Banos Termales de Aguas Calientes, Peru

Quick Facts

Experience

Public Pools & Parks

Access Level

Easy to reach (no hike)

Safety Level

Be mindful

What to Wear

Swimsuit required

Family Friendly

Yes

Entry Fee

Paid

Wheelchair Access

Address

Avenida Hermanos Ayar, Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo), 08681, Urubamba, Cusco, Peru

Overview

About Banos Termales de Aguas Calientes

Banos Termales de Aguas Calientes, Peru is a paid volcanic hot spring complex on Avenida Hermanos Ayar in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo), Urubamba Province, Cusco, approximately 750 metres from the town plaza. The pools are fed by a natural volcanic spring that rises through the surrounding mountains, believed to have been used since Inca times. Temperatures range from 38 to 46 degrees Celsius. The water is yellowish-green and sulfurous. Entry is 20 soles for foreign adults, 10 soles for Peruvian nationals, and 5 soles for local residents. Open daily 5 am to 8 pm.

The complex has five pools of varying temperatures, changing rooms, showers, free lockers, and bar service to the pool areas. Visitors are limited to approximately 1.5 hours per session. The town of Aguas Calientes takes its name directly from these springs. The baths are the most visited thermal complex in the Cusco region due to their location as a required stop for all visitors to Machu Picchu.

For most international visitors, Banos Termales de Aguas Calientes represent the hot springs near Cusco most naturally combined with a Machu Picchu itinerary, and the evening hours are particularly popular after a full day at the archaeological site.

Location & Access

Getting to Banos Termales de Aguas Calientes

Banos Termales de Aguas Calientes is reached by first travelling to the town of Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo), which is accessible only by train or on foot via trekking routes such as the Inca Trail or Salkantay Trek. No roads connect Aguas Calientes to the outside world. Once in the town, the thermal baths are a 10 to 15 minute walk northeast from the central plaza along Avenida Hermanos Ayar, following the river upstream. No taxi or additional transport is needed within the town.

From Cusco, the most common approach is to take the train from Poroy station (20 minutes from central Cusco) or from Ollantaytambo station (approximately 1.5 hours from Cusco along the Sacred Valley). PeruRail and Inca Rail both operate services to Aguas Calientes. The train from Ollantaytambo takes approximately 1.5 hours; from Poroy approximately 3.5 hours. Advance booking is strongly recommended as trains fill quickly during the April to October high season.

The thermal baths open at 5 am, allowing visitors who arrive the previous evening to visit before the early morning bus to Machu Picchu. Morning visits are significantly less crowded than afternoon visits. For those completing a multi-day trek arriving in Aguas Calientes, the baths are the most immediately accessible hot springs near Cusco for post-trail recovery.

Suitability & Accessibility

Who Should Visit Banos Termales de Aguas Calientes

Banos Termales de Aguas Calientes suits virtually everyone visiting Machu Picchu, from families with children to solo travellers and older visitors. The central location in Aguas Calientes town, the easy 15-minute walk from the plaza, the moderate price, and the evening hours make them a natural stop before or after visiting the Inca citadel. Children are explicitly welcome and noted as family-friendly by Peruvian tourism sources.

The pools offer different temperatures, allowing visitors to choose between more intense hot soaks and more moderate pools. The bar service creates a social, relaxed atmosphere particularly in the evenings. Trekkers completing the Inca Trail, Salkantay Trek, or other multi-day routes typically use the baths on arrival in Aguas Calientes for muscle recovery. The session limit means visitors should plan their timing accordingly during peak afternoon and evening hours.

Wheelchair accessibility is not documented for this site. The baths are in a hillside setting with steps and uneven surfaces; no specific step-free access information has been published in official or credible sources used for this listing. Visitors with mobility requirements should enquire directly on arrival. The 1.5-hour session limit and a personal limit of one entry per day mean visitors planning a longer stay should prioritise their time at the pools accordingly.

Safety & Etiquette

Banos Termales de Aguas Calientes Safety Tips

Banos Termales de Aguas Calientes is generally safe for most visitors. The pools range from 38 to 46 degrees Celsius; the hotter pools are intense and should be approached with care, particularly after a physically demanding day of trekking or hiking at Machu Picchu. Test the temperature of each pool before entering fully. Limit sessions in the hottest pools and move to a cooler pool or exit the water if you feel lightheaded, nauseous, or overheated. The complex applies a 1.5-hour session limit per visit to manage safety and turnover.

The volcanic water is sulfurous and has a yellowish-green tint from its mineral content; this is normal. Standard pool hygiene rules are posted at the entrance, including no swimming, no spitting, no entry with injuries, and no entering in a regular shirt. Shower before entering the pools. The bar service within the pool area offers alcoholic drinks; consuming alcohol while soaking in hot water is not recommended as it increases dehydration and impairs heat tolerance. Drink water instead during your soak.

Lockers are provided with an attendant and are free with entry; use them for valuables rather than leaving items on the pool deck. The walk from town to the baths is safe during opening hours but the path is steep and can be slippery in rain; wear footwear with grip for the walk and bring sandals for the pool deck. On busy evenings the pools are crowded, particularly the cooler pools. If visiting after a long day at Machu Picchu, arriving at or just before 5 am the following morning gives the quietest and cleanest experience of the day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the town called Aguas Calientes?

The town of Aguas Calientes, officially known as Machu Picchu Pueblo, takes its informal name directly from the thermal baths located in its upper section. Aguas Calientes translates as hot waters in Spanish, and the name refers to the volcanic springs that rise through the mountainside at the end of Avenida Hermanos Ayar. The hot water that emerges from these springs originates underground from volcanic geological activity and was likely known and used by Andean communities well before the site became a modern tourist destination. The official name was changed to Machu Picchu Pueblo in recognition of its role as the gateway town to the Inca citadel, but Aguas Calientes remains the name by which most travellers know it.

When is the best time to visit the Aguas Calientes thermal baths?

The best time to visit is early morning, when the baths open at 5 am and the pools are at their cleanest and least crowded. Many visitors plan their visit for the morning of their arrival day, before or after the first bus to Machu Picchu. The afternoon from around 2 pm onward is the busiest period, as visitors return from the Inca citadel and head directly to the baths. Evening visits are popular for the social atmosphere and are very crowded on weekends and during the high season from April to October. Weekday visits at any time are significantly less busy than weekends.

Is it true there is a 1.5-hour limit at the thermal baths?

Yes. The Aguas Calientes thermal baths apply a maximum session time of approximately 1.5 hours from entry to manage pool capacity and ensure turnover, particularly during busy periods. This was formally documented in available sources as a policy. Visitors entering late in the day, particularly at the 7:30 pm last entry time, may have less than the standard 1.5 hours before the facility clears. The complex is generally open from 5 am to 8 pm, with all visitors required to exit by 8:30 pm. Plan your visit timing accordingly, especially if you want to make the most of the full 1.5-hour window.

Can I walk to the thermal baths from the Aguas Calientes train station?

Yes. The train station in Aguas Calientes and the main plaza are very close together in this small town, and the thermal baths are approximately 750 metres from the plaza on foot. Follow Avenida Hermanos Ayar northeast, following the river upstream. The walk takes about 10 to 15 minutes and is uphill. There are no taxis within the town; all movement is on foot. Swimwear rental and towel hire stalls are available at the baths entrance if you have not brought your own. Lockers are provided free with entry. The path to the baths passes through the tourist area of town with shops and restaurants.

Are the Aguas Calientes thermal baths clean?

The baths are a public facility and their cleanliness varies depending on the time of day and visitor numbers. The yellowish-green colour and opaque quality of the water are natural characteristics of the sulfurous volcanic mineral content and are not signs of poor hygiene. The complex has changing rooms, showers, and requires all visitors to shower before entering the pools. The facility has bar service and published hygiene rules posted at entry. Independent visitor reviews describe the experience as acceptable to good in the morning and more mixed in the evening when the pools are at peak crowding. Visiting early in the morning, particularly in the first hour after opening at 5 am, provides the cleanest and most comfortable experience.