Aguas Calientes

Aguas Calientes (Also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo or Machu Picchu Town) is the closest town to the ruins of Machu Picchu. Originally settled by a few farm families in 1901, the tiny settlement was transformed into a busy railway worker's camp, called Camp Maquinachayoq, during the construction of the railroad through there in the late 1920's. The town was the central hub for worker lodging and their equipment up until the railway was finished in 1931. The town was later renamed to Aguas Calientes after the hot springs that are located in the north east corner of the town. More recently, it was renamed again to Machu Picchu Pueblo to give it a more touristy name.

Aguas Calientes is relatively small in size and its economy is almost solely driven by tourism. The first thing you will notice when you get off the train is the large number of handicraft shops that line the area between the train station and the town. This is a nice area to get souvenirs on your way back to the trains. There are many hotels and restaurants in and around the city. Pizza places are the restaurant of choice for local entrepreneurs, but if you look around or decide to eat at your hotel, you will find that traditional Peruvian food will also be offered. If you haven't purchased your Machu Picchu entrance ticket in advance, you can buy it at the ticket office next to the church in the city. Our fold out Machu Picchu Self-Guided Tour Map shows a map of Aguas Calientes as well as a full color fold out (11" x 17") self-guided tour map to navigating Machu Picchu. The chart below shows the recommended places to stay in Aguas Calientes.

Recommended Hotels in Aguas Calientes

$$$
Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge	The best hotel. It's very expensive and the only hotel located next to the ruins.
Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel (Inkaterra)	Another great hotel. Located in an isolated area near the train station. Good for nature and bird lovers.

$$
Hatuchay Tower	5 floor "sky-rise" hotel. Comfortable hotel. Some rooms overlook the river.
Sumaq	The newest luxury hotel in Aguas Calientes. Very good restaurant inside.

$
Gringo Bill's Hotel	Located off the Plaza de Armas. Offers the best value for mid to low range guest accommodation.
Inti Inn	Modern hotel, off the main street in town and also affordable.

Getting up to Machu Picchu

There are two ways to get up to the ruins from Aguas Calientes. The first way is to take the 20 minute bus ride to the top. A one way bus ticket runs around $6 and can be purchased at the bus stop. The other way is to hike it. To hike to the top, just follow the bus road that goes past the Hatuchay Tower and Sumaq Hotel. The road follows alongside the Urubamba River for about 1.5 km until you reach an area called Puente Ruinas. You will see two bridges that cross the river, one for the buses, and one for hikers. Once across the bridge, the road for the buses will go left, and you will see your trail going right. This trail is a part of the Inca trail system that was built by the Incans hundreds of years ago. As you ascend the mountain, there will be several places to rest along the way. After about an hour and a half, you will reach the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge and the entrance to the ruins. You will probably be ready for a little break after hiking up the mountain. There is a small bathroom and snack lunch area near the entrance to the ruins that you can't miss. Another option is to take in the very good, but very expensive ($30) lunch buffet at the Sanctuary Lodge before you enter the ruins. There are no bathrooms in the ruins, so now is your chance to use one. Remember, if you are too tired to walk back down, you can easily purchase a 1-way bus ticket at the top of the mountain to get back to town.

Steps on the Inca Trail Leading to Machu Picchu