Hot Springs in Santa Teresa – Cocalmayo

The Thermal Baths of Santa Teresa are in Cocalmayo, southwest of the Convention’s province in Cusco. Access to the thermal baths is at kilometer 135 of the former Cusco—Quillabamba railway line, on the left bank of the Urubamba River, and at a height of 1600 m.s.n.m.

Built on the mountain’s slopes and the Urubamba River’s shores, the thermal water complex has three pools of different sizes and depths. The medicinal water in these pools varies between 40 C° and 44 C°.

The thermal baths of Santa Teresa differ mainly from the other springs of Peru by crystalline waters. These medicinal waters possess properties to treat cutaneous ulcers, bone pain, and rheumatism.

In the thermal baths, you can also submerge under the jets in the rays of the Uripata lagoons, which provides a comforting sensation.

Soft sand is at the bottom of the piles, and around the pools, you can contemplate rocks, vegetation, the sound of the river, and the mountain. The thermal baths of Santa Teresa are fully equipped with toilets, showers, dressing rooms, soccer fields, camping space, a cafeteria, a kiosk for food and drink supplies, and a viewpoint. They also have a hydromassage system.

It is a charming place to rest after long treks, as are Machu Picchu and Choquequirao.

The thermal baths are open 24 hours a day, and you can enjoy starry nights inside the pools. This is fantastic, as the reflections are reflected in the glass water like a mirror.

Income is S/. 10 for foreigners and S/. 5 for nationals.

How to Get to Santa Teresa?

There are several alternatives to the City of Cusco: bus, bicycle, motorcycle, train, and 4 × 4.

Bus: You should go to the land terminal in Santiago. Take the bus to the Santa Maria district. Take a taxi or other means of transport to Santa Teresa and walk for 20 minutes to the thermal complex, or take a cab for S/. 10 (Nuevos Soles), for the journey lasts only 10 minutes.

Train: Head to the Cusco, San Pedro train station and get off at the end of the route (at the hydroelectric power station). Take a taxi and start making the road to the Plaza de Armas de Santa Teresa. Then, return to take a taxi (for approximately S/. 10 Nuevos Soles), and you will reach the thermal baths in ten minutes. Another option is to take a 20-minute walk to the thermal complex.

Bicycle: Some tour agencies offer bicycle tours as part of their Adventure Tourism program. The genealogy lasts four days, from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, then to the reserve of the Abra de Málaga, located at 4,350 m.s.n.m. Surrounding the snowy Urubamba, the trip continues until the district of Santa Maria. The following day, the journey continues until Santa Teresa enjoys the Hot Springs night. The tour ends in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo) to visit the citadel of Machu Picchu the next day.

This excursion is also done by motorcycle; the tour duration is shorter.

The best time to go to the hot springs of Santa Teresa (Cocalmayo) is in April to the former. Santa Teresa, in recent years, has grown considerably due to the investments made in accommodation, restaurants, and other tourist services.
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