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Aguas Calientes with Kids: Our Machu Picchu Day Trip

ByJessica Lee Updated on

Aguas Calientes is where everyone visiting Machu Picchu passes through, but few travelers are actually traveling to Aguas Calientes itself. We were no different. Machu Picchu was our goal, but this tiny mountain town became part of the experience of getting there.

We visited Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo, with our 6-month-old baby and 2.5-year-old toddler during a two-month round-the-world trip. We took the train from Ollantaytambo, spent the day exploring Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu, then returned to Ollantaytambo that evening.

Because we only had a few hours in town, we kept things simple. We wandered through the market and compact streets, relaxed around Plaza Manco Cápac, ate lunch, and saved plenty of energy for the main event. With two very young kids in tow, that slower pace worked well.

Aguas Calientes is small, walkable, and built around travelers heading to Machu Picchu. Even if you’re only passing through for the day, it helps to understand how the town works, where to eat, where to catch the bus, and what you can realistically fit in before or after visiting the ruins.

Below, I’m sharing what we did during our short visit, things to do in Aguas Calientes with kids, where we ate, and practical tips for using the town as your gateway to Machu Picchu. You can also read about our stay in Ollantaytambo before arriving here and exactly what it was like bringing a baby and toddler to Machu Picchu.

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Things To Do in Aguas Calientes with Kids

  • Foods to try: anything that will help you maintain your energy, plenty of water
  • Explore Aguas Calientes slowly, save your energy
    • Machu Picchu sign – take a photo with at the edge of town
    • Train tracks – Aguas Calientes is only accessible via train or hiking, so all goods are transported in via train
    • Plaza Manco Capac – relax and people watch
    • Mercado Artesanal – shop for souvenirs
  • Be amazed at Machu Picchu!

Food Ideas for Machu Picchu Pueblo/Aguas Calientes, Peru

  • Anything that will help you maintain your energy and keep you feeling well.
  • Ylla Fusion – Peruvian fare right on the main square, great for people-watching
  • Some refreshments and snacks are available right outside the Machu Picchu gates

Top Tips for Machu Picchu Pueblo/Aguas Calientes, Peru

  • You NEED your passport and ticket to enter Machu Picchu.
  • Wear layers, the temperature changes dramatically (our day started around 36°F (2°C) and was around 75°F (24°C) mid-day).
  • You can purchase Machu Picchu entrance tickets the same day as your visit in person (at the Ministry of Culture, across from the school), but it’s recommended you purchase in advance if you have a tight travel schedule or are traveling during the busiest season.
  • Bus stop to go up to Machu Picchu is next to Mercado Aguas Calientes – you can purchase your tickets (round-trip or one-way) down the road a bit – same day. You can hike up or down if you prefer.
  • You can hire a guide in advance or last-minute right outside the gates. 
  • The only restrooms are located right outside the gates.
  • Everything in Machu Picchu Pueblo/Aguas Calientes is more expensive than in other areas so be prepared and/or bring drinks and snacks with you.
  • Read all the details about planning, booking tickets, our day, and more tips for Machu Picchu here.

How Much Time Do You Need in Aguas Calientes with Kids?

For us, Aguas Calientes was primarily a gateway to Machu Picchu, and that was perfectly okay. We didn’t stay overnight or dedicate an entire day to the town. Instead, we had a few hours to wander, eat, shop, and rest before and after visiting Machu Picchu.

With a 6-month-old baby and 2.5-year-old toddler, that slower time was actually useful. We could grab a meal, sit around Plaza Manco Cápac, browse the market, and give everyone a break before tackling the main adventure.

Aguas Calientes is compact enough that you don’t need a packed itinerary. If Machu Picchu is the priority, I’d leave some breathing room rather than trying to squeeze in every possible attraction around town.

For our Peru itinerary, passing through for the day worked well. Most importantly, understanding how Aguas Calientes fits into the journey made getting to Machu Picchu with two very young kids feel much more manageable.

Keep Planning Your Family Trip to Peru

Heading to Machu Picchu or continuing through Peru? These guides cover the rest of our route with a 6-month-old baby and 2.5-year-old toddler:

  • Bringing a Baby and Toddler to Machu Picchu: Start here for the full details on how we got to Machu Picchu, tickets, trains, buses, altitude, and what it was actually like visiting with 2 very young kids.
  • Ollantaytambo with Kids: See where we stayed before taking the train to Aguas Calientes and why we gave Ollantaytambo 2 nights of its own.
  • Exploring the Sacred Valley with a Baby and Toddler: See how Ollantaytambo, Aguas Calientes, and Machu Picchu fit into our larger route through the Sacred Valley.
  • Cusco with Kids: Continue our Peru trip to Cusco, which we deliberately visited after the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu.
  • Lima with Kids: Start at the beginning of our Peru adventure with our short family stay in Lima.
  • A Taste of Peru: See some of the foods we tried throughout Lima, Ollantaytambo, Aguas Calientes, and Cusco.

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