Although officially called Machu Picchu town, Aguas Calientes is the popular name for the nearest town to the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu which are about 5 miles away. The town is located alongside the Urubamba River in the valley below the magnificent ruins.
Aguas Calientes is probably one of the least attractive towns in Peru but it receives hundreds of thousands of visitors because it is at the end of the train line from Cusco, so everyone who visits Machu Picchu passes through the town. As a result it has many hotels, restaurants and market stalls of varying standards which cater to the broad spectrum of visitors. There are also natural thermal baths a 15 minute walk away which give the town its name.
An overnight stay in Aguas Calientes is recommended for visitors who would like a second opportunity to visit Machu Picchu in the early morning when the ruins are relatively free of visitors.
