LIVE THE EXPERIENCE

4 Unique Activities in Aguas Calientes Machu Picchu

Aguas Calientes Machu Picchu Pueblo is the name given to the picturesque and small town located at the base of the wonder of the world, Machu Picchu.

Located in the district of Machu Picchu, province of Urubamba, department of Cusco in Peru, this place is the access point to the wonder of the world because all the routes, including train routes, alternative hikes, the Inca Trail, and the route through Hidroeléctrica, without exception, converge at this point.

It is the ideal town for having lunch after visiting Machu Picchu. In the town of Aguas Calientes, you will find a wide variety of restaurants, cafés, and other things necessary to make your visit to the wonder of the world unforgettable.

Let’s begin with the 4 activities you can do in the town of Aguas Calientes Machu Picchu.

1. Take a dip in the hot springs of the town of Aguas Calientes:

One of the main activities to do in Aguas Calientes Machu Picchu is to take a good dip in the town’s hot springs, located just approximately 10 minutes walking from your hotel to the place.

There are different entrance fees, which are:

Foreigners	S/. 20.00
Peruvians	S/. 10.00
Cusco residents	S/. 5.00
Residents of the town	S/. 2.00

The temperature and size of the pools vary, with the hottest being 37°C and the “coldest” 30°C. They also have 3 cold-water fountains so that you can carry out the relaxation therapy properly.

The best way to relax is to first enter the hottest pool, stay there for about 5 minutes, and then run to the cold-water jets. Once you have cooled your whole body, run back to the hot pools. Repeat the process at least 3 times so that you can feel true relaxation.

With the purchase of your ticket, they will store the belongings you bring. Travelers usually carry a small backpack where they can put the clothes they take off and later put back on. The town municipality, which manages the place, has implemented a safe area with lockers and padlocks where your belongings, including your cellphone if for any reason you want to leave it there, will be safe.

*NOTE: It is important that you carry cash and in soles, since the administration does not accept card payments or foreign currencies.

2. Visit the Love Bridge and leave your padlock:

The town of Aguas Calientes has 4 bridges, of which 3 are used by pedestrians and one by the train. On the pedestrian bridges, you and your favorite person can leave your padlock as a gesture and symbol that will always remind you of that very special trip to Machu Picchu.

puente pantigoso aguas calientes machu picchu pueblo

Of the 3 bridges, the most iconic and oldest is the orange-colored bridge called Pantigoso Bridge. It is the last bridge in the town and the closest to the hot springs.

3. Visit the butterfly house of Aguas Calientes Machu Picchu:

The butterfly house in the town of Machu Picchu is a good plan if you feel like exploring and discovering everything you can about the town of Aguas Calientes.

mariposario de aguas calientes machu picchu pueblo

It is located just 10 minutes walking from the Main Square of the town of Aguas Calientes. The entire path is downhill, and as you move forward you will feel yourself entering a deep canyon. On the left side of the road, you will find a small sign that says Machu Picchu Butterfly House.

The place is managed by SERNAMP, which is the government entity responsible for reforestation and the care of the flora and fauna of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu.

The entrance fee is:

Foreigners	S/. 20.00
Peruvians	S/. 10.00

The price includes a guided visit with an ecosystem conservation expert, who will teach you very interesting facts about the butterfly ecosystem, its impact, and its essential role in the environment.

We were very lucky the time we went, since that very day one of the butterflies was completing its transformation cycle and they let us release it.

Without a doubt, a highly recommended experience by GET IN PERU.

4. Walk through its streets and take photos with the stone sculptures:

One of the less popular activities, but one that will undoubtedly fascinate those with a sharp and observant eye, is nothing more and nothing less than the modern sculptures carved into the bedrock in different parts of the town of Machu Picchu.

In them, you will find the succession of Inca rulers, a representation of Peruvian pride in our ancestors, and also a glimpse of the traditions and customs resulting from the conquest and cultural blending that have prevailed for hundreds of years and still remain alive in our everyday traditions.