Aguas Calientes: a guide to Machu Picchu town

Almost everyone who visits Machu Picchu spends a night in Aguas Calientes, the small town directly below the citadel. It is touristy and tucked into a steep cloud-forest gorge — and knowing how it works makes your Machu Picchu day far smoother. Here is the practical rundown.

Getting there

There are no roads into Aguas Calientes. You arrive either by train from Ollantaytambo, or overland to Hidroeléctrica followed by a flat 2–3 hour walk along the tracks. From town, a short bus zig-zags up to the Machu Picchu entrance in about 25 minutes (or you can hike up the stairs in 1–1.5 hours).

The bus up to Machu Picchu

The bus is the part travelers most often get wrong. Buses start very early and queues build fast on busy mornings, so buy bus tickets in advance and line up before your citadel entry time. Walking up is free but steep and humid; most people take the bus up and consider walking down.

Food, hot springs and where to stay

The town has plenty of restaurants (quality varies — pick busier spots), a range of hostels and hotels, and the thermal baths that give it its name. After a long day at altitude, the hot springs are a pleasant wind-down. Stay one night so you can reach the citadel early the next morning.

How long to stay

One night is the sweet spot: arrive in the afternoon, relax, then visit Machu Picchu early the next day before the biggest crowds. There is little reason to stay longer unless you are climbing Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain and want a buffer day.

Frequently asked questions