Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo, is the logistics center and the final destination for most of the trips to Peru that go to the Inca citadel. Located in the Machu Picchu district, within the Urubamba province, this service town acts as the transfer point for the large annual flow of visitors.
Geographically, the town is set at 2,040 m.a.s.l, at the meeting point of the Vilcanota and Aguas Calientes rivers, situated exactly at the base of the Andean massif that holds the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. Likewise, the Inca citadel itself is a protected area of 32,520 hectares that extends from the Puna to the lush jungle brow, which highlights the ecological importance and the need for the rules that govern the area.
Although many visitors only spend the night to be able to take the early morning bus, the town offers various extra activities. This guide is here to answer the question: What to do in Aguas Calientes? and to provide the essential information for the final climb to the citadel. These details are key for those doing a Machu Picchu day trip or a longer stay.
The district of Machupicchu was officially established in 1941, with Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes) as its administrative capital. The town is not a traditional Andean settlement, but a service center that grew quickly with the tourist flow. Its economy is based almost entirely on hotels, guides, and handicrafts, which come from the rural communities surrounding the district.
Given its function as a logistics center for a Wonder of the World, the town has high operating costs. Therefore, the prices of restaurants and hotels are often significantly higher than in Cusco or the Sacred Valley. Travelers are advised to plan their budget accordingly and use reviews to ensure good value for money in their lodging.
Despite its compact size (which can be walked through in about an hour), Aguas Calientes offers several complementary activities. For those on a tight budget, it is recommended to limit purchases in the craft market, as prices are usually lower in Cusco. This guide will detail the best activities and lodging options available in the town.
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The town commonly known as Aguas Calientes—officially part of the Machupicchu District—was established on October 1, 1941, by Law No. 9396 during the presidency of Manuel Prado Ugarteche. Its origins trace back to 1901, when construction began on the Cusco–Santa Ana railway. By 1928, the railway had reached the Maquinachayoq camp, which became a hub for workers and machinery. A small settlement began to form around this site—what would eventually grow into today’s Aguas Calientes Peru.
In recent decades, the town has experienced rapid growth, especially after Machu Picchu was declared one of the New Seven Wonders of the Modern World in 2007 and the Centennial of its Scientific Discovery was celebrated in 2011. These milestones transformed Aguas Calientes into a bustling tourist hub, now home to a wide range of accommodations, from budget hostels to luxurious hotels, welcoming thousands of visitors daily.
Aguas Calientes, also officially known as Machupicchu Pueblo, is located in the Cusco region, in southeastern Peru. It is situated at the foot of the mountain where the famous ruins of Machu Picchu stand, at about 2,040 meters above sea level.
This small town is nestled in a narrow valley surrounded by green mountains and crossed by the Urubamba River. It belongs to the Urubamba province, within the Machupicchu district, and is the last mandatory stop before reaching the Inca citadel.
Due to its geography, it cannot be reached directly by car, so the most common way to access Aguas Calientes is by taking a train from Ollantaytambo or from the city of Cusco, on a journey that combines spectacular landscapes of high jungle, rivers, and mountains.
Here I share with you all the activities to do and places to see in Machupicchu Town and its surroundings:
Visit the hot springs of Aguas Calientes:
Visit the nature reserve:
Perhaps one might exaggerate by saying the Manuel Chávez Ballón Museum is "hidden", but the truth is that, being the official museum of Machu Picchu, it remains surprisingly little known to many visitors. This museum offers valuable insight into understanding the history and complexity of the Inca citadel. It features two main exhibitions and a botanical garden:
Archaeological exhibition: Gathers more than 250 pieces recovered in Machu Picchu and its surroundings, including ceramics, bronze and copper tools, bone remains, and everyday objects that reveal details about Inca life.
Exhibition on Inca engineering: Presents tools and construction elements used by the Incas, which helps to understand how they managed to build a city like Machu Picchu in the middle of the mountain.
Botanical garden: Houses more than 200 varieties of orchids, many of them endemic to the area, offering a natural and educational complement to the tour.
Visiting this museum is especially recommended if you did not hire a guide for Machu Picchu, as it will help you better understand its history, engineering, and natural environment.
Visit the Museum of Machu Picchu:
Visit the Aguas Calientes Butterfly Garden:
There is a place that is completely off the beaten track and easily accessible: the Allcamayo waterfalls. I know it's a little hard to believe that this exists in a place as touristy as Aguas Calientes, but it's true.
There you can enjoy a walk among the trees, orchids, butterflies and birds, which will finally lead you to three natural waterfalls; the last one, Allcamayo, which is also the highest (30 meters).
Without a doubt, a fantastic environment to discover and enjoy in peace within the heart of nature. If you want to bathe in its waters, do not forget to bring a towel and a bathing suit.
Visit the Allcamayo waterfalls:
Access to Machu Picchu is highly controlled, so it is not possible to visit it for free, but it is possible to take a good look at the beautiful landscape of the citadel from Putucusi.
Phutuq K'usi or Putucusi, happy mountain in Quechua, also known as the guardian of Machu Picchu, is the only free mountain that is part of the historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu.
As its access is free, it is not exactly well preserved. Before undertaking the ascent, it is necessary to be well informed about the state of the trails in Aguas Calientes.
Hidden between the high mountains of the green Urubamba Valley, the famous citadel of Machu Picchu, seat of the highest administrative and religious functions, and home to the palace of the Inca Pachacutec, thanks to its location, was surely of vital importance during the empire.
Because it is so hidden in the mountains, the Spanish, who had already conquered Cusco and other strategic places in the Sacred Valley, never found it.
Obviously, Machu Picchu is a very popular attraction and places fly, so I recommend you avoid buying your tickets at the last moment. As I said before, it is essential to buy your ticket in advance to be able to enter Huayna Picchu or the Machu Picchu mountain.
Huayna Picchu, which means "young mountain" in Quechua, is the famous peak that appears behind the Inca citadel in classic photos of Machu Picchu.
Climbing this mountain is one of the most exciting experiences of the trip. Although the route is not very long (between 1.5 and 2 hours round trip), it is steep and requires good physical condition. The reward: an impressive view of Machu Picchu from above and a unique perspective of the mountainous surroundings.
It is a highly demanded route due to the spectacular landscape and the exclusive access. Only a limited number of people are allowed to enter per day, so it is recommended to book tickets several months in advance.
If you can't get a ticket for Huayna Picchu, or prefer a quieter hike, Machu Picchu Mountain is an excellent alternative.
Located on the opposite side of the citadel, across from Huayna Picchu, this mountain offers an impressive panoramic view from a greater height. The ascent takes between 2 and 3 hours round trip, and although it is longer, the path is less steep and physically more accessible.
Although it is usually less crowded, do not underestimate its popularity: it also requires prior reservation at least a few weeks in advance.
Many are the routes that take you to Machu Picchu, but none is like the Inca Trail Tours, the most famous pedestrian path in the Americas. After flying from the capital of Perú, Lima, you will arrive in Cusco to walk for four days along a path through forests and dense fog, millenary stone steps and discovering the ruins of ancient fortifications and Inca cities, and all the time enjoying majestic views.
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