Other information: the town of Aguas Calientes
The town of Aguas Calientes, located at 1,700 meters above the sea level, is without a doubtone of the major points in the Inca Trail, and therefore, a must-see spot for anyone who wants to enjoy a wonderful stay in the Machu Picchu area. The village of Machu Picchu as it is also known to this core population that has to be the one closest to the historical citadel of Machu Picchu. This proximity makes it have an excellent transport network to host the main train station bound for San Pedro station in the city of Cuzco and also the main point of trans-shipment to other bus lines which made trips to Machu Picchu or port ruins. Puerto Ruinas, which is located only 2 kilometers, is one of preferences of travelers as a place to find accommodation.
Other beautiful places of interest are the thermal waters as the Mandor Gardens, as well as various trekking routes they delve to the traveler in the Inti Punku or the Huayna Picchu. The thermal waters offer one of the best experiences for travelers during the Inca Trail. They are located less than a mile to the East of the town of Aguas Calientes, which takes its name from this wonderful natural space. The hours of access to the hot springs is from 5: 00 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the afternoon and the price list is 20 soles for international tourists, 10 soles for national tourists and 6 soles for local visitors. The dark color of the water is due to the emission of sulfur that sprouts from the rocky soil of these pools have formed these known thermal baths, offering several natural pools ranging between 38 and 46 degrees of temperature. Infrastructures have lobbies and bathrooms as well as a small kiosk for drinks.
On the other hand, the Gardens of Mandor offer one of the most beautiful spots in the surrounding areas, and that is why it is so greatly recommended to those visitors who want to enjoy these wonders of nature represented by a set of beautiful gardens, surrounded by a series of waterfalls. Also, falls of these gardens have made this one of the reserved spaces for the biosphere considered sanctuary for a large number of native species of wild flora and fauna. Without doubt, one of the most extraordinary attractions that visitors can see is the diversity of species of birds like the hummingbirds or the cock of the rocks, which is the national bird typical of this area and offers a sensational spectacle with its famous exhibitions during mating rituals. The gardens remain open throughout the day and the entrance is free, but we recommend you the visit in accordance with the timetables of buses that lead to the area although the journey by foot offers a huge attraction for visitors: is approximately an hour through beautiful landscapes of jungle to be guided by the railway line that part of Aguas Calientes to Santa Teresa.
