Train Station, Train tickets (Service: Expedition or Inca Rail), PRIVATE guide, Inca Trail Permits, Picnic Lunch, bus tickets from Machupicchu to Aguas Calientes town and accommodation in 1 Twin or Double room at a good value basic hotel- Paying an extra (US$50 pp) you can upgrade to the VISTADOME train- Paying an extra you can upgrade to any other better hotelDAY 2: MACHUPICCHU - CUSCOEarly visit of Machupicchu; to spot the amazing sun rise and guided visit (2 1/2 hours) of the wonderful temples and palaces, later on your won take short hikes to Huaynapicchu Peak, Montana Machupicchu, the temple of the Moon, and the Inca Bridge. Afternoon return to Ollantaytambo by train (1 1/2 hours) and transfer to the hotel in Cusco (1 1/2 hours). (B)Notes:- Included: Breakfast, Round trip bus tickets Aguas Calientes - Machupicchu - Aguas Calientes, Tickets for Machupicchu, PRIVATE guide ( 2 1/2 hours), train tickets to Ollantaytambo (Service: Expedition or Inca Rail) an PRIVATE Transportation: Train Station - Hotel.- You have to pay extra ($65 pp) if you are interested in climbing to Huaynapicchu or Montana Machupicchu and you have to let us know in advance, we must buy tickets ASAP, there is a short limit per day.
Shore Excursion to Machu Picchu from El Callao Port Lima
Day 1: El Callao Port - Cusco/Calca.Your adventure begins at 08:40am. boarding our vehicle to drive towards Lima airport (30min) arriving at the airport you will check-in and board your flight to Cusco departing at 11:00am. Upon arrival in Cusco (12:35) you will be met by our guide who will escort you in private to your hotel in Calca Sacred Valley. The rest of the evening is free for you to relax and prepare for your next day activities. (-/-/-)Day 2: Calca - Machu Picchu - Cusco. Laeaving early in the morning (5:00am) you will be escorted to the train station to board the train to Aguas Calientes departing at 06:10am. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes (07:40am) you will be met by our guide, and board our tourist bus for the short ride to this sacred citadel of Machu Picchu. Completed around 1450, when the Inca Empire was at the peak of its power and influence, the site was left to sit vacant within 100 years of its creation, thanks to the conquest of the Inca people by the Spanish. Though the site today remains abandoned, many believe Machu Picchu to be a key center of spiritual energy. Follow your expert guide through the main streets of this marvel of ancient engineering. As you walk you'll learn about the site’s history and design as you meander through its town square, key religious sites, elaborate network of agricultural terraces and intricately-designed stone staircases. After completing your guided tour, you’ll have time to explore on your own, taking some time get some great photos and to absorb the powerful mystic energy of this one-of-a-kind site. After spending a few hours at the site, you’ll return by bus to the train station in Aguas Calientes and then board the train back to Ollantaytambo. The tour will end at your hotel in Cusco. (B/-/-)Day 3: Cusco - Lima - San Martin Port.Today you will be met at your hotel at 06:00am for your transfer to the aiport to board your return flight back to Lima departing at 07:30am. Upon arrival in Lima airport (09:05am), you will be transferred in Private vehicle to San Martin Port (4hours non-stop journey) to re-join your ship departing at 17:00. End of the service (B/-/-)
7-Day Holy Week in Cusco from Lima
March 20th, 2017: Arrival in Lima Begin by flying into Lima, the capital of Peru.Transfer to the hotel.March 21st, 2017: Fly from Lima to Cusco Enjoy the start the Holy week.At 8:55am take the flight to Cusco. 10:10am arrival and transfer to the hotel to rest and acclimatize. After you will enjoy the start the Holy Week.March 22nd, 2017: Cusco City TourBetween 9:00am and 1:30pm enjoy the city tour visiting the Cathedral, the Inca Temple of the Sun, Tambomachay, Qenqo, Puca Pucara and Sacsayhuaman.At 2:00pm we will stop for lunch.March 23rd, 2017: Cusco - Sacred Valley – Machu Picchu8:00am: Transfer to Pisaq 8:45am: Visit Pisaq ruins 10:00am: Pisaq market 12:30pm: Lunch in Urubamba 1:45pm: Visit Ollantaytambo 3:37pm: Train to Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu 5:10pm: Arrival and transfer to the hotelMarch 24th, 2017: Machu Picchu Tour - Return to Cusco 7:00am: Climb by bus to Machu Picchu 8:00am: Tour guided to Machu Picchu 11:00am: Down to Aguas Calientes town 12:15pm: Lunch and free time afterwards 4:43pm: Train to Poroy train station 8:23pm: Arrival and transfer to your hotel in Cusco by car (25 minutes from Poroy)March 25th, 2017: Moray – Salt Mines Tour – Lunch in a family house8:30am: We head towards to Moray9:30am: Visit “the Inca agricultural greenhouse or laboratory” of Moray and after visit the salt mines of Maras.1:30: Back to Cusco 2:00pm: Special lunch of Holy Week in a family house after, back to the hotel.March 26th, 2017: Fly from Cusco to Lima 9:30am: Pick up you from the hotel 11:00am: Fly Cusco to Lima