Peru

Known for its thermal waters, Machupicchu Pueblo is the essential Peruvian destination to visit the famous Machu Picchu. This small village benefits from a strategic location, since it is located at the foot of the Machu Picchu mountain. With only 4525 inhabitants in 2017, it has all the tourism assets to seduce the vacationers coming from the four corners of the world.

The famous thermal waters of Machu Picchu Pueblo

Machupicchu Pueblo was formerly called "Aguas Calientes" which meant "hot waters" in Spanish. The thermal waters are located 800 m from the main square of the village, on the banks of the Vilcanota River.

Obligatory passage during your Peruvian stays in Machupicchu Pueblo, this complex produces naturally hot water distributed in 5 basins. This water comes from a spring nestled in the volcanic mountains of the region, a volcano that has been dormant since pre-Inca times. The temperature of the water varies between 38 and 46°C. Don't be surprised or reluctant to see the yellowish color of these sulfurous waters: it is the sulfur that gives it this color. Think of the therapeutic properties of this water and take advantage of it to relax and recharge your batteries.

The benefits of these thermal waters

Take advantage of the relaxing properties of these waters to unwind, far from the daily stress. This will only enhance your trip to Peru. In addition, your metabolism will function better thanks to these natural lime baths. Indeed, they promote the release of toxins and increase oxygenation. The chemical composition and the temperature of the water provide very interesting curative properties for the health. Thermal waters are often used for therapies and medical treatments, curing illnesses such as arthritis, rheumatism or skin problems. They also prevent high blood pressure.

The Machupicchu Pueblo thermal water complex is open 7 days a week. The thermal ponds and other infrastructures are well maintained: lobbies, toilets, cafeteria.

To see and do from Machupicchu Pueblo

Machu Picchu, the mysterious Inca city

Built in the XVth century, at the time of the apogee of the Inca civilization, this citadel is the first tourist attraction of Peru and the most famous Inca symbol of the world. It attracts nearly 800000 visitors per year. One cannot visit the country without discovering the historical and cultural wealth of this magnificent fortress. Machupicchu Pueblo is the closest city to this Inca city and is therefore one of the main points of departure for this discovery. You have chosen your destination well by going to Machupicchu Pueblo, the closest town to this attraction.

Revealed to the world in 1911, Machupicchu enjoys a privileged location on the upper flank of the Amazon River. Thanks to its forested and mountainous area, you can discover a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Its terraces and its stone walls contribute to the charm of this city and reflect the history of the Incas living there at the time. All these tourist assets make that Machu Picchu really deserves its place in the list of the UNESCO World Heritage since 1983.

Huayna Picchu, in the shadow of Machu Picchu

Meaning "young mountain" in Quechua, Huayna Picchu is none other than the mountain located behind the fortress of Machu Picchu. For those who love sports and hiking, Huayna Picchu challenges you to climb it. At the top, you will be amply rewarded by the spectacular panorama, a very beautiful view of the city and its surroundings. The ascent and the descent will last only 1 hour and a half or 2 hours.

The Gardens of Mandor

An ideal place to walk and discover nature, this beautiful green oasis is the place where Hiram Bingham's expeditions began. It is hidden deep in the rainforest leading to Santa Teresa, about a 50-minute walk away. Mother Nature will surprise you this time with the many riches of the wild fauna and flora of this natural reserve. Observe the hummingbirds and the famous Peruvian Rooster or Tunqui, the national bird of Peru. It is advisable to observe them during the dry season, between April and October. The varieties of orchids also abound in the place. Obviously, the Gardens of Mandor are a must-see, unfortunately little known, from Machu Picchu Pueblo.

Bathing in the waterfall

Only 40 minutes from the train station are the Allcamayo waterfalls. To get to this heavenly place, you will enjoy a good walk in the middle of nature with the dense vegetation decorated with orchids and embellished by the beautiful colors of the butterflies as well as the song of the local birds. This path leads to three natural waterfalls, the last and highest being Allcamayo. This is the right time to connect with nature and its positive energies to recover after your trip to Peru.

The surroundings of Machupicchu Pueblo still abound with many tourist sites to visit. We will mention only the Museum Manuel Chavez Ballon, unfortunately little known, but which contains 250 ceramic objects, bones and different objects used on Machu Picchu. This Museum of Machu Picchu also has bronze and copper tools. To say that Machupicchu Pueblo is not a simple modest village, it is really an unmissable tourist village in Peru.

The climate

With a warm temperate climate, Machupicchu Pueblo is in altitude. The village knows therefore big rainy periods, that is to say 1324 mm of annual precipitations. The most important rainy periods are between January and April, and November to December. The average annual temperature is 17.9°C. The ideal time to visit Machupicchu Pueblo is between April and November.

How to get there?

It is best that you land at the Alejandro-Velasco-Astete International Airport in Cusco, the second largest in all of Peru. From this city, you have two options to get to Machupicchu Pueblo:

• By train: go to Poroy or Wanchaq station to take the train with Perurail. The trip will take about 3 hours.

• By foot: the Inca Trail in 4 days is certainly the most beautiful option for those who have time and are a bit sporty. It is also possible to do it in 2 days from the dam of the hydroelectric power station which is upstream of the village.

• By car: It is possible to go to Machupicchu Pueblo through the Malagá pass and down to the province of La Convención. In Santa María there is a fork in the road that allows you to go to the village of Santa Teresa and then to the place called "Hidroeléctrica" which is the place where the railroad that comes from Cusco ends and passes through Machupicchu Pueblo. From there there are two options: to reach Machupicchu Pueblo by train or on foot by a path that is sometimes separated from the railroad and sometimes stuck to it. The path passes through Mandor and it is possible to take advantage of it to go to the waterfall. There is no road to Machupicchu Pueblo.