With the exception of the Sanctuary Lodge, the sole to be found right next to the ruins, all accommodation around Machu Picchu occurs downhill at the touristy Aguas Calientes (aka Machu Picchu town).

Obviously, the idyllic accommodation for visiting Machu Picchu is the Sanctuary Lodge… if you don't mind the predictable downturns. Besides boasting some of the most expensive prices in the country, the Sanctuary Lodge is usually at full capacity year-round, so even if you have large pockets you'll need to make reservations with at least three months in advance. In other words, not an option for the average traveller.

All the alternatives are located downhill at Aguas Calientes. Here you can find the beautiful Inkaterra Machu Picchu, the best option at the upper end. The best mid-range hotel is probably Gringo Bill's, with Presidente being a popular and convenient alternative. On the budget side, you can try Rupa Wasi.

Recently renamed Machu Picchu Town, Aguas Calientes is a pretty ramshackle, mostly-concrete town. There are however a few good reasons for choosing to stay overnight at Aguas Calientes, instead of simply visiting Machu Picchu for the day.

In first place, you will be able to catch the first bus (6.30am) and enjoy Machu Picchu when it's almost empty -a dramatically different experience. There are buses every hour until 1.30pm, so if it isn't the first bus you still have an hour or so before the crowds begin to arrive from Cusco (by the truck-loads during high season).

Second, Aguas Calientes is a charming sort of place. Sitting amidst the tropical forest at the foot of a sacred mountain, connected to the rest of the world by a railway that runs straight through its main drag, and packed with a myriad of inns, restaurants, and Internet cafés, Aguas Calientes feels like a contemporary and adventurous frontier town. You can also find some good hikes in the surroundings, with decent bird and butterfly watching.

Check our Machu Picchu hotel reviews or search for room availability and best rates in Machu Picchu.