Hotels and restaurants along the river in Aguas Calientes

Where to Stay for Machu Picchu

Three towns, three jobs: the early start, the train, and the altitude. Here is where to sleep in each.

Where you sleep shapes your visit more than almost anything else. A night in Aguas Calientes lets you enter the citadel early or late, when the day-trippers are not there. Ollantaytambo puts you a few minutes from the main railway station, in the most atmospheric town in the Sacred Valley. Cusco is where most journeys begin and end.

We list twenty well-reviewed hotels across the three. Star ratings and guest scores are from Trip.com; we do not show prices because they vary a great deal with the season — each card links out for live rates.

Where to stay

Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo)

The town at the foot of the ruins, at about 2,040 m. Everything is within walking distance of the station and the bus stop. Rooms near the railway or the river can be noisy; rates are high for what you get.

Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel

★★★★★

9.0 46

A five-star hotel on the riverside edge of Aguas Calientes, known for its restaurant and for rooms facing the Vilcanota river and the mountains.

Riverside location
Restaurant and spa
Short walk to the bus stop

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Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel

★★★★

8.4 87

Whitewashed casitas scattered through private cloud-forest gardens beside the railway, with orchid trails and birdwatching on the grounds. The classic splurge in town.

Cloud-forest gardens and orchid trail
Spa
Next to the railway station

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Casa del Sol Machupicchu

★★★★

8.7 109

A four-star boutique hotel by the river, a few minutes from the craft market and the station, with a spa and a well-regarded restaurant.

River-view rooms available
Spa
Central location

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El MaPi by Inkaterra

★★★★

7.9 108

Inkaterra’s more casual, contemporary hotel in the middle of town — a practical base a short walk from the bus stop and the station.

Town-centre location
Restaurant and bar
Modern rooms

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Hotel Taypikala Machupicchu

★★★★

8.9 127

A well-reviewed four-star in Aguas Calientes, within walking distance of the station, the bus stop and the thermal baths.

Walkable to everything
Restaurant on site
Good guest scores

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Tierra Viva Machu Picchu Hotel

★★★★

8.7 40

A dependable modern mid-range hotel from a Peruvian chain, on the river slightly away from the busiest streets.

Quiet riverside setting
Early breakfast
Reliable chain standards

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Terrazas del Inca Bed and Breakfast

★★★

8.5 70

A friendly three-star bed and breakfast with simple rooms, a short walk from the centre.

Breakfast included
Good value for the town
Helpful staff

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Quechua's House Hostal & Coffee

★★

8.2 48

A simple, inexpensive hostel with its own café — a bed and a shower before an early bus.

Budget rates
Café on site
Central

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See all Aguas Calientes hotels

Ollantaytambo

An Inca-era town of cobbled lanes and water channels beneath a fortress, at about 2,800 m — lower than Cusco, and the departure point for most trains.

El Albergue Ollantaytambo

★★★

8.9 105

A long-established inn right on the platform of Ollantaytambo station, with gardens, an organic farm and a restaurant supplied by it.

On the station platform
Farm-to-table restaurant
Gardens

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Hotel Pakaritampu

★★★

9.2

Garden cottages on the road between the old town and the station, with mountain views and a calm, spacious feel.

Large gardens
Walk to station and town
Restaurant

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Sol Natura Hotel

★★★

8.8

A modern three-star on the station road with comfortable rooms and a buffet breakfast.

Close to the station
Buffet breakfast
Garden

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Kantu Inn - Tourist Lodging

★★★

9.2 218

A small, highly rated guesthouse with a large number of happy reviews — simple, clean and welcoming.

Excellent guest scores
Family-run feel
Good value

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Hotel Tierra Inka Sacred Valley

★★★

9.3 60

A well-reviewed three-star in Ollantaytambo with mountain views all around.

Mountain views
High guest scores
Breakfast

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Tambo de Ollantay Hotel

★★

8.1 54

A basic two-star for travellers who only need a clean room before the morning train.

Budget rates
Simple rooms
In town

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See all Ollantaytambo hotels

Cusco

The old Inca capital, at about 3,400 m. Stay in the historic centre or San Blas for restaurants, museums and tour pickups on your doorstep.

Monasterio, A Belmond Hotel

★★★★★

9.8 81

A sixteenth-century seminary around a cloister, two blocks from the Plaza de Armas. Historic, atmospheric and famously restful.

Colonial cloister and chapel
Oxygen-enriched rooms available
Two blocks from the Plaza de Armas

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JW Marriott El Convento Cusco

★★★★★

9.3 42

A converted colonial convent with Inca and colonial remains displayed inside, a spa and large, well-heated rooms in the historic centre.

Spa
Archaeological remains on show
Central, quiet location

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Casa Andina Premium Cusco

★★★★

9.1 113

An eighteenth-century manor house with courtyards and fireplaces, a short walk from the main square.

Colonial courtyards
Heated rooms
Close to Qorikancha

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Tierra Viva Cusco San Blas

★★★

9.5 100

A comfortable mid-range hotel in the San Blas artisan quarter, with excellent guest scores for its price.

San Blas location
Breakfast included
Very good value

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Centro by Casa Andina Cusco Saphi

★★★

9.6 59

A simple, modern three-star on Calle Saphi, a few minutes’ walk from the Plaza de Armas.

Central
Modern rooms
Good value

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Pariwana Hostel Cusco

★★

8.8 37

A sociable hostel in a colonial building with dorms and private rooms, near the main square.

Dorms and private rooms
Courtyard and bar
Budget rates

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See all Cusco hotels

Which base is right for you?

Base	Good for	Less good for	Price range
Aguas Calientes	Early or late entry, two visits, Huayna Picchu, a relaxed pace	Value for money, peace and quiet, things to do beyond the ruins	Mid-range to luxury; simple hostels too
Ollantaytambo	Morning trains, acclimatising, Sacred Valley sights, atmosphere	Nightlife, a very early entry slot (you still need the train)	Budget to mid-range
Cusco	Choice, restaurants, museums, tour departures, flights	Altitude on arrival; four hours from the ruins	Budget to luxury

How to choose

One night to spare: spend it in Aguas Calientes, the night before your visit.
Two nights: one in Ollantaytambo, one in Aguas Calientes.
Worried about altitude: start in Ollantaytambo or elsewhere in the Sacred Valley and leave Cusco for the end.
Day trip only: stay in Cusco near your pickup point — or better, in Ollantaytambo, which saves two hours of road each way.

Booking tips

Trains allow only a small bag. Ask your Cusco or Ollantaytambo hotel to store the rest; nearly all do.
In Aguas Calientes, ask for a room away from the tracks, and whether the hotel meets guests at the station.
Request an early breakfast or a packed one if you have a 6 or 7 a.m. entry.
In Cusco, check that rooms are heated; nights are cold from June to August.

Once your bed is sorted, choose your ticket and compare the best tours.

Accommodation links go to Trip.com. Star ratings, guest scores and review counts are indicative — check the live page for current details and availability. We do not accept payment for inclusion in this list.

Plan your visit

Tickets sell out — sort yours first

Entry is timed and capped every day, and trains fill up in high season. Compare tickets, guided visits and all-in day trips from Cusco, and book in a couple of taps.

Browse Machu Picchu tours Compare all tours

Good to know

Where to stay: FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Is it worth staying overnight in Aguas Calientes?

Yes, if you can. It turns a rushed day trip into an unhurried visit, lets you pick an early or late entry slot, and gives you a safety margin if a train is delayed.

Is there a hotel at Machu Picchu itself?

There is one hotel beside the entrance gate, a luxury lodge with a small number of rooms and prices to match. Everything else is down in Aguas Calientes, 25–30 minutes away by bus.

Aguas Calientes or Ollantaytambo?

Aguas Calientes for the earliest access to the ruins; Ollantaytambo for charm, value and its own Inca site. With two nights, do both.

How many nights should I spend in Cusco?

Two or three is typical. Many travellers now put Cusco at the end of the trip, after the lower Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, so the altitude is easier.

Can I leave luggage while I go to Machu Picchu?

Yes. Hotels in Cusco and Ollantaytambo routinely store bags for guests, and hotels in Aguas Calientes will hold your daypack after check-out while you visit the site.