The closest town to Machu Picchu is Aquas Calientes. Clinging to the side of a mountain, precariously close to the raging river below Aguas Calientes is a town filled with up-and-coming fancy resorts, and old-time budget hotels. I only spent a couple of hours here trying alpaca, and taking a dip in the local hot springs before I had to catch a train back to Cusco.