Aguas Calientes, officially named Machu Picchu Pueblo, is the town at the foot of the Machu Picchu citadel, at about 2,040 meters above sea level according to the municipality, in the district of Machupicchu (province of Urubamba, Cusco). There is no road from Cusco: you get there by train or on foot from Hidroeléctrica, and from the town you go up to the citadel by bus, in about 25 to 30 minutes, or on foot. Here you will find the train station, the in-person ticket office for Machu Picchu tickets, the hot springs and the site museum.
Data as of 19 October 2026. The official sources for every figure are listed at the end of the article.
- 2,040 maltitude of the town according to the municipality, lower than Cusco and the citadel
- 25 – 30 minby bus from the town to the citadel
- 1,000Machu Picchu tickets sold each day at the ticket office in town
Aguas Calientes or Machu Picchu Pueblo?
They are the same place. The municipality calls it Machupicchu Pueblo; the name “Aguas Calientes” (“hot waters”) comes from the river that runs through it and from its hot springs, and it is the name most travelers use.
The town was born with the railway: construction of the line from Cusco to Santa Ana began in 1901, and in 1928 it reached the Maquinachayoq camp, where the workers settled. The district of Machupicchu was created on 1 October 1941 by Law No. 9396. According to the municipality, the town is 110 km from Cusco.
How to get to Aguas Calientes
- By train. PeruRail departs from Cusco (San Pedro and Poroy stations, plus a bus-and-train service from Wanchaq), Urubamba and Ollantaytambo; Inca Rail, from Ollantaytambo. According to PeruRail, the journey takes 1 h 40 min to 3 h 30 min, depending on the train and the departure point. On its trains to Machu Picchu you can bring one bag or backpack of up to 8 kg, with height, length and width adding up to no more than 115 cm.
- From Hidroeléctrica. This is the route by road to the hydroelectric plant and then alongside the railway. PeruRail sells the Hidroeléctrica – Machu Picchu Pueblo leg, about 45 minutes according to its official timetable; on foot it takes about 2 h 30 min. There is no public transport from Santa Teresa to Aguas Calientes. It is the route of our Machu Picchu by bus tour (2 days).
The railway has been interrupted several times in 2026: mudslides (huaicos) on the Hidroeléctrica section (January and March), a forest fire at km 107 (August) and an incident between trains (October), which was resolved the same day. In the rainy season, check the operator’s notices before traveling.
All the stations, trains and routes in detail: how to get to Machu Picchu from Cusco.
How to get up from Aguas Calientes to the citadel
- By bus on the Hiram Bingham road: about 25 to 30 minutes. Tickets are bought in town. In 2026 the service is in transition: the previous concession expired in September 2025 and, as of October 2026, two companies operate on a provisional basis while the Provincial Municipality of Urubamba prepares a new tender. That is why we do not publish a fare: confirm it when you buy.
- On foot up the stone stairs that start at Puente Ruinas, in about 2 hours according to PeruRail. It is a demanding climb.
Arrive at the citadel gate with time to spare: the time on your ticket is the time at the main gate, with 30 minutes of tolerance in regular season and 45 in high season. More details in our guide to visiting Machu Picchu.
The Aguas Calientes hot springs
They are run by the District Municipality of Machupicchu. According to the municipality, the water springs from five points beside the Aguas Calientes river, at between 36 °C and 48 °C, and collects in five small pools. They are open every day and have changing rooms, restrooms and showers.
The municipality does not publish the fee or the opening hours: ask on site. Bring a swimsuit and cash.
What to see and do in Machu Picchu Pueblo
Manuel Chávez Ballón Site Museum
It is the Ministry of Culture’s museum about Machu Picchu, with five permanent exhibition rooms. It stands by the old Puente Ruinas (km 112 of the railway), on the way to the citadel, and is open every day from 9:00 to 16:00.
| Visitor | Admission |
|---|---|
| Adults | S/ 22 |
| Higher-education students | S/ 11 |
| Children and students aged 3 to 17, seniors and people with disabilities | Free |
Next to the museum is the botanical garden, on the terraces along the banks of the Vilcanota river.
Mandor
An hour’s walk along the railway, through humid forest, there are gardens and a waterfall; PromPerú recommends it for seeing orchids and birds such as the Andean cock-of-the-rock. Keep in mind that in March 2026 a mudslide (huaico) affected the railway near Mandor (km 115): ask in town about the condition of the path.
The town
Next to the train station is the craft market, and the stone sculptures from the municipal contest “Crónicas en Piedra” are spread around the streets. The main square is Plaza Manco Cápac.
Putucusi: the mountain opposite the citadel has a climb with vertical ladders, and there is no official information about its current condition. In October 2026 the police rescued a tourist who got lost there. We do not recommend the climb.
Machu Picchu tickets in Aguas Calientes
The Ministry of Culture ticket office in Machu Picchu Pueblo (at the Cultural Center) sells up to 1,000 tickets a day, in person. As a rule, they are for entry the following day; in May 2026 the Ministry exceptionally allowed sales up to three days in advance when tickets for the following day sell out.
In high season they sell out: from 13 to 16 October 2026 there were no in-person tickets left and the Ministry ruled out increasing the quota. The safest option is to buy in advance, online, at tuboleto.cultura.pe, where you can also check availability in real time.
Is it worth staying overnight in Aguas Calientes?
Sleeping in town lets you enter the citadel in the first time slots (from 6:00) without leaving Cusco before dawn, and use the afternoon for the museum or the hot springs. If you go in a single day, the return train sets your schedule.
Our tours with a night in Machu Picchu Pueblo: Machu Picchu by train, 2 days, Machu Picchu by bus via Hidroeléctrica, 2 days and Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu in 2 days. Compare all the options in Machu Picchu tours from Cusco.
Practical information
- Altitude: 2,040 m according to the municipality (INEI records 2,092 m), more than 1,300 m below Cusco (3,399 m) and between 340 and 390 m below the citadel (2,430 m).
- Health: the town has a health facility. The Ministry of Health’s new Machupicchu Health Center was under construction in 2026 (66.8% complete as of June).
- Tourist information: iPerú can be reached at (01) 574 8000 and on WhatsApp at 944 492 314.
- Money: bring cash in soles for the bus, the museum and the hot springs.
Sources (checked in October 2026):
- District Municipality of Machupicchu: general information, history and hot springs.
- Manuel Chávez Ballón Site Museum (fees under RM 000247-2025-MC): Ministry of Culture. Botanical garden: DDC Cusco.
- In-person ticket sales: machupicchu.gob.pe. Exceptional advance sales and sold-out tickets in October 2026: Infobae (May) and Infobae (October), citing the Ministry of Culture.
- Trains, luggage, Hidroeléctrica and the climb on foot: PeruRail. Buses on the Hiram Bingham road: Infobae, citing the Provincial Municipality of Urubamba.
- Mandor, Putucusi and market: PromPerú. New health center: PRONIS.
Frequently asked questions
Are Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu Pueblo the same place?
Yes. Machupicchu Pueblo is the official name used by the municipality; "Aguas Calientes" comes from the town's river and hot springs.
Can you get to Aguas Calientes by road from Cusco?
No. You get there by train (PeruRail from Cusco, Urubamba or Ollantaytambo; Inca Rail from Ollantaytambo) or by road to Hidroeléctrica and from there by train, about 45 minutes, or on foot, about 2 h 30 min.
How long does the bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu take?
About 25 to 30 minutes on the Hiram Bingham road. On foot, up the stairs from Puente Ruinas, it takes about 2 hours.
Can you buy Machu Picchu tickets in Aguas Calientes?
Yes. The Ministry of Culture ticket office sells up to 1,000 tickets a day, in person and, as a rule, for the following day. In high season they sell out, so it is best to buy in advance at tuboleto.cultura.pe.
How much does the Manuel Chávez Ballón Site Museum cost?
S/ 22 for adults and S/ 11 for higher-education students. It is free for children and students aged 3 to 17, seniors and people with disabilities. It is open every day from 9:00 to 16:00.
Are the Aguas Calientes hot springs open every day?
Yes, according to the municipality, which runs them. The water comes out at between 36 °C and 48 °C. The fee and opening hours are not officially published: ask on site.
What is the altitude of Aguas Calientes?
About 2,040 meters above sea level according to the municipality (INEI records 2,092 m): it is lower than Cusco (3,399 m) and the Machu Picchu citadel (2,430 m).
