Cocalmayo Hot Springs: The medicinal baths of Santa Teresa

The baths or hot springs of Cocalmayo are a great alternative for a day of relaxation on the outskirts of the city of Cusco. It is a wonderful resource of medicinal turquoise waters, located in the district of Santa Teresa.

If you are going to take a Tour to Machu Picchu, you can give yourself some time to connect with nature, escape from routine for a moment and make a stop in Santa Teresa; The hot springs are ideal for relaxing the body and curing certain muscle or joint pain in general.

Would you like to know a little more about the hot springs of Cocalmayo? Keep reading this article and find out the perfect place to take a hot bath around an impressive landscape of vegetation next to the river. Are you ready to connect with nature?

Location

The town of Santa Teresa is located in the valley of the Urubamba river, in the district of the same name, province of La Convención, department of Cusco. It is located approximately 14 kilometers from Machu Picchu town and 220 kilometers from the city of Cusco.

What are the thermal baths of Cocalmayo?

Taking a relaxing afternoon in the thermal baths of Cocalmayo is a great experience on your trip to Cusco.

As its name indicates, it is a set of pools that receive hot water from a natural spring located in the upper Uripata lagoon.

It is located between a huge river and a small mountain. In Cocalmayo bathers can enjoy outdoor pools fed by natural hot springs, built between a small mountain full of vegetation and the Urubamba river.

There you will find 3 pools of different sizes and depths. The water temperature varies between 38ºC and 44ºC. Unlike most hot springs in Peru, it has clear waters.

Very close to the pools there are cold showers. The place also has snacks and drinks for sale. In addition, the visitor can request to spend the night in the lodging located next to the thermal baths.

Weather

The thermo-medicinal baths of Santa Teresa are found in the middle of a beautiful landscape of sub-tropical jungle, with an average annual temperature of 21°. The rainy season, as in the entire department of Cusco, begins between the months of November and December, usually ending in April, and is characterized by torrential rains that can in some cases cause landslides and roadblocks. During the summer season -or winter- the climate is normally dry and at night the temperature can drop to 11°. This season is between the months of May and October, these being the best months to travel.

How to get to Cocalmayo thermal baths?

To visit the thermal baths of Cocalmayo you can take any of the following routes that start from the city of Cusco:

By bus from Cusco to Santa Teresa – Take a bus from the city of Cusco to Quillabamba (the company Turismo Ampay on Avenida Antonio Lorena). Get off in the town of Santa María. The trip lasts approximately 5 hours. They are 221 km by paved track. The next destination is Santa Teresa, which is 25 kilometers from Santa María. From here you must take another vehicle to travel for 1 hour until you reach Santa Teresa.

By train from Ollantaytambo to Santa Teresa – If you already took your train from Ollantaytambo and you are on your way to Machu Picchu, you can take the train and get off at the “Hidroeléctrica” bus stop. From this point you can take a vehicle that will take you to Santa Teresa in 20 minutes. Or, if you want, you can walk. The walk will take between 2 and 3 hours to Santa Teresa.

On foot from Aguas Calientes to Santa Teresa – After having visited Machu Picchu you can make plans to visit the thermal baths of Cocalmayo. There are two ways to get to the Cocalmayo thermal baths from Aguas Calientes: by train and by bus. The trip on foot will take around 20 minutes and costs S/. 5.00 for nationals and 31 dollars for foreigners. Later, in Hidroeléctrica, you must continue to Santa Teresa by car or on foot. The stretch on foot to Hidroeléctrica takes 2 hours. Then continue by car to Santa Teresa.

The pools and the temperature

The Cocalmayo thermal baths have four pools whose waters have temperatures that vary from 38ºC. up to 44ºC.
All pools are large enough to accommodate twenty people or more.
One of the pools does not have thermal waters but water with room temperature.

Other activities on the trip to the thermal baths of Cocalmayo

During your visit to Santa Teresa and the thermal baths of Cocalmayo you can do the following activities:

Adventure sports in Santa Teresa – The town of Santa Teresa offers a suitable geography for practicing adventure sports such as ziplining, canoeing or rock climbing. These sports can be practiced with a professional agency in the same place.
Hidroeléctrica Hike – The hike from the Hydroelectric station to the town of Aguas Calientes is an entertaining adventure full of beautiful landscapes along 10 kilometers. The route is easy and safe. Follow the train tracks parallel to the Vilcanota River. The adventure is free.
Visit to Machu Picchu – The visit to Machu Picchu is the best option to do before or after the visit to the thermal baths of Cocalmayo. Both sites are approximately 20 kilometers apart. It can be reached on foot or by train. Machu Picchu is open every day of the year from 6 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon.
Visit to Quillabamba – The thermal baths of Cocalmayo are 49 kilometers from the city of Quillabamba. There the visitor can relax in waterfalls, pools and green landscapes. Quillabamba is known as 'The city of eternal summer' for its hot climate.

How much does the entrance ticket to Cocalmayo cost?

These are the prices of the entrance tickets to the thermal baths of Machu Picchu:

Foreign adult: 10 Peruvian soles
Peruvian adult: 5 Peruvian soles
Cusco adult: 2.50 Peruvian soles

Best Trekking and Tours in Peru

Many are the routes that take you to Machu Picchu, but none is like the Inca Trail Tours, the most famous pedestrian path in the Americas. After flying from the capital of Peru, Lima, you will arrive in Cusco to walk for four days along a path through forests and dense fog, millenary stone steps and discovering the ruins of ancient fortifications and Inca cities, and all the time enjoying majestic views.

If you want to visit Machu Picchu, we recommend you to book your Machu Picchu Ticket in advance, so you will enjoy your Vacation in Machu Picchu without any problem.