Aguas Calientes - 5 Things to do in Machu Picchu Town
If you plan to visit Machu Picchu, you will have to spend some time in the town of Aguas Calientes and probably stay the night in Aguas Calientes hotels. So what is there to do in this town at the foot of Machu Picchu on your Peru vacation?
Walk to Mandor Waterfall Mandor is situated about an hour's walk from Aguas Calientes along the Cusco train track. There are several waterfalls here surrounded by pristine cloud forest. Few people make the effort to walk to Mandor so you will really be off the beaten track. There is a small entrance fee to go in through gardens where orchids and other plant species are carefully labeled.
Hot springs Whether you decide to hike to Machu Picchu or arrived by train, a soak in thermal baths is always welcome. Here you can sip a Cusquena beer or Pisco sour as you take in the stunning vertical cliff faces around you. To get to the springs you walk up the hill, about 10 minutes out of town. Towels can be rented.
Admire the View If you simply want to take in this super spot get yourself to one of the riverside restaurants and have a coffee or beer on the terrace overlooking the Urubamba River. See if you can spot the Torrent Ducks launching themselves off rocks to swim upstream.
Climb Putucusi Not for the feint hearted or vertigo sufferers this peak is reached by a steep path and a series of ladders. From here you can look across to Machu Picchu from a completely different angle for some breathtaking views. Although it has been getting more popular over recent years it is not unusual to find yourself all alone at the top. (For this reason it's not recommended to make the climb alone). Part of the trail is also an Inca pathway. You need around 4 hours to make this climb.
Local traditional market You may have been rushing around before getting to Machu Picchu and not had time to actually see much of modern day life in Peru. Skip the souvenir market and head to the local market. Here you can see the huge varieties of local fruit and vegetables - including a huge range of potatoes - being traded while you sip on a delicious juice or try a caldo de pollo for breakfast (Chicken soup).
Have you visited Machu Picchu? What else did you do there?
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