Every day, this historical jewel, listed since 1983 on the UNESCO World Heritage List, is visited by more than 5,000 tourists from all over the world.
PERU - The legacy left by the Inca civilization threatened by protesters? Plunged into a serious social and political crisis, Peru has decided to close Machu Picchu, an Inca tourist jewel and the country's main attraction, the government announced on Saturday January 21.
"The closure of the Inca Trails network (land accesses, Inca Trail) and the Llaqta (Citadel) of Machu Picchu has been ordered due to the social situation and to preserve the integrity of visitors", indicated the Ministry of Culture in a press release.
The railway, the only way to get to the site (apart from the march) has been cut for several days, the track having been damaged by demonstrators. According to the company that operates it, rails were removed by the protesters.
Since then, no less than 400 tourists - including 300 foreigners - have been stranded at the foot of the site, in Aguas Calientes. “We don't know if a train will pick us up. All the tourists here are queuing up to register” for an evacuation, Chilean tourist Alem Lopez told AFP on Friday.
Tourists “cannot go out because the railway has been damaged in different places,” Tourism Minister Luis Fernando Helguero said on Friday. “Some tourists have chosen to walk to Piscacucho but it is a walk of six hours or more and very few people can do it.” Piscacucho is the closest village to Machu Picchu connected to the road network.
Machu Picchu and Inca trail will reopen on 01 March 2023. We recommend you insure your spots.
Read More: Machu Picchu Closing: All You Need to Know!