Best Aguas Calientes Hotels

By Kaitlin Nunn at Peru For Less 

Machu Picchu is incredibly remote and most travelers end up spending a day or two each in Lima, Cusco, and the Sacred Valley before finally making their way to Machu Picchu. This isolated location meant that the city in the sky went unnoticed by almost everyone but the locals for hundreds of years. Tucked in between soaring cliffs and thick vegetation in the heart of the cloud forest, Machu Picchu is not easy to reach. 

In recent years the town of Aguas Calientes, located at the foot of Machu Picchu, has sprouted up in order to accommodate the influx of weary travelers making the trip to this ancient world wonder. For those who want to catch the sunrise over Machu Picchu, or for those coming back from the Inca Trail, spending a night in Aguas Calientes is essential. 

This small town has hotel options to suit everyone. For those on a budget who want something a step up from sharing a bunk bed with a backpacker, Rupa Wasi is an excellent choice. Basic but clean, this 2-star treehouse-like hotel is eco-friendly and has an onsite restaurant.  It is set back from the town by some 80 stairs, but this minor inconvenience means the hotel is quiet, private, and some rooms have a view of Machu Picchu. Keep in mind that even if you are a budget traveler, you might want to consider splurging a bit when you get to Aguas Calientes. It’s well worth the extra buck.

To those in the tourism industry, Aguas Calientes is synonymous with Inkaterra, a luxury hotel chain in Peru. The El Mapi hotel is an excellent 3-star hotel owned by Inkaterra. Upon arrival you can sip pineapple juice tea, chat with the friendly staff, and relax in the chic bar.  The rooms are simple and clean, with cozy down blankets, flat screen TVs, and bathrobes. Many of the rooms have views of the cliffs behind the town, and all guests can use the hot tub.

Inkaterra’s Machu Picchu El Pueblo, the 5-star hotel on the edge of Aguas Calientes, is the town’s crown jewel. The hotel’s property is built into the cloud forest, nestled in a beautiful jungle setting. Here you can rest your head in a Spanish colonial-style bungalow set off from the rest of town.  However, you can also do a lot more than just sleep here and it’s actually recommended that you spend at least two nights at El Pueblo, just to experience all that this resort has to offer. 

Guests can swim in the pool fed by fresh mountain spring water, indulge in a massage, or take a stroll through the stunning grounds that include an orchid and butterfly garden, as well as a tea plantation. Don’t forget to enjoy a welcome cocktail and a delicious dinner before retiring to your room.  Once you lie down on your king size bed you might not want to emerge until morning. 

Breakfast is a heavenly buffet, and afterward the hotel can arrange your Machu Picchu shuttle bus, entrance tickets, and even a Machu Picchu guide. After your day exploring the ruins, you can return to the hotel for a shower, check your email, sip coffee in the café, and wait until your train comes in to whisk you back to Cusco. 

This guide to Machu Picchu hotels was written by a travel expert at Peru For Less, specialists in Machu Picchu tours.

 

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