Aguas Calientes Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Aguas Calientes. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Classic 4-Day Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu From Cusco

• 4-Day Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu & Panoramic Train

• Classic 5-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu: Small-Group Hike

• Short 2-Day Inca Trail Hike to Machu Picchu via the Sun Gate

• 4-Day Short Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu With Sky Camp Stay

There is no entrance fee to visit Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu. However, it’s a pretty remote town, often best seen on a guided tour that’s part of a Machu Picchu visit. Full-day tours that include round-trip transportation from Cusco start around US$350 per person. Multi-day treks that start or end at Aguas Calientes average around US$800 per person and include meals, porters, camping equipment, and hotel pickup and drop-off.

Yes, Aguas Calientes is worth visiting. In fact, it's practically essential if you plan on visiting Machu Picchu, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Perched in the Urubamba River Valley, the town itself has a lot to offer, too. You'll find natural hot springs (hence the town's name) you can soak in, waterfalls to hike to, handicraft markets for souvenir shopping, and even a butterfly sanctuary boasting hundreds of species of butterflies.

Per one customer who booked the Machu Picchu Day Trip From Cusco, "This was perfect as a solo traveler! They were extremely organized and very friendly. I did not worry once on my journey. Everything was planned and explained so clearly. I will definitely recommend to anyone wanting to go to Machu Picchu!"

Most travelers stay one night in Aguas Calientes if they're getting up early to hike or take the bus to Machu Picchu. However, if you want to relax after a long day of exploring the archeological site, it's nice to spend a second night in the small, yet well-equipped town.

The compact size of Aguas Calientes makes it easy to explore on foot. The Aguas Calientes train station—from which trains to Ollantaytambo and Cusco depart—is right in the center of town and a short walk from most restaurants and hotels. It takes between 1.5–2 hours to walk to Machu Picchu.

The walk from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu is considered difficult as the 2-mile (3.5-kilometer) trek is nearly all uphill via steep stone steps. It generally takes around two hours for travelers of a moderate fitness level to complete, but you can also take the bus to the site instead.

Yes, Aguas Calientes is considered very safe. It's a small town with a large tourist community, so it’s nearly always busy and hailed as one of the safest places in Peru. Like most areas though, keep a close eye on your belongings and avoid going out alone at night.

Aguas Calientes, Peru, is known for being the gateway to Machu Picchu—one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. It's also known for its warm waters (the translation of its name) from the hot springs you can soak in after a strenuous trek to the UNESCO-listed archeological site.

The best time to visit Aguas Calientes is between April and October when the weather is dry and sunny—the ideal conditions for exploring Machu Picchu. November through March is the wet season, and while you can still visit Machu Picchu year-round, there's a much higher chance of downpours.

There are tons of things to do when you're done visiting Aguas Calientes. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions within day-trip distance of Cusco:

• Machu Picchu

• Quechua Village

• Agricultural Terraces of Moray

• Inca Trail

• Sacsayhuaman (Saqsaywaman)

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Cusco.