Where to sleep near Machu Picchu?

Are you planning to visit the Machu Picchu? Discover the cities and villages where to sleep near the Machu Picchu, the uncontournable sacred place of the Incas!

Perched on a rocky promontory on the eastern slope of the Central Andes, at Peru , Machu Picchu is an ancient city Inca dating from the 15th century. We don’t really know what was the reason for the place: imperial residence, religious sanctuary or military building? One thing is certain, however: abandoned during the collapse of the Inca Empire, this sacred city, forgotten for centuries, is unanimously regarded as a masterpiece of Inca edifications and a symbol of dazzling civilizational power. Its peculiar architectural features and the opaque mystery surrounding the place make it one of the most popular of the planet! It enjoys a recognition of its cultural importance: since 1983, the site has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Today, it is one of the most famous tourist areas in the world, and one of the most visited in spite of its geographical distance, its difficulty of access and its topological characteristics: the site is indeed perched to more than 2400 m of altitude!

To facilitate your stay on site, it will be essential to choose your accommodation. If you are looking to sleep near the Machu Picchu, we have compiled a list of the best villages and cities to stay near the Machu Picchu!

Machu Picchu Pueblo/Aguas Calientes

Located at one kilometre aft of birds, “ Aguas Calientes (the ancient name of the city, given due to the presence of hot springs nearby), is the nearest city to the historic site of the Machu Picchu. Not really interesting, it has no place of intrinsic interest if it is its immediate proximity to the sacred place, of which it represents the only road access route; but will allow the passage traveler to eat in one of the local bistros, and to learn from local flavours: pimented corn cakes, Peruvian beers and fresh fruit in the valley.

The hotel offer is, it is sufficiently provided, but it will be opportune to choose a good standing establishment if one wants to avoid the usual disappointments in South America in cheap accommodation...! In addition, guests can be accommodated at home by consulting room offers for rent for the night, available on rental platforms, or benefit, for example, from hostels that will welcome backpackers and young people in search of adventure!

A detail that has all its importance: the city being a place of ultra-frequented tourist passage, day and night, think of bringing ear caps in order to enjoy a peaceful night, indispensable for those who want to stay near the Machu Picchu before climbing it!

Santa Teresa

More peaceful, but also more remote, Santa Teresa is an interesting alternative for who favours authenticity and respect for Peruvian traditions: this tiny village, known for its hydroelectric power plant and its small thermal resort, is also a road taken by backpackers from all over the world who wish to rally the historic site of the Machu Picchu by the famous trek trail which leads. This path is considered the least expensive to access the sacred place; some hotels welcome the redesigned walkers, and they can also eat in the handful of traditional restaurants of the commune.

As in Aguas Calientes, the presence of visiting Westerners was accompanied by the creation of various accommodations, guest rooms and hostels more or less well-kept, and the practice of sleeping can be considered; It is easy to settle these details on site, the presence of Westerners, however, allowing to avoid feeling too lonely in the middle of autochtones sometimes very little concerned about the tourist presence! The encaissé valley, dominated by vertiginous mountains, as everywhere in the region, is a paradise of greenery and offers a pronounced taste of adventures to those around it: as in the movies, rivers cross over bridges of ropes with scary webrews, and few are the roads able to see two cars crossed! Santa Teresa is therefore an annexed solution for those looking to sleep near the Machu Picchu while enjoying a more authentic and secret Peru.

Other places to sleep near Machu Picchu

There are other cities or villages where to sleep when you want to access the Machu Picchu, including Cusco and Ollantaytambo. Much more expensive solution because you will have to reach the Machu Picchu by train or bus.

Cusco

Located 75 km from Machu Picchu, this beautiful historic and ancient capital of the Incas is a good compromise for who wants to visit the Machu Picchu and visit the surroundings. If you want sleeping in Cusco , know that the city is accessible by air, with Alejandro Velasco Astetete airport! Cusco offers much more activities than Santa Teresa or Aguas Caliente: culturally speaking, there are many must be done in Cusco , and among other things you can visit the fortress of Sacsayhuamán, or visit Cusco and the temples (with the archaeological site of Qenko and the sites of Puca Pucará and Tambomachay, for example).

On the other hand, visit the Machu Picchu from Cusco takes time and costs more: You will have to take the train very early in the morning until Ollantaytambo, then a bus to Agua Caliente before you take another bus, if you wish, leading you to the foot of the Machu Picchu. Count several hundred euros per person. If you want to avoid public transport, there are also transfers from Cusco to Ollantaytambo and vice versa transfers from Olantaytambo to Cusco for a fairly affordable price.

The cheapest and most privileged solution by tourists who want to sleep in Cusco is to spend a night in Agua Caliente: the journey lasts longer (6 hours), with a bus in the direction of Santa Thérésa, then a arrival at Hydro-electrica, for a little less than 100 euros per person. For seasoned walkers, it is also possible to go to Machu Picchu on foot from Cusco , where treks of several days are organized there.

Ollantaytambo

Because the way to get to Aguas Calientes is shorter than from Cusco and the village is very nice, sleeping Ollantaytambo Maybe a good idea. You will soon be seduced by the atmosphere of this village, which is one of the only vestiges of Inca urban architecture with its buildings, narrow streets and vestiges of its temple. Many then join the Machu Picchu by the train.