Aguas Calientes - Machupicchu Travel Forum

I am planning my trip to Machu Picchu for early September and am wondering if it is worth spending the night in Aguas Calientes before I explore the ruins. I've read that it's not worth spending much time in Aguas Calientes, so don't plan that. I was thinking of going spending the night, explore the ruins, then take the train back to Cusco that evening. Do you believe it is worth spending the night so that I can get up early and beat most of the crowds to the ruins? Are the buses or other transport operating before the trains arrive from Cusco? Any advice would be much appreciated!

Cheers!

Yes, I do believe that it is worthwhile to stay in Aguas Calientes overnight in order to really get to experience the area more fully. You can take some time...it's a vacation after all and if you're not doing the Inca Trail, but just doing an independent tour of MP, the more you should consider staying an overnighter in AC. Staying one day more still leaves you plenty of time to explore the rest of Peru.

You can independently visit MP, but here's some important considerations for you:

1.) Buy your train ticket(s) well in advance as you'll be going at a time that is still tourist season and tickets sell fast. Unfortunately, the Peru Rail website does not appear to support on-line purchases, so I suggest you do this: either have your hostel/hotel in Cusco buy it for you in advance to secure your MP adventure OR call Peru Rail from your home country & confirm your reservations once you get to Lima before getting/paying for the tickets in their office in Cusco.

2.) Buy your entrance tickets in advance as these are no longer available at the entrance as of March 2008 (See my "warning tip" in my MP page). My suggestion, which is also in my warning tip is to have your hotel/hostel in either Cusco/AC buy it for you in advance.

3.) Don't stay in those typical looking hotels/hostels in AC. It's not very appealing. I stayed in an ecolodge (a one of its kind in the area) and was very satisfied with the choice (See my "accommodations tip" in my AC page)

4.) You'll need to purchase another ticket if you're going back to MP the following day as the ticket(s) are only valid for a day.

5.) If planning to climb/hike nearby Huayna Picchu, you need to wake up early to get ready & prepare to board the first bus out of AC at around 5:15 a.m. It's about close to a 1/2 hour ride from AC to MP. (See my "transportation tip" in my MP page). Also, you need to do this because there are a limited # of persons allowed at HP per day (400 persons) and you want to be part of the first group of 200 persons that's granted entry to beat the rush later. The next group of 200 are allowed entry right after around mid-morning. You can then re-visit MP later on in the morning right after the HP adventure, but you need a new ticket to sightsee MP again.

Goodluck & enjoy beautiful Peru!

BTW...there are tour guides available for a reasonable fee upon arriving at the MP ruins. Again, goodluck & enjoy beautiful Peru!

We did stay the night in Aguas Calientes. I thought it was a good idea. we arrived early and explored the town ate and met people who had the same plan we did. We had alot of fun. We rested then the next morning we made it up to Macchu Picchu before the crowds got there. After we explored MP we left later that evening.

absolutely it is worth it for one main reason: you can be first into the site after the inca trail walkers (and you might even beat some of them).

so if you stay there, you must make sure to catch the first bus and be there early to make it worth while.

It is totally worth the extra night. There is nothing better than watching the sunrise over Machu Picchu. The peace and beauty make it unforgettable. The first train from Cusco or Ollantaytambo doesn't get there until mid morning so the crowds are limited to those who stayed overnight in Machu Picchu Pueblo. The buses start running from the town at 6 am so you can get up on the mountain, get situated on an amazing vantage point and view the splendor unfold.

Hello there Maria, don't see you post here often.

As said, only advantage is to go early into M.P. before the mass crowds. Also to clarify, as Rissie said, the bus and tickets are correct but you don't go on the 5:30 bus so that you can hike Huyan P., cause it does not open until an hour after M.P. gates are open. You will have time to roam around and have the place to yourselves (literally as we were fortunate enough to do). If you do it that way, you have no problems getting to hike H.P., roam to your liking of M.P. and get the first afternoon train back down. I have written down that itenerary on my page if you want to check.

If your into souvenier shopping then there is one good thing about Agua C., it has the biggest open air market of all areas in Peru. See my tips and for sure negotiate politely.
Ken

FYI...The governmental regulations re: MP have changed drastically over the last couple of years for preservation purposes (e.g., Inca Trail, MP ruins, HP). I think these changes are needed. Due to this, the limits placed on the # of persons who enter & climb nearby HP require that people get there as early as possible because the free tickets they give away are based on a "first-come first-serve" basis. So, since 2007, this is the primary reason why people strive to board the first bus out of AC around 5:15-5:20 a.m., so that they can get to the MP base area to enter HP by 6:00 a.m.

If you don't wish to include HP in your itinerary, then still leave AC on the first bus departure to arrive in MP early enough to experience the grandeur of sunrise in this part of the world. It's a breathtaking site on its own; however, the HP hike/climb gives you another view of MP/MP area that may not be readily possible from down below. This all depends on your sightseeing priorities of course.

Goodluck & enjoy beautiful Machu Picchu!