This Online Machu Picchu Pueblo Guide...
... was written in response to the questions I get from my birdwatching clients and various other independent travelers, many of whom have found Machu Picchu Pueblo a somewhat confusing place to navigate, particularly for those visiting on a tight schedule. I hope that this can make people's trips run more smoothly and also direct folks to some of the good people and interesting spots I have encountered in my meanderings. I think you'll find that Aguas Caliente/ Machu Picchu Pueblo merits more than the few hours that most spend there. There are plenty of fun, interesting, and even exciting things to do, some great restaurants, pleasant hotels, all in one of the most exotic settings imaginable. This guide is intended for all kinds of travelers who wish to truly experience the region and to avoid the little annoyances common to towns such as Aguas Calientes. I have also included many tips for those traveling on a budget.
About Aguas Calientes
Aguas Calientes/ Machu Picchu Pueblo (two names used interchangeably for the same place) is a small town located below Machu Picchu. It exists soley to serve visitors to the ruins and is where almost all of the tourist infrastructure is located, not to mention the train station. Historically, Aguas Calientes had a reputation for being a muddy hell-hole of a tourist trap, a necessary evil that travelers were obligated to negotiate on their way to Machu Picchu. Fortunately, much of that has changed. The modern Machu Picchu Pueblo is now a reasonably well managed, clean, and totally safe town enjoyed by visitors from virtually every country in the world. Its setting on the Vilcanota river below cloud forest covered granite towers is magnificent. Aguas Calientes has no road access, and so, its streets are car-free and pedestrian friendly. More about Aguas Calientes