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You have reserved the dream ticket to Machu Picchu and the big detail that can make your morning a stressful experience is that you cannot drive to the entrance. To reach the citadel, everyone must first pass through a tiny, bustling town in a deep river valley called Aguas Calientes. Going through this gateway town is the major secret to an ideal visitation.
The journey for most travelers begins in Cusco and moves through the Sacred Valley to the historic Inca town of Ollantaytambo. This is where the road ends. Due to the rugged Andean geography, a two-hour train ride is the only way to reach Aguas Calientes, the isolated base camp for the ancient wonder. When you get out of that train this guide cuts all the stuff you need to know in order to make your way around this special town, not only where to stay at the hotel, but also where to board the all important bus that rides the mountain.
The Great Debate: Should You Stay Overnight in Aguas Calientes or Ollantaytambo?
It is one of the largest choices you will make where to spend this night before your visit. It is either your classic travel trade off: convenience vs. cost and character. The two main contenders are Aguas Calientes (the official name is Machu Picchu Pueblo), the town at the foot of the citadel, and Ollantaytambo, a charming town in the Sacred Valley where most trains depart.
The undeniable advantage of staying in Aguas Calientes is proximity. You can be waking up, walking five minutes to the bus queue and be among the first to enter Machu Picchu. This convenience comes with a cost however. Hotels and restaurants are much more costly as a town that was constructed near 100 percent on tourism. The value of spending in Machu Picchu Pueblo should lie in your interest in having a lazy morning.
Choosing to stay in Ollantaytambo offers a more authentic and budget-friendly experience. It has its own great ruins and a less bustling local atmosphere. The catch? You’ll need to catch a very early train (around 5:30 AM) to get to Aguas Calientes in time, making for a long and logistically tight travel day.
Your Train to Paradise: Booking Your Ride to Aguas Calientes
Since cars can’t reach the town, the train is your essential link to Aguas Calientes. You will have two major companies to choose between, namely PeruRail and Inca Rail. Most of the travellers do not compare PeruRail and Inca Rail on the basis of quality, both are comfortable and beautiful journeys along Urubamba river, but on the basis of the timing and the cost that fits into their schedule. Simply check both of their websites for a departure from Ollantaytambo (the most common starting point) that aligns with your itinerary.
This is the most important recommendation to this section of your journey: you should reserve your train tickets way earlier. Similar to the process of reserving a flight to one of the biggest holidays of the year, even well-known times of train services may run out a couple of months previously, particularly during the peak season between June and August. In order not to be in a position where there are no seats available, it is always wise to reserve the seats at least two or three months ahead of time before travelling. This will be the only step you will need to make your entire plan of Machu Picchu fly.
Last but not least, be mindful of the wringing luggage limit on the train, which is also something that catches many tourists off guard. Each person is permitted to get one small bag or a backpack and the weight is limited to roughly 5-8 kg (11-18 lbs), or put another way, airline carry-on size. No one has room for large suitcases. This right away leads to the issue of leaving things which were luggage and then climbing Machu Picchu, and you will have to decide what to do with your large bags.
The Luggage Problem: What to Do with Your Big Suitcases
The very strict train luggage rule instantly leads one to wonder, what happens with your main suitcase? Fortunately, it has a quick and easy solution. Most travelers leave their large bags at their hotel in Cusco or the Sacred Valley (like Ollantaytambo). It is a normal and safe procedure since hotels are used to taking luggage of customers visiting Machu Picchu on a one or two day trip. All one has to do is to pack a little bag with stuff overnight and inform your hotel that you will be back in an hour to have your things delivered.
If leaving your luggage at a previous hotel isn’t practical for your itinerary, there’s a great backup plan right in Aguas Calientes. The railroad station offers a formal, safe place of keeping baggage (find an office) (deposito de equipaje). You can also have your large bag checked upon arrival in the morning (at a small fee) and consequently collect it before boarding onto a train in and out of town later in the day or the next day.
Oh, you have plans to not carry our bags. For your journey to Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu, you only need a small backpack with the essentials: a change of clothes, toiletries, your passport (you’ll need it everywhere!), your camera, and any medications. The approach will allow you to move around the little town and the place itself without having to carry around bulky bags.
The Final Climb: Buying Your Bus Ticket from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
You’ve packed a small suitcase and the hotel is already occupied, but there’s nothing between you and the ancient citadel: the craggy mountain. Although you can walk up to the mountain (a tiring 90 minute hike), almost all the visitors prefer the fast and easy way to the top as the bus ride. This does not include this on your major Machu Picchu ticket, but it is a separate ticket you need to buy within town.
This is the most essential tip when it comes to a stress free morning, purchase your bus ticket either afternoons or evenings before you visit. It is unbelievable when the queue of the tickets at 5 a.m. reaches 10 to 15 meters in length, with people who want to take the first bus to sunrise. Purchasing your ticket in advance would allow you to skip this queue and go directly to the bus line when you are ready, potentially spending up to an hour in the dark line.
It is not complicated and only one thing is needed. In order to have your ticket, then here are the steps which will be followed:
- Find the ticket office in the main road, which is the avenida Hermanos Ayar and it is part of the major avenues and the buses are lined there parallel to the river.
- Bring your original passport and Machu Picchu entrance ticket. It does not take photocopies and thus you should make sure that you carry the original.
- Pay for your ticket. You may pay with cash (Peruvian Soles or US dollars) or with a card.
When you purchase the ticket, then you have it all ready. The green buses have a fleet on the road that is always ready to leave as soon as it is full. This adventure ride in itself is an adventure- a 25 minute experience that waves in and out in a series of dramatic switchbacks giving you a glimpse of teasing views of the mountains before you land just in time at the exit to the main event.
Where to Eat and Sleep: Navigating the Town’s Pricey Options
It is time to get down after getting your logistics sorted out. The first thing you’ll notice about Aguas Calientes is that prices for food and lodging are significantly higher than in Cusco or the Sacred Valley. This is not a given tourist trap, but the question of mere logistics; all things in this remote town, building materials, avocados, etc., must come by train. By this way of estimating your budget prospects, you will find it easy to appreciate what the town has to offer without tampering with the bill.
Booking far ahead when it comes to ordering a place to sleep is important. This is a small town and choices are very limited with time, particularly in rooms that can give one a restful sleep. One trick that is important is that you should check on a map before you book. The railways are situated in the heart of the town and hotel rooms located at the borders of it can be rather noisy. A simple change of hotel to the next street may turn into a miracle when it comes to relaxing the night before your early morning adventure.
To eat, you will have tens of dozens of restaurants on the street which are trying to attract you into the restaurant. To eat more picturesquely and in less hurry get a short stroll out of the principal square to the lanes which lead beside the mighty Urubamba River. Several of these restaurants are very small ones with balconies or large windows; and you may eat with the banking water rushing behind your back as the background–an excellent place to conclude a day.
Beyond the Wait: Three Things to Actually Do in Aguas Calientes
While many travelers see Aguas Calientes as a holding pattern for Machu Picchu, a few simple activities can turn that waiting time into a pleasant part of your journey. Knowing what to do in Aguas Calientes for one night helps make your stay more memorable than just a stopover.
To get a dose of fresh air and an opportunity to open your legs, you can look at the Mandor Waterfall hike which is quite easy. It is not so much of a big walk but rather a nice level walk of the train tracks getting out of town. It goes through rich green lands with orchids and butterflies, to a tiny, yet pretty fall. It is the ideal low exertion means of getting out of the mobs and into the cloud forest space.
At home, there are two other trendy ones. The town’s namesake, the Aguas Calientes thermal baths, are a short uphill walk from the main square. Having expectations is a good idea: these are not a fancy spa, they are basic and tangible pools that may become very crowded. To get a different atmosphere, take a stroll to the big covered Mercado Artesanal at the train station. It is the primary center of souvenir shopping where one can enjoy the bright fabrics, and get the final minute gifts.
Your Aguas Calientes Checklist: A Final Action Plan
Before, Aguas Calientes might have seemed like a confusing extra step in your Machu Picchu planning. It is as you see it now, the key entry point, which, when used properly, can provide an easy and unforgettable experience. Here is your simple game plan.
This is the last pre-trip checklist, which makes your plan come true:
- Reserve 2-3 months before travelling.
- Reserve your hotel in Aguas Calientes for the night before your visit.
- Fill a daycase with things, leaving massive baggage at home.
- PIF Buy your bus tickets to Machu Picchu the day before you go up.
- There is always a need to have your original passport available to buy tickets and access.
It is not only an obligatory pullout any more, but the town becomes a strategic point. Here’s one of the best altitude sickness tips for Aguas Calientes: at 2,040 meters (6,693 ft), it’s significantly lower than Cusco. This is why it could be the best place where you can have a rest and be in your best shape towards the main event. You have ceased to be a tourist and you are a well-equipped traveler who is now ready to have a memorable experience.
