Cocalmayo, the hidden thermal paradise of Peru

In 2024, during our trip through Peru, Pablo and I discovered the Cocalmayo Hot Springs.

Located in the Santa Teresa Valley, not far from Machu Picchu, these hot springs are surrounded by mountains covered with vegetation, rivers with crystal clear waters and a landscape that transmits a feeling of peace that is difficult to describe.

Pablo and I love hot springs and every time we visit a new destination we usually investigate if there is a hot spring nearby because we know that, sooner or later, we will end up including it in our tour.

We have enjoyed them in different places and landscapes but we share a very particular preference: we like to visit them at dusk and stay until nightfall.

There is something magical about soaking in warm waters as the sky slowly darkens, the lights begin to come on, and the surroundings take on a completely different atmosphere.

For this reason, many times we are among the last to leave and we stay until closing time, enjoying every minute, talking, contemplating the landscape or simply relaxing in silence.

And precisely that was what happened in Cocalmayo: surrounded by the Andean mountains, under the Peruvian sky and enveloped by the steam that gently rose from the pools, we felt once again that sensation that we seek so much when we visit a hot spring: that of stopping time for a while and fully enjoying the present moment.

From the moment we arrived we understood why so many people consider Cocalmayo one of the best kept secrets in the region.

The mountains rise imposingly around the pools and the constant sound of the nearby river accompanies the experience like permanent background music.

Unlike other more developed thermal complexes, Cocalmayo retains a very special connection with the natural environment.

Its pools with warm, transparent waters and different temperature levels invite you to relax while contemplating one of the most beautiful landscapes of the Peruvian Andes.

I perfectly remember the feeling of immersing myself in those waters after traveling so many paths and discovering how the body began to relax almost immediately.

The contrast between the pleasant temperature of the hot springs and the fresh mountain air creates a unique experience.

But what impressed us most that day was the surroundings: intense greens, mountains covered with vegetation, clouds that seemed to slide slowly between the hills and a tranquility that today is increasingly difficult to find.

For almost the entire day we simply enjoyed the place, without rushing, without schedules, just contemplating the landscape and being grateful for the possibility of being there.

In a world that often pushes us to go faster and faster, Cocalmayo reminded me of the importance of stopping, contemplating and simply enjoying the privilege of being there.