|
Machu
Picchu Town is also
known as Aguas
Calientes. This is a
very small town
originally settled
in 1901 by a few
farmers. The
railroad from Cusco
to Machu Picchu was
first built in the
1920’s. Nowadays,
the railroad covers
a total area of 110
kilometers. In order
to visit Machu
Picchu by train, it
is necessary to stop
at this town because
it is the closest
town to Machu Picchu
and the train
station is located
here. The train
station is located
next to the
marketplace and is
less than a 5
minutes walk from
the bus stop.
Machu
Picchu Town is
located at the base
of Machu Picchu and
Putucusi
mountains and the
Vilcanota River pass next to town.
Tourism is the main
activity in town and
the variety of
hotels and
restaurants range
from luxury hotels
and restaurants to
backpacker lodges.
Prices at this town
can be double that
of the prices in
Cusco. If you would
like to spend a
night in town,
please make sure you
book in advance
because decent, safe
accommodation is
limited. In town,
you will find
several internet
cafes, minimarkets,
handcraft stores,
and restaurants.
ATM’s are available
in town at a few
places.
Once
you get to Machu
Picchu Town, you
might take a bus to
reach the ruins of
Machu Picchu or hike
up to Machu Picchu (About
1 hour and 30
minutes will be
needed for this hike
on average.) The
entrance fee to
Machu Picchu and bus
tickets should be
purchased in town as
well as train
tickets (during the
high season, you
should purchase your
train tickets well
in advance). For
more information
about the ruins of
Machu Picchu,
please click here.
If you have a day or
more to spend here,
you might hike up to
Huayna Picchu or
Putucusi Mountains.
Both of them offer
magnificent views of
Machu Picchu as well
as a lot of
adventure. If you
would like to hike
Huayna Picchu, you
will need to have an
entrance ticket for
Machu Picchu and
sign-up for one of
the two entrance
times (only 200
people are allowed
to sign up for each
entrance time). If
you would like to go
for Putucusi, you
will need to walk on
the railroad going
south and take the
stairs located to
your right (after
you pass the last
building, it will
take about a minute
to get to the
starting point).
Some climbing is
included in both
hikes. If you suffer
from vertigo, please
do not hike any of
these treks.
The
Inkaterra hotel has
a beautiful orchid
garden which you
should try to visit.
The Museum of Machu
Picchu is also a
recommended place to
visit. The hot
springs of town are
very popular for
locals and tourists
as well.
During the last few
years, Machu Picchu
town has opened up
an alternative route.
This route includes
a car ride of about
6 hours (From Cusco
to the Hydroelectric
of Santa Teresa) and
then a train ride of
45 minutes or a hike
of about 3 hours (From
the Hydroelectric to
Machu Picchu town).
It is important to
know that a portion
of the car ride is
by a dirt road and
that the train runs
early in the morning
and in the afternoon.
Santa Teresa is well-known
for its beautiful
natural hot springs
and its canopy. If
you decide to hike
from the
Hydroelectric to
Machu Picchu Town,
you should visit the
Mandor Gardens.
|
