Machu Picchu will be open to tourists soon

Machu Picchu, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and a World Heritage Site, is expected to reopen to the public very soon, with reinforced and safe entrance roads.

After a meeting of officials from the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Peruvian Government’s Program for Road Building, Ferrocarril Transandino (owners of the railroad), the Peruvian Service of Meteorology and Hydrology, the Vice-Ministry of Tourism and the Peru Export and Tourism Promotion Board, it was announced that the work involved in the reopening of Machu Picchu to tourists had achieved important advances to the access and entrance routes of the Inca citadel.

Commercial route to Machu Picchu

The route to be used to get to Machu Picchu and will be divided into two parts. The first one will be by bus or car from Cuzco to the provisional railway station in Piscacucho, and from there the train will complete the trip to the railway station in Aguas Calientes.

Ferrocarril Transandino, the private company in charge of the southern and southeastern Peruvian railways, has already finished repairs of the railway route between Km. 82 and Km. 90, as well as the route between Km. 106 and Km. 110. Provided the weather is favorable, these advances will make the route Piscacucho (Km. 82) – Aguas Calientes (Km. 110) operative by Monday, March 29

As for the road, the existing asphalted route between Cuzco and Ollantaytambo has not suffered any damage. The 10-kilometer stretch of road connecting Ollantaytambo with Piscacucho will be repaired and widened to allow the safe transit of tourist buses.

Northern route to Machu Picchu

Also, there is a second route combining road and railway, known as the Northern Route, which connects Ollantaytambo with Alfamayo and on through Santa María, Santa Teresa, Puente Carrilluchayuc and Estación Hidroeléctrica. At that point, visitors can take the train to Aguas Calientes. According to the Ministry of Transport and Communications, this road has suffered damage from the January rainfall and is still being repaired. It is expected that it will be operative in approximately three months.

The Machu Picchu Sanctuary itself is in perfect condition and has not suffered any damage from the rainfall.

Inca Trail

It was also announced that the Inca Trail – the trekking route to Machu Picchu – is not open to tourists at the moment due to safety concerns about the bridges on the route that may have deteriorated.