On your trip to Machu Picchu in Peru you can take time to take a hot bath in Cocalmayo. It is an impressive environment of abundant vegetation next to a huge river. The place looks like something out of a fantasy. Hot springs are Mother Nature’s method of infusing tired bodies with relaxation. The Colcalmayo hot springs are a popular destination among travelers seeking a connection with the earth and its balance. And it is only 10 kilometers from Machu Picchu!

• What are the thermal baths of Cocalmayo?
• Where are the thermal baths of Cocalmayo located?
• How to get?
• The pools and the temperature
• Other activities on the trip to the thermal baths of Cocalmayo
• How much does the entrance ticket to Cocalmayo cost?
• Cocalmayo Photo Gallery
• Questions and answers about Cocalmayo

Cocalmayo Hot Springs – Machu Picchu

What are the thermal baths of Cocalmayo?

• Taking an afternoon of relaxation in the thermal baths of Cocalmayo is a great experience on your trip to Cusco.
• As its name indicates, it is a group of pools that receive hot water from a natural spring located in the upper Uripata lagoon.
• It is situated between a huge river and a small mountain. In Cocalmayo, bathers can enjoy outdoor pools fed by natural hot springs, built between a small mountain full of vegetation and the Urubamba River.
• There you will find 3 pools of different sizes and depths. The water temperature varies between 38ºC and 44ºC. Unlike most hot springs in Peru, it has clear waters.
• Very close to the pools there are cold showers. The place also has snacks and drinks for sale. In addition, the visitor can request to spend the night in the lodging located next to the thermal baths.

Where are the thermal baths of Cocalmayo located?

• The thermal baths of Cocalmayo are in the valley of the Urubamba River (Vilcanota) in a cozy and relaxing place.
• Their pools are located 20 minutes from the town of Santa Teresa in the province of La Convención, in Cusco – Peru. Precisely at kilometer 135 of the railway line between Cusco and Quillabamba.
• The thermal baths are located 1,600 meters above sea level.

How to get?

To visit the thermal baths of Cocalmayo you can take any of the following routes that depart from the city of Cusco:

• By bus from Cusco to Santa Teresa – Take a bus from the city of Cusco to Quillabamba (the company Turismo Ampay on Antonio Lorena avenue). Get off at the town of Santa María. The trip lasts approximately 5 hours. They are 221 km by paved road. The next destination is Santa Teresa, which is 25 kilometers from Santa María. From here you must take another vehicle to travel for 1 hour until you reach Santa Teresa.
• By train from Ollantaytambo to Santa Teresa – If you have already taken your train from Ollantaytambo and are on your way to Machu Picchu, you can take the train and get off at the “Hydroelectric” bus stop. From this point you can take a vehicle that will take you to Santa Teresa in 20 minutes. Or, if you want, you can walk. The walk will take between 2 and 3 hours to Santa Teresa.
• Walking from Aguas Calientes to Santa Teresa – After you have visited Machu Picchu you can make plans to visit the thermal baths of Cocalmayo. There are two ways to get to the thermal baths of Cocalmayo from Aguas Calientes: by train and by bus. The trip on foot will take around 20 minutes and costs S/. 5.00 for nationals and 31 dollars for foreigners. Later, in Hidroeléctrica, you must continue to Santa Teresa by car or on foot. The section on foot to Hydroelectric takes 2 hours. Then continue by car to Santa Teresa.

The pools and the temperature

• The thermal baths of Cocalmayo have four pools whose waters have temperatures that vary from 38ºC. up to 44ºC.
• All pools are large enough to hold twenty people or more.
• One of the pools does not have thermal waters but water with ambient temperature.

Other activities on the trip to the thermal baths of Cocalmayo

During your visit to Santa Teresa and the thermal baths of Cocalmayo you can do the following activities:

• Adventure sports in Santa Teresa – The town of Santa Teresa offers a suitable geography to practice adventure sports such as ziplining, canoeing or rock climbing. These sports can be practiced with a professional agency in the same place.
• Hike through Hydroelectric – The walk from the hydroelectric station to the town of Aguas Calientes is an entertaining adventure full of beautiful landscapes along 10 kilometers. The route is easy and safe. Follow the train tracks parallel to the Vilcanota River. The adventure is free.
• Visit to Machu Picchu – The visit to Machu Picchu is the best option to do before or after the visit to the thermal baths of Cocalmayo. Both sites are approximately 20 kilometers apart. It can be reached on foot or by train. Machu Picchu is open every day of the year from 6 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon.
• Visit to Quillabamba – The thermal baths of Cocalmayo are 49 kilometers from the city of Quillabamba. There the visitor can relax in waterfalls, pools and green landscapes. Quillabamba is known as ‘The city of eternal summer’ for its hot weather.

How much does the entrance ticket to Cocalmayo cost?

These are the prices of the entrance tickets to the thermal baths of Machu Picchu:

Cocalmayo Photo Gallery

Questions and answers about Cocalmayo

• 1) Where is Cocalmayo?

  The thermal baths of Cocalmayo are located in the town of Santa Teresa, province of La Convención. It is located 202 kilometers from the city of Cusco (and approximately 20 kilometers from Machu Picchu).

• 2) How much does the entrance fee to the Cocalmayo thermal baths cost?

  The entrance costs 10 soles for foreign tourists, 5 soles for Peruvian tourists and 2.50 soles for tourists from Cusco.

• 3) How to get from Cocalmayo to Machu Picchu?

  From Cocalmayo to Machu Picchu it is reached through a short car trip to the Hydroelectric station (30 minutes). Then a walk to the town of Aguas Calientes (2 hours). Finally a bus trip to Machu Picchu (30 minutes).

• 4) How to get from Santa Teresa to Cocalmayo?

  From the town of Santa Teresa you can reach Cocalmayo through a taxi ride (20 minutes) or on foot (1 hour). The thermal baths are only 4 kilometers away.

• 5) When should I not visit Cocalmayo?

  It is not recommended to visit the thermal baths of Cocalmayo during the months of intense rain: January, February and March.

• 6) Does the Salkantay trek include a visit to the thermal baths of Cocalmayo?

  Yes, the Salkantay trek includes a visit to the thermal baths of Cocalmayo on the third day of the tour.

• 7) Does the Inca Jungle include a visit to Cocalmayo?

  Yes, the Inca Jungle adventure tour includes a visit to the Cocalmayo hot springs on the third day of the adventure.

• 8) What is the weather like in Cocalmayo?

  Cocalmayo has a hot temperate climate that varies from a minimum of 10ºC. up to a maximum of 26ºC. The rains are more intense in January, February and March.

• 9) What to bring to my visit to Cocalmayo

  During your visit it is recommended to bring: swimwear, towel, hat, sunscreen, sandals, mosquito repellent and personal hygiene utensils.

• 10) Are Cocalmayo the best thermal baths in Cusco?

  The thermal baths of Cocalmayo are considered the best thermal baths in Cusco.

Tips from people who have been there

Cocalmayo hot springs

From: Florentina Cluzes

“Unique! In the middle of a spectacular mountain environment”

“Going to Santa Teresa after having climbed Machu Picchu Mountain and spending the afternoon and some of the night in the thermal baths was the best thing we could think of! Relaxing muscles in this place is great. The landscapes, the sky and the stars from there complete an incomparable picture.”

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, December 30, 2023