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.
Planning your Machu Picchu visit?
We arrange trains, buses and timed entry so your day runs smoothly.
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.
Aguas Calientes: the gateway town
Aguas Calientes — officially Machu Picchu Pueblo — is the small town directly below the citadel, and the launchpad for virtually every visit. Squeezed into a steep river gorge and reachable only by train or on foot, it exists almost entirely to serve Machu Picchu, with hotels, restaurants, a busy craft market, and the hot springs that give it its name.
Should you stay the night?
Staying overnight in Aguas Calientes has one big advantage: it lets you catch the first buses up at opening, entering Machu Picchu before the day-trippers arrive from Cusco — quieter, cooler and better for photos. The town itself is functional rather than charming, and prices run higher than Cusco, but a night here turns a frantic day tour into a relaxed visit. Consider soaking in the hot springs after your hike down.
Practical tips for Aguas Calientes
The shuttle bus to the citadel takes about 25–30 minutes and runs frequently from early morning; buy tickets in advance and expect queues at peak. Bring your passport (required for the Machu Picchu entrance), cash for the market and meals, and a rain layer — the cloud forest is wet. Trains have strict luggage limits, so leave your main bag in Cusco. See our tickets and circuits guide and how to reach Machu Picchu.
Frequently asked questions
By train from Ollantaytambo, or overland to Hidroeléctrica plus a 2–3 hour walk. There are no roads directly into the town.
No, but most people do. The bus reaches the entrance in about 25 minutes; walking up the stairs takes 1 to 1.5 hours and is steep and humid.
One night is ideal. Arrive in the afternoon and visit Machu Picchu early the next morning before the largest crowds arrive.
Yes. The town is named after its thermal baths, a popular place to relax after visiting the citadel.
