Aguas Calientes is a small mountain town located in the vicinity of the most famous monument in North America, the ruins of the Inca city of Machu Picchu. The city is reached by a railway that brings tourists here, and there are several other pre-Columbian cities in the area.
The town is the main base for tourists coming to visit the famous Machu Picchu. There are hotels, restaurants and a train station. The central point around which life revolves is Maco Capac Square. You can also hire guides or book excursions to other pre-Columbian cities in the area.
Although Machu Picchu is undoubtedly the greatest attraction of Aguas Calientes and the main reason to visit this place, you should not forget about other monuments in the area. These include the three former Inca cities, Patallacta with its well-preserved cultivated terraces, Phuyupatamarka and Sayacmarca. The attraction on the other side of the river, the Mandor Botanical Garden, has a completely different character, which gives an idea of what the Peruvian mountain forests look like.
