When you are in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Town) you will feel so close to Machu Picchu, that you will be able to feel the mystical energy of the Andes Mountain Range. Unless you are on a short trip to Machu Picchu, you will have some free time in Aguas Calientes, enjoy it, there is much to do in Aguas Calientes; in addition, it is the only way in which it will be able to contain the inevitable anxiety, before entering Machu Picchu.
City Near Machu Picchu
Aguas Calientes is a cozy place with lots of life, its streets are full of people from all countries that fill the bars and restaurants around the town, in these places you can enjoy a huge variety of bars and restaurants, where you can enjoy delicious Peruvian food and mergers of these with other countries, but also delicious cocktails made with pisco (National drink of Peru); You can find them at all prices, from the cheapest to the most exclusive and luxurious.
TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN MACHU PICCHU (BESIDES VISITING MACHU PICCHU!)
The town of Aguas Calientes is a town entirely dedicated to the wonder of Machu Picchu and in it you will find many things to do, here are some of them:
1. Visit the Mandor Gardens and Waterfall
You can make a trek to the waterfalls of Mándor it is a path of 4 km from the village.
2. Relax in the Hot Springs
You can go and take a dip in the delicious (and medicinal) hot springs of Aguas Calientes, they are 15 minutes from the town square, you will also find a bar with service to the pools, we recommend ordering a Pisco Sour.
3. Learn at Museo de Sitio Manuel Chavez Ballon
You can see the Machu Picchu Site Museum -Manuel Chávez Ballón-, this visit will give you a clearer picture of what you saw or will see in Machu Picchu.
4. Climb Putucusi Mountain
You can climb the incredible Putucusi mountain, it is one of the best treks you can do on your trip to Machu Picchu, however you must be very careful; This mountain can only be traveled by people over 12 years old, just like the Huayna Picchu mountain.
5. Food
If what you want is to enjoy the food while you are in Aguas Calientes you will find hundreds of restaurants of different categories, Peruvian food and from all over the world, and we know that this one tells you why you should try Peruvian food.
6. Bars
Aguas Calientes also has dozens of bars, in case you want to enjoy a drink, before or after Machu Picchu, just make sure you get to your train back in time.
7. Cocalmayo hot Springs
Forget the overcrowded baths in Aguas Calientes and instead take a day trip to the nearby town of Santa Teresa to bathe in pools of crystal-clear thermal water.
Each of these natural pools is a different temperature, so a visit is ideal for soothing sore muscles after all that hiking – plus the location is stunning next to the roaring Vilcanota River. The hot springs are open 24/7 – if you like stargazing, head for a stunning night-time experience; otherwise mornings are best.
How to get there: Catch the Peru Rail train from Aguas Calientes to Hidroelectrica (€28 approx.) and get a shared taxi from three to the hot pools.
8. Visit the Orchid Garden
It’s rainy season in Machu Picchu and now is the perfect time to do some orchid spotting. Machu Picchu is famous for its orchids which bloom mainly between November and March and there’s no better place to see 400 orchid species than the slightly ramshackle orchid garden run by the Mendoza Mora family
9. Visit Plaza Manco Capac
Plaza Manco Capac is a small central plaza offering a place to rest while touring Aguas Calientes. While there, you will be surrounded by municipal buildings, monuments, and a beautiful church. Many like to take pictures in front of the statue of Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui, which stands in the plaza.
Also make time to visit Iglesia Virgen Del Carmen when at the Plaza Manco Capac. This church may be small and simple, but it has a very colorful altar and is decorated with icons. A visit to the church offers you a peaceful spot to pause for a moment and give thanks.
10.Shop at Mercado de Artesanias
Mercado de Artesanias — Artisan Market — a great place to shop at and pick up many souvenirs to take home with you. Some vendors will bargain with you, offering you some fantastic deals on goods such as artwork, clothes, travel goods, and woven fabrics. This market has just about anything your heart desires, and even if you don’t want to shop, this market is a fun place to do some window shopping.
Closest Town to Machu Picchu
Settled on the foundations of ancient Inca populations, these villages still harbor the native spirit of the Andes. Walking its streets is a breath for the soul and a vision for the spirit of what is a peaceful and quiet life.
Sacred Valley Pisac
Also called Pisaq is a district of the province of Calca, department of Cusco. This urban center Because of its location at the head of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, it becomes the entrance to this valley.
Ollantaytambo ruins in Peru
Ollantaytambo is a village settled in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, which in the past was a huge city that included the entire plain of the area plus the slopes and hills of the mountain that houses the fortress. In addition this town is considered, like the last one in being inhabited by the descendants of the Incas.
Chinchero Textiles
The most typical population of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, is a distinctly Inca city that the ambitious conquerors wanted to civilize to implement their culture, but never achieved it completely.
Maras Cusco
Maras is a small town on a plain that in the past was a plateau where you could see different snows of the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
When is the best time to visit Machu Picchu?
The best season is during the dry season, which covers the months April to the end of September. In October the rains begin and you can find Machu Picchu covered by clouds. If you travel in June, we recommend you to book the Inti Raymi 2023 Tour that takes place in June 24th, and also hike to the Inca Trail, which is an incredible Rainbow Mountain located in the Andes.
Machu Picchu Tours from Cusco
- Machu Picchu Day Trip
- Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu
- Machu Picchu Overnight
- Combo Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu
Hiking tours to Machu Picchu
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 Perú, 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.
- Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 days
- Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 5 days
- Inca Quarry Trail 4 Days
- 2 Day Inca Trail Tour
- 2 Day Inca Trail with Camping
- 3 Day Inca Trail
- Vilcabamba Hike to Machu Picchu 6 days
- Choquequirao trek to Machu Picchu 9 days
- Ausangate trek 7 days
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.
