Aguas Calientes
Aguas Calientes is the base town for Machu Picchu. The train brings you in, and the hot springs lie up the road from town for sore legs after a day of walking.
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Aguas Calientes is a small town in the Cusco region of southern Peru, in the Urubamba valley below Machu Picchu. The ruins sit on the mountain above, not in the town. The town exists for the trip: the railway from Cusco and Ollantaytambo ends here, and the bus road up to the citadel starts here. Arrivals by train walk through town to the bus stop.
The town takes its name from its hot springs, since Aguas Calientes means hot waters in Spanish, and the springs lie up the road from town. Plan one or two nights. That gives you time to reach the ruins early, before the day crowds arrive, without rushing. Dry season, roughly May to September, is the usual choice for clear skies on the trail and at the site. From November to March the rains bring more cloud and wet, slippery paths.
Aguas Calientes in five
- Book the Machu Picchu entry time before you goEntry to the ruins is by timed ticket, bought through the official site, and peak months sell out. Carry your passport, because the ticket is checked against it.Tours and tickets
- Arrive by train, not by roadAguas Calientes has no road access, so you reach it by train from Cusco or Ollantaytambo, or on foot along the rail line. Book train seats early in high season.Getting around
- Buy the ruins bus ticket at the stationThe bus up to the ruins is a separate ticket from site entry, and the queue builds in the early morning. Take the first bus up if you have a timed entry.
- Carry soles in small notesMany small shops, stalls and taxis take only cash, and vendors often cannot change large notes. Withdraw soles before you go up to the valley.Money and costs
- Check travel insurance covers altitude and steep trailsCusco sits at about 3,400 m, and the ruins involve long stone staircases. Confirm your policy covers hiking and altitude-related illness before you fly.Travel insurance
Need to know
- Currency
- Sol (PEN)
- Entry
- Visa-free short stays for many passports; check yours before you book Read more
- Emergency
- 105 police, 116 fire, 106 ambulance
- Tipping
- Not required
- Time
- UTC-5, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRainy, green
- FebruaryRainy, green
- MarchRains ending
- AprilGreen, quieter
- MayDry season starts
- JuneDry, cool nights
- JulyDry, busiest
- AugustDry, busy
- SeptemberDry, pleasant
- OctoberDry, warmer
- NovemberRains start
- DecemberRainy, busy
Right now in Aguas Calientes
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
15
- Feels like
- 11°
- Humidity
- 54%
- Wind
- 16 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 99%
Aguas Calientes
03:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today16°4°99%Monday: Rain. High 16°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 99%.
- Tue16°4°100%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 16°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed19°3°94%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 19°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 94%.
- Thu17°5°100%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 17°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Fri12°6°97%Friday: Rain. High 12°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 97%.
- Sat15°3°100%Saturday: Rain. High 15°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 100%.
Updated 11:58 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 3.467 PEN
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
What's on in Aguas Calientes
Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city
Events calendarDay trips by train
- Machu Picchuabout 25 min by busThe Inca site above the town, reached by bus, on foot or by the trail.
- Cuscoabout 3.5 to 4 hours by trainA former Inca capital with markets, churches and a base for the Sacred Valley.Read the guide
- Ollantaytamboabout 1.5 hours by trainAn Inca town with terraces and a fortress above the village, on the train line.Read the guide
Before you go to Aguas Calientes
Rules for Aguas Calientes, checked
- Carry your passport to the ruins and on the bus. Entry tickets are checked against the name and ID number, so check the current rules on the official site.Source
- Many nationalities need no visa for short stays. Check Peru's entry rules on the immigration site before you book.Source
- Dial 105 for police, 116 for fire and 106 for an ambulance anywhere in Peru.
Plan around Aguas Calientes
Regions, entry rules, transport and money for a Peru trip
Read the guideGetting around PeruTrains from Cusco and the Sacred Valley to the town
Read the guideMoney and costsSoles, cards and cash for a few days in the valley
Read the guideVisas and entryEntry rules for Peru, by passport and length of stay
Read the guideWhere to stayHotels and guesthouses in the town and near the springs
Read the guideAguas Calientes FAQ
Is Aguas Calientes worth visiting without Machu Picchu?
Yes, for the hot springs up the road from town and the river walk. The town is small, so one afternoon and a night covers it. Many visitors stay only to reach the ruins.
How do you get from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu?
Take the shuttle bus from the town up the winding road, which takes about 25 minutes. Walking up is possible but takes much longer and is steep.
How many days do you need in Aguas Calientes?
Two nights give you a full day at the ruins and a free morning for the hot springs. A single night means an early start for the ruins and a late train back.
When is the best time to visit Aguas Calientes?
May to September is the dry season, with clearer views of the ruins. The rainy season from November to March brings more rain, green hills and slippery steps.
Is it better to stay in Aguas Calientes or Cusco?
Stay in Aguas Calientes if you want to reach the ruins early and avoid the day train. Stay in Cusco if you want more restaurants, museums and a longer stay in the Andes.