Thermal springs are scattered across the hills around Cusco, mostly fed by the geological activity along the fault line that runs through the Sacred Valley. Two are worth going out of your way for.
The Termas de Lares, in the Lares Valley four hours from Cusco, are a mix of hot public pools at a small, functional complex at 3,100 m. The water comes out at 40–44°C and is high in iron and calcium. It is the standard stop at the end of the Lares Trek, a quieter alternative to the Inca Trail.
In Aguas Calientes — the town the springs lent their name to — the Baños Termales at the top of the main street are the pre- or post-Machu Picchu soak most travellers end up at. Four pools at different temperatures, a short walk from any hotel in town. Easy on logistics, hit-or-miss on cleanliness; go early in the day.
Add either to a Cusco trip through Peruways — the Lares day-trip pairs the springs with the Pumahuanca ruins and a textile workshop in Patacancha.
