Cocalmayo Hot Springs

Cocalmayo is the reward for taking the long way to Machu Picchu. The pools sit beside the Urubamba River just outside Santa Teresa, at the end of the Salkantay trek and on the road route via Hidroeléctrica, at a much lower and warmer altitude than Cusco. Three or four large pools hold clear water that comes from underground at roughly 38 to 44°C, and one of them is closer to air temperature.

A spring-fed shower spills down the cliff behind them. Entry is only S/10 for foreigners, and the site has changing rooms, showers, a small bar and room to camp. It is a five-minute taxi or a half-hour walk along the river from town.

Hours are reported as early morning to early evening, longer when busy. Sandflies are a real problem at dusk, so bring repellent. The honest downside: trekking groups arrive in waves in the late afternoon, and the pools can get noisy and crowded.