Exploring Aguas Calientes: Top 8 Activities Beyond Machu Picchu

So you found yourself in Aguas Calientes, Peru and you're searching online because beyond visiting Machu Picchu you don't know what to do. We found ourselves in the same situation in July 2025 after we booked a last minute trip to Peru and discovered online tickets to Machu Picchu were sold out. Because of this and Peru's system of day before in-person tickets, we ended up spending 3 days in this picturesque town at the base of Machu Picchu. You've just arrived, now keep reading for our list of the best things to do in Aguas Calientes, Peru.

1. ADMIRE THE VIEWS

Unless you spent your train ride from Cusco / Ollantaytambo catching up on sleep, you've likely noticed that you're surrounded by natural beauty. Set in a valley at the base of Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes is the name of the river that cuts through town before it merges with the Urubamba River on the west side. Immediately after exiting the train station and market immediately surrounding it, you'll be right in the center of town. Take pictures from one of the bridges that run across the river and soak in the views.

Once you've had your fill, head west and take a leisurely walk along the banks of the Urubamba River. This stunning river, which flows through the Sacred Valley, is surrounded by lush greenery and dramatic mountain landscapes, creating a picturesque backdrop for a peaceful stroll. The gentle sound of the water cascading over rocks enhances the tranquil atmosphere, making it an ideal spot to take a break from the tourist filled town.

Alternatively, you can admire the scenery of the Urubamba River while enjoying a meal at one of the many restaurants that open onto the river in the back. We grabbed lunch and a pisco sour at Machu Pisco Bar and Restaurant - but there are lots of good options in this area.

2. DO SOME SHOPPING

One of the funnest parts of being in Aguas Calientes are the great handmade crafts and traditional Peruvian textiles for sale.

Stroll through the massive market next to the train station to find handmade everything - sweaters, hats and gloves, bracelets, pillowcases and souvenirs galore. Haggle with the local women to get the best deal possible on their many alpaca based wares.

It's a great way to experience the culture and support local artisans. Vendors here do accept credit card, so you can save your soles for something else.

3. TAKE A TRIP TO THE BUTTERFLY HOUSE

Visiting the Butterfly House, known locally as the Mariposario, offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in a world of fluttering butterflies. I was skeptically about walking over after reading other reviews that talk about how small the house is but I found it to be a great experience and definitely worth the visit.

You can easily walk over from town by following the Urubamba River. You'll be walking along the same route as the Machu Picchu bus so pay attention where you're walking - the buses fly by eager to drop their load of tourists at the end. The walk is easy and should take you around 15 minutes.

Once at the butterfly house, pay your 20 sol (~$5.50 USD) entrance fee and find out when the next tour is leaving. They alternate between Spanish and English tours and we waited just around 10 minutes for an English guide. The mariposario IS small but the guide told us a lot of interesting information so I'd definitely recommend waiting.

You'll start in a small museum like room where you can learn about butterflies life cycle and view a large assortment of different butterfly species. Next you'll be taken to a more lab like room where you can view live caterpillars and cocoons in different stages of hatching.

The Butterfly House serves as a crucial conservation space, where breeding programs help to sustain endangered species in the region. Once hatched and ready to fly most butterflies are released in the surrounding area. Others are released into the enclosed natural habitat on property where visitors can walk among them as they fly freely.

You will encounter a vibrant array of butterfly species - including the unique Owl Butterfly. Each species showcase their own unique colors and patterns. Said simply, these are not the plain old monarchs I'm used to in North America. The tour itself takes just around 10 minutes but you're free to spend as much time as you like in the enclosure or wander along the river where you can spot colorful birds.

4. TRY SOME LOCAL CUISINE

If you've read other sites about what to do in Aguas Calientes, you've likely seen the criticism that it's an overpriced, touristy town that you should spend no time in. The town is filled with restaurants and you're definitely paying slightly higher tourist pricing but if you're watching your spending or want to eat like a local look no further than Mercado de Abastos.

As soon as you walk in it's very apparent, your fellow diners are real Peruvians and this is their typical daily food. A few vendors are located on the ground floor but head up the stairs for even more options. We saw menu pictures for a noodle dish called tallarino saltado at a busy eatery called A Fuego Atto and we're sold. The huge plate of warm saucy noodles was accompanied by chicken quinoa soup that came first. We shared just the one dish and paid less than $5.

Don’t miss trying dishes like ceviche, lomo saltado, roast chicken and chaufa (peruvian fried rice) here. This is homestyle cooking and a great way to experience Peru like a local.

5. ENJOY A PISCO SOUR (OR TWO)

After a long day of waiting in line and admiring views of Machu Picchu, head for a pisco sour - the staple cocktail of Peru. Seriously don't leave Peru without trying this delicious cocktail, we even brought a bottle of pisco back from Duty Free. There are lots of restaurants and bars that advertise some crazy good pisco sour deals. We're talking 4 for 1 cocktails for 50 soles or 2 for 1 for 30 soles. For the good of our readers, we set out find the best of the best. This lime based cocktail is complete with a frothy egg white foam on top and a dash of bitters. Beyond the amount of pisco used, the egg whites were really the key differentiator. Some had a thick foam, others thin. Some had a super smooth texture, while others were more bubbly.

Our favorite was at SARA, where happy hour went all night! They were strong, they were smooth and delicious and they were 4 for 50 soles! We sat at a cute table outside where we could people watch, play some chess on the provided board and enjoy our drinks.

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6. EASE THOSE MUSCLES

If your trip to Peru was anything like ours, you are pooped. Seriously while Peru is super beautiful, we woke up at 4am a few too many times for my liking.

Take a quick walk around Aguas Calientes and you'll no doubt be handed brochures for various massage parlors. After deciding that this was the perfect way to spend our afternoon, I did some quick google research before finding Andean Hands. They have a whooping 4.9 on google and we were able to walk right in. We negotiated $30 each for a 1 hour massage. Andean Hands interior is nothing to write home about - this is a budget massage after all - but it's clean and the massage was good. She applied decent pressure (harder even when asked) and we left overall happy.

If you want a higher end massage, look at Spa el Bosque inside the glamorous elMaPi Hotel by Inkaterra. They offer massages, day passes and various other spa services in their picturesque spa.

7. FIND A FAVORITE LOCAL BEER

Tired of pisco sours yet? Time to find another favorite drink by checking out the beer selection in Peru. You'll likely see Peruvian favorite Cusqueña all over town but if you're into smaller batch beers, check out Mapacho located along the Urubamba River. They have an impressive selection of 22 beers - all local to Peru. We wanted to try as many as possible, so opted for the flight of 6 beers for 38 soles (~$11 USD). You can pick any from their draft selection and they offer a nice range of IPAs, lagers, pale pales and wheat beers. Hungry? Try the causa limon, it was a favorite during my week in Peru.

8. TAKE A DIP IN A THERMAL POOL

For those seeking a bit more relaxation, the nearby hot springs are a popular go-to. Reviews are mixed on these pools and they don't look especially nice - but it's one of the main attractions in Aguas Calientes so it felt wrong to leave it out. Located just a short distance from town center, you can soak in warm, mineral-rich waters surrounded by stunning mountain scenery. At 20 soles ($5 USD), stash your stuff in a locker before heading out to enjoy one of the five thermal pools. The hot springs are especially popular in the evening, so go early to avoid the crowds.

Thanks for reading! We hope you enjoy your time in Aguas Calientes and overall trip to Peru. Check out more travel ideas in South America by visiting our homepage.