At least 900 tourists are stranded near Peru’s ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu after the only easy exit, a train service, was blocked by rocks as local people clash with authorities.
The protest is as much about ‘over tourism’ as it is about the contracts given to bus and rail services.
But these details will be lost on the 19 from Viseu – the majority of them over the age of 65, and unable to leave the mountain under their own steam.
A member of the group has been telling TVI that the walk back to Cusco (the nearest town) would take at least three hours, and this is not practical (at least it wasn’t last night).
The problem with this hiccup in what promised to be ‘the trip of a lifetime’ is that the group is due to fly back from Lima to Portugal today – something that will be impossible if it is still stuck at the top of a mountain.
Multiple reports suggest that difficulties posed by local people could see Machu Picchu lose its ranking as one of the “New 7 wonders of the world”.
In January last year, Machu Picchu went on an indefinite strike against the “systematic privatisation” of the Inca city, forcing hundreds of tourists to decamp.
This latest conflict stems from a request for authorisation to operate 18 new buses by company Sumaq Ayllu, following the termination of its contract with Consettur, which is accused of operating a 30-year monopoly, and colluding with railway company Peru Rail.
According to reports, “losses to hotels, restaurants, and businesses involved, have already exceeded €730,000 in just two days – with a 40% drop in tourist bookings. To make matters worse, the New7Wonders campaign warned that the title of one of the “New 7 Wonders of the World,” awarded in 2007 by the New Open World Corporation, could be revoked if the Peruvian government fails to ensure “sustainable and modern” management of this iconic site.
For now, 19 Portuguese will simply be wondering when on earth they can get home.
UPDATE THURSDAY: This group, as well as many hundreds of other stranded tourists, have now apparently all returned to Cusco, to continue either with their holidays, or to try and organise new travel plans in order to get home. If we have any updates on the group from Viseu, we will bring them to you.
