Protests at Machu Picchu Block Rail Line, Stranding Hundreds as U.S. Issues Travel Advisory

Protesters have covered the rail line to Machu Picchu with rocks and logs, forcing PeruRail to suspend service and leaving about 900 tourists stranded in Aguas Calientes, Peruvian authorities and the U.S. Embassy said Tuesday.

Peru's Tourism Minister Desilu Leon said on local radio that about 1,400 tourists were evacuated from a train station Monday night after police temporarily cleared sections of the line, but roughly 900 people remained in the town closest to the Inca citadel. Authorities reported that 14 police officers were injured in clashes with demonstrators during the operations, and PeruRail said "third parties" had dug up part of the rail route, slowing evacuation efforts.

The disruption stems from protests that began last week after the concession for Consettur, the bus company that ferries visitors from Aguas Calientes to the Machu Picchu entrance, ended and a different operator was granted permission to take over the route, Reuters reported. Local residents and unions have blocked the new company from operating, arguing that the change would disadvantage local businesses.

To reach the archaeological site, visitors normally take a 68-mile train from Cusco, the former Inca capital, to Aguas Calientes and then a short bus ride to the sanctuary entrance. With tracks obstructed, tourists in Aguas Calientes said they were told to walk several hours to catch trains or buses outside the Machu Picchu region; some said that was not feasible. "In my case, I can't do it because my wife is pregnant," Miguel Salas, a visitor from Chile, told AFP.

The U.S. Embassy in Peru issued a travel advisory Tuesday warning that "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." The advisory said demonstrations are expected to continue and that rail and road traffic on routes leading to Machu Picchu may be disrupted without prior notice. It urged travelers to seek reimbursement or reschedule trips and to consult with guides and tour operators to adjust plans accordingly.

PeruRail confirmed the suspension of trains to and from Machu Picchu and said the company was coordinating with authorities to evacuate visitors when safe. Tourism Minister Leon said a meeting has been scheduled with local authorities and unions to address the grievances raised by residents and operators.

The sit-in at Machu Picchu echoes earlier disruptions. In January 2024, about 1,200 tourists were evacuated after protests over a new ticket sales system that residents feared would concentrate benefits in a single company. The UNESCO World Heritage site was also closed for nearly a month amid unrest tied to political turmoil and the 2022 impeachment and subsequent arrest of former President Pedro Castillo.

Local officials and tourism operators have emphasized the economic importance of the site to the Cusco region, while residents and small business owners have long pressed for transparent contracting and protections for local livelihoods. Authorities have not given a timetable for fully restoring service to the area, and the U.S. Embassy cautioned that operations could be interrupted at short notice.

Peru's government faces the immediate task of securing the rail corridor and resuming transportation services while addressing the complaints of Aguas Calientes residents and transport unions. In the short term, travelers planning to visit Machu Picchu were advised to contact airlines, tour operators, and embassies for updates and to consider alternate plans until the dispute is resolved.