Aguas Calientes, also known as Machupicchu Pueblo, is a small tourist town located in the Cusco region of Peru. This village is well known among both travelers and locals as the gateway to the famous Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, which lies just 9 km away. The town has a population of approximately 10,000 people.
Aguas Calientes is part of the Machupicchu District, located in the northwestern part of the Cusco region, within the Urubamba Province. Nestled between mountains and deep in the Inter-Andean valley, the town is the main stop for over 1 million visitors each year, both Peruvian and international, who come to explore the ancient Inca wonder. The town sits at an altitude of 2,040 meters above sea level and is bordered by three rivers: the Vilcanota, Aguas Calientes, and Alccamayu.
The district includes diverse ecological zones, ranging from the lush Yungas jungle to the high-altitude Puna region. A significant part of the district includes the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site, covering 32,520 hectares and home to the world-renowned Inca city of Machu Picchu, located at 2,400 meters above sea level.
The district of Machupicchu was officially established on October 1st, 1941, by Decree Law No. 9396. It consists of Machupicchu Pueblo as its capital and includes fifteen rural communities:
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In Aguas Calientes, you’ll find many tourist-oriented restaurants and hotels. It’s not a traditional Andean village anymore—it has become a hub for tourism. Many locals work as tour guides, artisans, or in hospitality. However, it's worth noting that prices are often high and quality can be inconsistent, so it’s wise to choose carefully.
While small, Aguas Calientes offers several worthwhile activities. You can explore the entire town in about an hour. Visit the local handicraft market, where you’ll find Andean clothing and souvenirs. However, if you’re on a budget, you might prefer shopping in Cusco, where prices are generally lower.
Without further ado, here are the best things to do in Aguas Calientes—plus my handpicked selection of the best hotels for every budget.
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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