Santa Teresa and the Cocalmayo hot springs

Where Santa Teresa is

Santa Teresa is a small town in the province of La Convención, in the Cusco region, on the banks of the Urubamba, at around about 1,550 m. You get there from Cusco via the Sacred Valley and Ollantaytambo, then over the Abra Málaga pass, which crosses the mountain range before the long descent towards the forest. Four places follow one another, which should not be confused:

So Santa Teresa is neither Machu Picchu Pueblo nor a suburb of Cusco: it is a stop in its own right, in a warmer, lower valley.

The Cocalmayo hot springs

The Cocalmayo springs are on the left bank of the Urubamba, a few kilometres from the town. Opening hours, price and pools open: ask on the spot or at your accommodation in Santa Teresa.

The appeal is simple: bathing in warm water, at the bottom of a green valley, after days of altitude or walking. Treat it as a time to relax, not as a treatment.

Not to be confused with the hot springs of Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes), which are in another village, downstream, at the foot of the site. If your train ticket or your programme mentions “aguas termales”, check which ones.

Getting there

From Cusco, allow a day on the road. about 200 km: 178 km to Santa María, then 25 km to Santa Teresa; the Cocalmayo hot springs are 3 km from the town. According to PROMPERÚ, the route goes through Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, Abra Málaga, Huyro, Huayopata and Santa María; from Santa María, it takes about an hour to Santa Teresa, then about ten minutes by colectivo to the entrance of the springs. The possible means of transport: a bus or a colectivo from Cusco to Santa María, then a colectivo to Santa Teresa; a private transfer; or the transport of an organised tour.

The last stretch, from the town to the springs, is done by colectivo, by taxi or on foot for those with time (about 3 km of road). Agree on the return trip before setting off: when the springs close, it can be hard to find a vehicle.

Getting organised

• At least one night on the spot. Arrive from Cusco in the afternoon, enjoy the springs at the end of the day or the next morning, then continue to Hidroeléctrica and Machu Picchu, or go back up to Cusco.
• With Machu Picchu. Santa Teresa is on the road that leads to Hidroeléctrica, downstream. Beyond it, the Hidroeléctrica–Machu Picchu Pueblo railway section, operated by PeruRail, mainly serves local residents according to the press, and it was cut for a week by a landslide at the end of March 2026: a programme that goes this way must say in writing how it will get you to Machu Picchu Pueblo (a booked train or on foot), at what time, and what happens if the line is cut. This route is longer than the tourist train from Ollantaytambo; it is combined with a dated entry ticket to the site and a night in Machu Picchu Pueblo. See Machu Picchu.
• With a trek. The Salkantay and “Inca Jungle” programmes often go through the Santa Teresa valley; an old Inca path, the Camino Inka Jungle, also links Santa María La Antigua with Cocalmayo over about 18 km, according to the MINCETUR inventory, which mentions a development project (viewpoints, bridges, interpretation centre). These programmes sometimes include a stop at the springs: ask whether the entry and the transport to the springs are included, or whether they are paid for on the spot. See hiking.
• An example of what a tour includes, or not. The transport and the stop at the springs often appear in the programme; the entry fee, a towel, a meal and the transport back to the town, not always. Have it specified in writing.

What to bring: swimsuit, towel, sandals, a change of clothes, a bag for wet things, sun cream and insect repellent, water, and cash in small notes.

Health and weather

Santa Teresa is much lower than Cusco: the altitude is not a problem there, but the quick descent from Abra Málaga and the bends are tiring. The valley is noticeably warmer than Cusco. According to the CDC traveller page, the yellow fever vaccine is recommended for areas below 2,300 m in the Cusco region, and malaria is present below 2,500 m east of the Andes: mention this stop at your travel medicine consultation. See health.

After heavy rain, the Santa María–Santa Teresa road suffers landslides: at the end of April 2026, vehicles were trapped there by a mudslide, according to the business press. This is not a permanent closure, but a reason to check: the day before the journey, consult your provider, the COEN and INDECI notices, the announcements of the Municipality of Santa Teresa, and the FDFA’s advice. Also have it confirmed that the springs are open on the day planned.