12 Best Things to Do in Aguas Calientes (Besides Machu Picchu)

Aguas Calientes is the village that sits at the base of the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. The Urubamba River separates the community from the once-lost hilltop Inca Citadel.

Most tourists pass through the village in droves to gaze upon Peru’s most iconic landmark, but there are some notable and worthwhile things to do in Aguas Calientes. With its close proximity to Machu Picchu, many locals refer to this town as Machupicchu Pueblo.

Aguas Calientes boasts everything from natural thermal pools to artisanal markets and museums. The village caters to tourists, so find a plethora of diverse restaurants, but the local market, Mercado de Abastos has tons of budget-friendly eateries serving Peruvian cuisine.

There is the short and tranquil hike to the Aguas Calientes waterfall, which is actually within the city limits. Some may love the chance to visit a butterfly sanctuary or the restorative botanical garden.

Of course, there IS Machu Picchu, the alluring lost city in the clouds and the main reason tourists flock to the gateway village of Aguas Calientes.

This guide includes some of the best things to do in Aguas Calientes and tips for visiting the village.

Here’s how to make the most of a visit to Aguas Calientes, Machupicchu Pueblo.

Table of Contents

• Best Things to Do in Aguas Calientes
• But of Course… There IS Machu Picchu
• Where to Sleep in Aguas Calientes
• Tips for Visiting Aguas Calientes
• Conclusion | Best Things to Do in Aguas Calientes (Besides Machu Picchu)

Best Things to Do in Aguas Calientes Besides Machu Picchu

Here are some of the best things to do in Aguas Calientes besides visiting Machu Picchu.

1 | Soak in the Hot Springs Baños Termales

Aguas Calientes translates to “hot water,” so it should come as no surprise that the village has its own natural thermal waters to soak in. If like me you undertook an intense trek to reach Machu Picchu, this will more than likely be your first stop.

Find these Peru hot springs nestled back towards the base of the lush mountains in Aguas Calientes. Like most hot springs in Peru, do not expect luxury. These are simple pools classified by varied temperatures. Many locals and backpackers love using these thermal pools as an actual means to bathe.

Aguas Calientes Hot Springs | Find it Here: Avenida Hermanos Ayar, Aguas Calientes | Cost: 20 PEN for foreigners | Hours: 5:00 – 20:00 with the last admission at 19:30 | Drink service available poolside

The hot springs in Aguas Calientes are busy facilities, but nonetheless, a pleasant place to soak in curative waters. Locals say the healing waters are the perfect medicine for sore and aching muscles, especially in the early morning hours.

Did you forget your swimming suit? No worries there are tons of tiendas nearby selling swimming suits, towels, and anything else you may need to enjoy the hot springs. Lockers are available onsite to store valuables and belongings.

✔ Travel Tip | These hot springs are probably the busiest ones in Peru. If visiting the incredible Sacred Valley next, the Lares hot springs are tranquil and require a scenic couple-hour ride through an untouched valley

2 | Stroll the Massive Artisanal Market in Aguas Calientes

With the large amount of tourists passing through Aguas Calientes, a nice artisanal market has sprung up in the center of town, close to the main train station. One of the most touristic things to do in Aguas Calientes is to stroll through the market. This is a great spot for those looking for last-minute souvenirs and gifts to remember their trip to Peru.

Find everything from jewelry, wall hangings, purses, rain jackets, ponchos, headbands, magnets, and toys. If it’s cold, grab a pair of mittens, a scarf, or a wool hat before heading up to the sacred site of Machu Picchu. The market is quite large and runs daily.

✔ Travel Tip | The prices here can be a little higher than some of the other markets in Peru. If looking for a handicraft market with fair prices, try the daily artisanal market in the village of Pisac. This beloved village in Peru’s Sacred Valley boasts impressive hilltop Inca ruins, awesome places to eat, and the lovely Kinsa Cocha day hike.

3 | Hang out in the Manco Capac Square

The heart of the city lies in the Plaza Manco Capac. This bustling square is surrounded by numerous restaurants, shops, and accommodation options. As this is a tourist town, there are plenty of modern coffee shops, international eateries, and bars in the plaza.

Don’t miss the large Inca King Statue of Pachacutec or the centerpiece Parroquia Virgen del Carmen Church.

The Plaza has benches and is a great place to people-watch.

4 | Visit the Manuel Chávez Ballón Museum

Found near the lower entrance gate of Machu Picchu is the small Museo de Sitio Manuel Chávez Ballón. This museum showcases both Pre-Inca and Inca artifacts found in the Machu Picchu Sanctuary and other interesting items like maps.

The museum is named after Manuel Chávez Ballón, a local archaeologist legend.

The museum is free and included as part of the main entrance ticket to Machu Picchu (the day of visit). No photos are allowed inside.

Manuel Chávez Ballón Museum | Find it Here: Sendero al Museo | Admission: 22 PEN or free with day of Machu Picchu Ticket | Hours: Daily, 9:00 – 16:00

5 | Eat at a Traditional Market in Aguas Calientes

The main market in Aguas Calientes or Mercado de Abastos has some excellent local food vendors on the second floor. One of the best foodie things to do in Aguas Calientes is to delve into the local cuisine.

Find “mamas” cooking up fresh food from scratch and locals sipping on hot chocolate, coffee, and tea from the simple high-top stools. Plates of hearty and home-cooked meals are only 5-10 PEN. Find a wide range of soups, stews, and traditional dishes. Some stands are even offering fresh ceviche.

The local market in Aguas Calientes is the best place to get a cheap and satisfying meal.

Some tourists may not feel comfortable eating in the local market, but I think the local market is one of the best places in any country to observe everyday life. I’ve had positive experiences in the markets in Peru from Arequipa to the bustling food stalls of Cusco and beyond.

If not hungry, grab a warm drink and head towards the balcony. This is a great place to watch the trains steaming past into the village with eager tourists excited to visit Machu Picchu. Look across the tracks and street to see the bustling handicraft market.

6 | Enjoy a Craft Beer

After hiking to Machu Picchu, Mapacho Craft Beer & Peruvian Cuisine is the perfect venue to savor a well-deserved cold craft beer.

Head to the back of the restaurant to be rewarded with stellar views of the Urubamba River. Like most restaurants in Aguas Calientes, it is a little pricey, but this place has an overall welcoming ambiance. The servers are top-notch, and there are little details that don’t go unnoticed, like the roasted corn nuts with beer, and pretty folded napkins.

I didn’t eat a meal here, but loved the inspiration of Peruvian cuisine with a modern twist. Their rotating taps were mostly from small microbreweries in Peru.

Mapacho Craft Beer & Peruvian Cuisine | Find Them Here: Imperio de los Incas 614 |Hours: Daily, 10:00 – 22:00 | Facebook Page

7 | Reflect in Silence at the Alcamayo Waterfall

Nestled in the thick jungle forests, with a rushing river cutting through there are plenty of things to do in Aguas Calientes for nature lovers. The  Alcamayo Waterfall makes a nice little excursion for those looking to escape the constant buzz of Aguas Calientes.

Find this Aguas Calientes waterfall hidden at the end of the street of Calle Señor de Torrechayoc. Barely any tourists take the lovely hike to this peaceful waterfall. In fact, it is usually only visited by locals.

The path to Alcamayo Waterfall is a lovely and welcomed mostly flat path. The trail cuts through the lush vegetation and follows along the river. There’s not only one but two waterfalls to enjoy.

The journey to the Alcamayo waterfall is around 30 minutes from the entrance gate.

The scenery provides an inspirational environment to reflect on the journey to Machu Picchu. The owners of this land have done a nice job maintaining the trail and have added a few simple benches to relax.

The river and waterfall make for a great place to take a dip or swim without any crowds.

Make sure to purchase your entrance ticket from the small home.

 Alcamayo Waterfall Entrance Fee | 20 PEN

9 | Visit the Mariposario de Machupicchu Butterfly Sanctuary

The Mariposario de Machupicchu is a butterfly Sanctuary located close to the lower entrance gate of Machu Picchu and next door to the municipal campsite. The “House of Butterflies” is run by a local resident who has been trying to revive the declining regional butterfly population for over 10 years.

Please don’t wear any bug spray when visiting the Machupicchu Butterfly Sanctuary

Take an educational tour with a naturalist, who is usually a volunteer, to understand the cycles of these insects. There’s an interpretive center and a large garden to observe the butterflies. Tours are typically 20 – 30 minutes long.

Onsite are a few small paths to walk along next to the river. After a tour, stop by the cafe to watch birds fly by or soak in the tranquility of the river.

The Butterfly Sanctuary is a simple reminder that we must co-exist with all creatures. Not only is visiting the Butterfly Sanctuary an awesome thing to do in Aguas Calientes, but it also helps with conserving and protecting these beautiful creatures.

Mariposario de Machupicchu | Find it Here: Avenida Hermanos Ayar (about a 15-minute walk from Aguas Calientes center) | Admission: 20 PEN & includes a guided tour | Hours: Daily, 8:00 – 18:00 | Facebook Page

10 | Stroll Along the Urubamba River

One of the best things to do in Aguas Calientes is to stroll along the mighty Urubamba River. There is a scenic path along the river that sees very few tourists and provides awesome views of the river and fertile lush-covered mountains.

This river flows all the way through the incredible Sacred Valley.

Look for the Machupicchu Pueblo signboard. There are very few people who take a casual stroll alongside the river. In fact, I think this is one of the more underrated areas in the village.

11 | Hike up to Machu Picchu

One of the best budget things to do in Aguas Calientes is to hike from the lower entrance gate of Machu Picchu to the main entrance gate via the Camino Peatonal a Machu Picchu. Find the start of the hike here. Cross the Urubamba River via the bridge and present your entrance ticket to Machu Picchu and your passport.

☛ Remember, you can not enter the Machu Picchu Sanctuary for at least 2 hours to 1 and a half hours before your issued ticket time (unless you choose to visit the nearby museum)

This scenic Inca trail twists up the hillsides and takes visitors to the entrance gate of Machu Picchu. The hiking trail is well-marked but is a tough ascent through the jungle landscape.

This is an alternative to the extremely expensive bus ride from Aguas Calientes. Bus tickets are around 24 USD round trip, or can be booked online for a more exorbitant fee. Hiking up the stone and dirt Inca trail is free and an adventure!

Be mindful that this hiking path does cross the switchbacks of the Hiram Bingham road, so keep your eyes open for large tour buses.

🥾 Machu Picchu Camino Peatonal | Distance: 1.7 KM (1 mile) | Duration: +/- 1 hour | The trail is steep and requires some physical exertion | Requires a Machu Picchu Ticket with an entrance time no more than 2 hours before reservation time | It took me around 45 minutes to hike from the trailhead to the main entrance gate

12 | Explore Mandor Botanical Gardens

One of the best things to do outside the village of Aguas Calientes is visit the Mandor Botanical Gardens. These fertile and delightful gardens sit on former Inca farmland. Highlights of the gardens include the Mandor Waterfall, hiking trails, footpath bridges, and plenty of opportunities to soak in the local fauna and flora.

The best way to experience the gardens is to relax and keep your eyes peeled for birds and butterflies. If the river is calm, there’s a chance to take a dip in the pools near the waterfall of Mandor.

These gardens are a conservation act by a local family to reforest the area and bring back native plants and wildlife.

The Mandor Gardens are located along the railroad tracks about an hour’s walk from the center of Aguas Calientes.

This is a great place to take a break if walking from the Hydroelectric Plant where collectivos and the Salkantay trek meet. Mandor Gardens also offers camping and sleeping options away from the touristic center of Aguas Calientes.

Jardines de Mandor | Find it Here: Sector Mandor, Aguas Calientes (about 1-hour walk from Aguas Calientes center) | Admission: 20 PEN | Hours: Daily, 7:00 – 18:00 | Sleep at Mandor Machu Picchu

But of Course… There IS Machu Picchu

I know, I was going to avoid the elephant in the room, but I just can’t. The most popular thing to do in Aguas Calientes is to visit the awe-inspiring Machu Picchu. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Machu Picchu is by far the biggest draw to stay in this otherwise sleepy village.

Machupicchu Pueblo thrives on day trippers, exhausted hikers, backpackers on a budget, and even travelers splurging on this once-in-a-lifetime trip. Machu Picchu is by far the most visited Inca Site in Peru.

Machu Picchu Archaeological Park | Hours: Daily, 6:00 – 17:00 | Lower entrance opens at 5:00 for arrival to the main entrance at 6:00 | Standard Ticket Price: 152 PEN ($41 US) | Ticket Price with Mountain: 200 PEN ($54 USD)

I truly think it’s worth it to climb up at least one of the mountains at Machu Picchu. Machupicchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu Mountains offer a different perspective of this sacred site. Also, the mountain tickets ensure an early entrance time.

Machu Picchu is accessible from Aguas Calientes via either the lower gate entrance with an hour uphill climb or by frequent buses that depart near the main market in Aguas Calientes. Alternatively, some hikers reach Machu Picchu via the Classic Inca Trail and walk through Machu Picchu first before visiting Aguas Calientes.

Where to Sleep in Aguas Calientes

Where you sleep in Aguas Calientes is important to make the most of the experience of Machu Picchu. There are lots of Aguas Calientes accommodation options for any type of budget from campsites, hostels, hotels, and luxury accommodations.

However, keep in mind, that this tourist village will be a little more expensive than in other areas of Peru.

• Tight Budget | Municipal Camping that is steps away from the lower Machu Picchu Entrance
• Budget | Wayna Picchu Camping is an ideal campsite for budget backpackers with clotheslines, sheltered areas for tents, clean bathrooms, and hammocks to relax in right next to the river
• Aguas Calientes Hostel | Supertramp Hostel Machupicchu has a great breakfast included with the price, luggage storage, and outside of the touristic center of Aguas Calientes
• Budget Private Rooms | Runas Inn Machupicchu offers private rooms for a budget price and is close to the bus stop for Machu Picchu
• Top Rated Rooms | Peru Coca B&B Machupicchu has warm hosts and spacious rooms in Machupicchu Pueblos
• Highly Rated | Panorama B&B has all the amenities you need and is one of the highest-rated places to stay in Aguas Calientes
• Luxury | Jaya Suite Machupicchu offers mountain-view rooms with a pinch of luxury
• High-End Luxury | Belmond Sanctuary Lodge is for travelers looking for the ultimate splurge and is a 5-star luxury hotel within a minute’s walk to the main entrance gate of Machu Picchu

➜ Browse all the Best Places to Stay in Machu Picchu Pueblo

Visiting Aguas Calientes Tips

Here are a few useful tips for visiting Aguas Calientes and making the most of a trip here.

How to Get to Aguas Calientes

Aguas Calientes village can only be reached via train or by foot. There are two rail companies that service Aguas Calientes: PeruRail and IncaRail. If looking to take a bus, you’ll need to walk the 5 miles along the railroad track from the Hydroelectrica, which is where the buses drop.

Both rail companies stop in Cusco and in the Sacred Valley. The trains disembark in the Sacred Valley from the delightful Inca town of Ollantaytambo. Sometimes there are mandatory transfers in Ollantaytambo via minibusses (collectivos) to Cusco.

There are a few Cusco multi-day trekking options, like the Salkantay Trek and the Classic Inca Trail. The Salkantay Trek can be hiked independently or on a guided Salkantay trek tour. The trail takes hikers to the Hyrdroelectrica where they can walk the 5 miles along the railroad tracks or purchase a train ticket.

The Classic Inca Trail and the Short Inca Trail are the only direct hikes that reach Machu Picchu via the Sun Gate of Machu Picchu. A guide is a requirement to hike any portion of the famous Inca Trail.

Purchase Machu Picchu Tickets Before Arriving in Aguas Calientes Village

If looking to visit Machu Picchu you must purchase a ticket online or try to pick up tickets in Cusco.

There are no longer any Machu Picchu ticket sales of any kind at the Ministry of Culture in Aguas Calientes

Use the official Peru Government Ministerio de Cultura Website to reserve and purchase Machu Picchu Tickets

How Much Time to Spend in Aguas Calientes?

Many travelers visiting Aguas Calientes only visit the village as a day trip from Cusco. That means that most visitors only spend an hour or two in the riverside pueblo.

The village itself is quite condensed and is easy to wander in a few hours. I think it’s best to spend at least a night in Aguas Calientes and set aside the whole next day to explore Machu Picchu. That would leave ample amount of time to soak in the hot springs, explore the market and town, and see the sights included with Machu Picchu (hiking trail and museum).

If looking to explore the best things to do in Aguas Calientes you’ll need to sleep at least two nights here. Two days in Aguas Calientes is a good amount of time to see all the major highlights.

Conclusion | Best Things to Do in Aguas Calientes (Besides Machu Picchu)

In short, there are many things to do in Aguas Calientes besides Machu Picchu. From soaking in healing hot springs, browsing artisanal and food markets, exploring the Aguas Calientes waterfalls, and visiting butterfly sanctuaries and botanical gardens, the little village of Aguas Calientes warrants more than just a quick bypass.

Of course, the main attraction in Aguas Calientes is the Lost Citadel of Machu Picchu. However, travelers looking to explore a little deeper will not be disappointed by other unique things to do in Aguas Calientes.

Have you explored any of these things to do in Aguas Calientes besides Machu Picchu? Did you enjoy your time in Aguas Calientes, or strictly use it as a gateway village to access Machu Picchu? Let me know in the comments below!

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