Aguas Calientes, Peru

Machupicchu Machu Pikchu Machupicchu Pueblo
Town
Statue of Pachacutec
Machupicchu
Coordinates: 13°9′17″S 72°31′31″W / 13.15472°S 72.52528°W / -13.15472; -72.52528
Country	Peru
Region	Cusco
Province	Urubamba
District	Machupicchu
Settled	1901
District Capital	1 October 1941
Government
• Mayor	Darwin Baca León (2019–2022)
Elevation	2,040 m (6,690 ft)
Population  (2017)
• Total	4,525
Time zone	UTC-5 (PET)

Machupicchu or Machupicchu Pueblo, also known as Aguas Calientes, is a location in Peru situated in the Cusco Region, Urubamba Province.^[1] It is the seat of Machupicchu District. Machupicchu lies at the Vilcanota River. It is the closest access point to the historical site of Machu Picchu which is 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) away or about a 90-minute walk. There are many hotels and restaurants for tourists, as well as natural hot baths which gave the town its colloquial Spanish name, Aguas Calientes or hot water. Like Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes is not accessible by road, and the only way to reach Aguas Calientes is by PeruRail train or by hiking.

The village of Machupicchu did not exist until the railroad was built, as it was a center for construction workers. It took off after the railroad opened in 1931 and foreign tourists started arriving to visit the Machu Picchu ruins. Enterprising individuals set up businesses serving the tourists, primarily restaurants and small hotels. Those who could afford luxury stayed at the luxury hotel up by the ruins.