The best time to visit Aguas Calientes is from June to September. On June the 24th takes place the Inti Raymi, an important date when the people from Cusco pay tribute to the Sun.
-The climate in Aguas Calientes is temperate to warm, due to its location at the jungle’s edge.-The average temperature in Aguas Calientes is 61 °F (16 °C); you should bring warm clothing.-There are intense rains from November to March (take raincoats and rain boots). From April to May the weather is warm. The rest of the year the days have nice weather.
Location: 150, Av. Pachacuteq
Hours: unknown information
Prices: unknown infromation
At this cafe you won’t only find hamburguers and pizzas that fill up the most demanding dinners, but also you can have drinks with friends or partners. Take advantage of the Happy Hour time, it’s nothing special, but it’s not too bad for passing a quiet evening time, before the ascent of Machu Picchu or the following day.
Location: Lloque Yupanqui (no number)
Hours: 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
Price: unknown information
Since it’s a little, expensive and passing town, the night activity is limited. This is a nightclub where you can enjoy with modern music, dancing and drinking with your friends until early morning. We recommend you to go after your Machu Picchu visit, when you go back to Cusco.
Location: close to the train station
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Price: 5 to 10 soles
It’s one of the few places where you can find a low-cost menu, served by the merchants of the local. You can find it just by going to the second level of the market.
Location: 105, Av. Contisuyo (Plaza de Armas)
Hours: open from 8:00 a.m.
Price: an average of 24 soles
The Yakumama II offers to the dinners a variety of Peruvian cooking and the best in pizzas, portions that will leave you satisfied. The place is decorated in a strange way that will be entertaining for you and propitious to have a quiet meal.
Location: Av. Imperio de los Incas
Hours: 12:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Price: an average of 22 soles
The menu of this restaurant is assorted, as you can find from the most delicious peruvian cooking to the most exquisite of the traditional flavour. Besides that, yo have pizzas as in most of the restaurants in Aguas Calientes. On the local you can enjoy live Andean musical shows and a privilege view over the river and the mountains. If you like tasting everything, we recommend you to taste the “buffet para almuerzo”, buffet for lunch (the cost is 70 soles).
Location: close to the train station
Hours: from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Price: expensive
In this market you will find handicrafts representative of the region, made by the inhabitants of Aguas Calientes or coming from the Cusco districts. It’s, doubtless, the place where you will find the ideal souuvenir, but we must advice you that the prices are high (as all in Aguas Calientes).
Location: at the end of Av. Pachacútec, at 15 min from the Plaza de Armas of the town
Hours: from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Price: 10 soles for foreigners, 5 soles for Peruvian people and 3 soles for locals
Those waters, whose temperature goes from 100 °F (38 °C) to 114 °F (46 °C), is believed have healing properties that help on the treatment of rheumatic illnesses, ease stress and eliminate toxins, among others. The only bad thing is that they are crowded, what does not guarantee the hygiene of the waters.
Location: Puentes Ruinas, at the foot of Machu Picchu citadel, at 1 mi (1.7 kms) from Aguas Calientes (22 min. by foot)
Hours: from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Monday to Saturday)
Price: 20 soles foreigners, 10 soles Peruvian people and minors below 12 years old for free
There are remains of the inca citadel, historic pictures and archaeological collections; you can also visit a bothanic garden with a sample of the main regional flower species.
Location: at 1.8 mi (3 kms) from Aguas Calientes; it takes about 1h 30min. by foot following the railway
Hours: 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Price: 10 soles for foreigners and 5 soles for Peruvian people
If you are a lover of nature, the waterfalls and the thick vegetation of Mandor is the ideal place for you. The view of the more than 30 meters waterfall will worth the route.
Location: to the North of Aguas Calientes, following the railway
Hours: unknown information
Price: free entrance
This activity is only recommended for the reckless travelers and with great physical conditions. The ascent to the mountain is vertical and you go through 7 wood stairs (one of them makes 4 to 5 floors of height). The peak is located at 2560 meters above the sea level, from where you can appreciate the unique view of the Machu Picchu citadel. Its name comes from the quechua word “Phutuq K'usi”, which mean “happy mountain”, a curious detail if you consider that the climb is one of the most dangerous.