Machu Picchu Pueblo

Information

Machu Picchu Pueblo or Aguas Calientes is a village located near the access to the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. It is in the middle of the mountains. It is placed on the banks of the Urubamba River, where the Aguas Calientes and Alcamayo Rivers meet.

Most of the tourists who come to visit the Inca ruins stay there, as it has the infrastructure to receive visitors. It has lodgings, restaurants, an ATM and various shops. It has a large handicraft market where you can buy souvenirs such as ceramics, weavings, etc.

Besides the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu which is 8.5 km away, there are other tourist attractions to visit in the town itself:
- Its main square Manco Capac in the central area.
- Thermal baths: these are pools at different temperatures. To get there you have to walk 300 metres along the Aguas Calientes River.
- Manuel Chavez Ballon Museum: it is a museum of the historic sanctuary, where posters and samples obtained from the area are exhibited. It can be reached by walking 1.5 kilometres along a route that borders the Urubamba River, and then a path of about 300 metres to the museum's door.

How to get to the village:
- By train: trains arrive at its station coming from Ollantaytambo, and on the other hand they also arrive from the Hidroeléctrica Station.
- By bus and on foot: to do this you must first take a tourist bus from Cusco to the Hidroeléctrica station; or else first take a bus from Antonio Lorena Street (near the historic centre of Cusco) to Santa María, then a collective taxi to Santa Teresa and finally a third collective taxi to the station. From Hidroeléctrica, you first have to register at a control post. Then there is a stretch until you reach the train tracks, and from there it is 10 kilometres following the railway line and the course of the Urubamba River. It takes about 3 or 4 hours to do it, it is a path without slope but with a lot of stones, and it is advisable to take insect repellent, sunscreen and a raincoat just in case. Do not wear headphones or anything that prevents you from hearing, as you will be walking along the train tracks and it is important to listen to the train when it comes. You should always be very careful when going near where the train runs, and especially in the section where there are tunnels (where it is necessary to take a detour for those who are walking).