Holidaymakers hoping to tick Machu Picchu off their bucket lists have been left stranded after furious locals blocked off the only rail route to the world-famous Inca ruins.
At least 900 tourists remain trapped near the ancient citadel in Peru after demonstrators tore up train tracks and covered them with rocks and logs.
AFPA group of tourists waves while leaving on foot due to a protest by residents in Machu Picchu Pueblo, Peru[/caption]
AFPThe US Embassy has now slapped a travel warning on the area – urging Americans to steer clear until the stand-off ends[/caption]
AFPWorkers attempt to remove a rock placed by rioters on the railway track to block the train’s passage to and from the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu[/caption]
The chaos broke out when locals staged fiery protests in the town of Aguas Calientes – the last stop before visitors head up to the UNESCO World Heritage site.
Some 1,400 sightseers have already been whisked to safety, but hundreds more remain stuck in the tourist hub, according to Peru’s Tourism Minister, Desilu Leon.
The US Embassy has now slapped a travel warning on the area – urging Americans to steer clear until the stand-off ends.
The embassy warned: “Local organizations are protesting changes regarding the bus service contract serving the route to the Machu Picchu site, including by placing objects on the rail line tracks connecting Ollantaytambo and Machupicchu Pueblo.
“Demonstrations in Machu Picchu Pueblo are expected to continue. Rail and road traffic on routes leading to Machu Picchu may be disrupted without prior notice.”
It added that travellers should seek reimbursement, reschedule trips and “adjust plans accordingly.”
The row exploded last week when Consettur – the bus company that usually ferries visitors from Aguas Calientes to the entrance – saw its concession expire.
A rival firm was lined up by a neighbouring district to take over the lucrative route.
But furious residents in Aguas Calientes weren’t having it – accusing officials of backroom deals and blocking the new buses from operating.
Protesters insist there has been zero transparency in the decision-making.
And now the fury has spilled onto the railway – leaving tourists in limbo and locals clashing with cops and bus bosses.
PeruRail – the country’s leading train operator – has suspended all services to and from the wonder.
Bosses say demonstrators dug up part of its tracks in the Cusco region, further slowing down evacuation attempts.
New7Wonders – the campaign group that championed Machu Picchu’s “World Wonder” status – has even fired off a warning to the government.
It said the bitter row could damage Machu Picchu’s global reputation if the fighting spirals out of control.
To reach the citadel, visitors usually ride a 68-mile train from Cusco – the former capital of the Inca Empire – before hopping on a bus to the mountaintop ruins.
But with buses halted and trains trashed, stranded holidaymakers claim they’ve been told to hike for hours through the mountains to catch alternative transport.
“In my case, I can’t do it because my wife is pregnant,” said Miguel Salas, from Chile.
The drama has left many fearing they’ll miss out on seeing the breathtaking 15th-century site altogether.
In peak season, between May and September, visitor numbers are capped at 5,600 a day – making tickets like gold dust.
Machu Picchu usually welcomes more than a million people a year -but this isn’t the first time protests have ruined holidays.
Back in January 2024, around 1,200 tourists had to be evacuated after locals rose up against a controversial new ticketing system.
And just a year before that, Machu Picchu was forced to shut down for nearly a month during political unrest after the impeachment of ex-president Pedro Castillo.
Now, another storm is brewing – with unions, locals and bus companies locked in a bitter tug-of-war.
Minister Leon confirmed a crunch meeting has been scheduled to hear residents’ grievances and try to hammer out a truce.
Until then, Machu Picchu remains under siege – leaving hundreds of tourists stranded, stressed and desperate to get home.
AFPA group of tourists leaves on foot due to a protest by residents in Machu Picchu Pueblo, Peru[/caption]
AFPPolice officers stand guard next to a group of tourists at the train station in Machu Picchu Pueblo, Peru[/caption]
AFPTourists visit the ancient Inca ruins of Machu Picchu[/caption]