{"id":5313,"date":"2023-02-28T15:18:43","date_gmt":"2023-02-28T20:18:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cuscojourneys.com\/blog\/?p=5313"},"modified":"2023-02-28T15:33:18","modified_gmt":"2023-02-28T20:33:18","slug":"visiting-machu-picchu-pueblo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cuscojourneys.com\/blog\/visiting-machu-picchu-pueblo","title":{"rendered":"Visiting Machu Picchu\u00a0Pueblo"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Visiting<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Visiting Machu Picchu Pueblo<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span>We will talk abouth for Aguas Calientes town or Machu Picchu Pueblo<\/strong> contains everything you need to know about when to visit, what to do, buses to Machu Picchu<\/strong>, restaurants and more. Aguas Calientes is the closest town to Machu Picchu<\/strong>. Just 5.5 miles (9 km) down the mountain from Machu Picchu, you\u2019ll visit the town at some point in your journey either in transit or during an overnight stay.<\/span>Local restaurants, hotels and shops have one mission: to serve the more than 1 million people that visit Machu Picchu each year.<\/span><\/p>\n

Overview:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Many people ask us when visiting Machu Picchu Pueblo<\/strong> if Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu Pueblo are the same place, and if you are one of them, the answer is yes. The formal name of the town is Machu Picchu Pueblo and was given by Law \u2116 9396 in the year 1941.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the other side, Aguas Calientes is the name of the river which goes through the village besides rivers Alcamayo and Vilcanota or Urubamba and has among its many attractions, a very relaxing thermal waters. The town is small, so you will reach almost any place walking.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Get to Aguas Calientes<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"How<\/span><\/div>\n
To get to the town of Aguas Calientes we do not have many options, this due to the mountainous geography limits access to this isolated region of Peru so much and the only options to get to Machu Picchu Pueblo are by train or trekking.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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There are no paved roads from the Sacred Valley or Cusco, so you cannot hire a taxi, drive your car, or take a bus to Aguas Calientes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Train Service<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Most travelers arrive at Aguas Calientes by train ride through stunning Andean scenery. Routes range from 3+ hours from Poroy and 1.5+ hours from the Sacred Valley (Ollantaytambo Village).<\/span><\/p>\n

For many passengers, the scenic train to Machu Picchu and pleasant onboard entertainment are highlights of their trip. From Ollantaytambo, the train to Machu Picchu continues through a narrow section of the Sacred Valley covered in lush green vegetation all the way to Aguas Calientes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tickets for the train are in high demand during May, June, July and August in the high dry season. Consequently, tickets regularly sell out several days if not weeks in advance. Buying your tickets upon arrival is not recommended, especially if your time in Peru is limited, because the dates and departure times you desire might not be available.<\/span><\/p>\n

Train Routes and schedules<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Train<\/div>\n
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PeruRail company operates the service to Aguas Calientes from the train stations in Cusco, Poroy, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley. <\/span><\/p>\n

Inca Rail is another company that provides on-board services alongside PeruRail.<\/span><\/p>\n

The following table lists the time it takes to travel by train from the stations of Cusco, Poroy, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo to the Machu Picchu Train Station<\/strong><\/a> (also known as the Aguas Calientes Train Station).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Departure Point<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nTrain Station<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nTime to Aguas Calientes<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cusco<\/span><\/td>\nSan Pedro Station\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n~4 hours<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cusco<\/span><\/td>\nPoroy Station\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n~3 hours<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sacred Valley<\/span><\/td>\nUrubamba Station<\/span><\/td>\n~2 hours\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sacred Valley<\/span><\/td>\nOllantaytambo Station<\/span><\/td>\n~1.5 hours\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Treks to MachuPicchu<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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\"TreksTaking a trek to Machu Picchu is your second option for arriving to Aguas Calientes. The\u00a0Inca Trail\u00a0is iconic because it is the only trek that ends at the Sun Gate entrance of Machu Picchu<\/strong><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

A few Inca Trail alternatives<\/strong><\/a> include Lares, Salkantay, Vilcabamba, Ancascocha and Choquequirao, which are treks that do not end by hiking directly into the ruins. Instead, the trekking and camping portion concludes on the second to last night of the tour package. After a final night in one of the Aguas Calientes hotels, the trekkers take the shuttle bus up to the main entrance of Machu Picchu and tour the site.<\/span><\/p>\n

Inca Trail Options<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Inca<\/p>\n

Compare the following trekking package itineraries for the 4-day Inca Trail<\/strong><\/a> vs the 2-day Inca Trail<\/strong><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n4-Day Inca Trail<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n2-Day Inca Trail<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Itinerary &<\/b>
\n<\/b>Distance<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n		4 days of trekking,<\/span>
\n30 miles (42 km) total<\/span><\/td>\n		Day 1 trek (7 mi | 11 km)\u00a0to Machu Picchu + Day 2 tour of Machu Picchu<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Permit<\/b>
\n<\/b>Required<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n		+ Inca Trail permits must be secured in advance.<\/span>
\n+ Only 500 daily permits are available.<\/span>
\n+ No permits in February. Inca Trail is closed for maintenance.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0Machu Picchu
\nArrival<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n		On foot through the Sun Gate, followed by a tour of Machu Picchu on the same day.<\/span><\/td>\nOn Day 1, on foot through the Sun Gate. Then, for the guided tour on Day 2, take the bus shuttle from Aguas Calientes to the main entrance.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Camping or Hotels<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nAll 3 nights camping<\/span><\/td>\n1 night at a hotel in Aguas Calientes<\/span>
\n(No camping)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Aguas Calientes Facts<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n