Train Services To Machu Picchu Suspended Amid Local Protests Over Transport Concession

Train services to Machu Picchu, Peru’s most visited tourist destination, were suspended on Monday, September 15, after local residents blocked the railway line with tree trunks and rocks. According to police and PeruRail, the protest has halted the only rail access to the ancient Inca citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.

On average, Machu Picchu receives around 4,500 visitors per day, most of whom are international tourists. However, authorities have not released any official figures regarding the number of travelers currently stranded in the area, nor has any evacuation plan been publicly announced.

According to AFP, the protest centers around a dispute involving the bus service that connects the train station in Aguas Calientes – the gateway town at the base of Machu Picchu – with the archaeological site. The previous bus operator’s 30-year concession ended recently, but services have reportedly continued without a new public tender, presumably by the same company.

Residents are demanding that a new operator be selected through a competitive and transparent process. They argue that the continuation of services by the previous provider without a new contract undermines local interests and fair competition.

Travelers typically reach Aguas Calientes by train from Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire, located approximately 110 kilometers away. From there, a short bus ride up the mountain is required to access Machu Picchu itself.

This is not the first time tourism access to Machu Picchu has been disrupted. In January 2023, similar demonstrations led to the evacuation of around 1,200 tourists, some of whom were unable to visit the site before leaving. In another major disruption, Machu Picchu was closed for 25 days during the political unrest that followed the removal and arrest of former president Pedro Castillo in late 2022.

For travel and tourism professionals, these recurring protests highlight the vulnerability of Peru’s most iconic tourist attraction to local socio-political tensions. With limited access points and dependence on a single railway line and bus route, even small-scale demonstrations can lead to significant disruptions in visitor flows and tour operations.

Tour operators, DMCs, and travel advisors with itineraries including Machu Picchu are advised to closely monitor the situation and communicate with local partners for real-time updates. It remains unclear how long the current disruption will last or whether authorities plan to negotiate with the protesting residents.

The ongoing dispute underscores the importance of sustainable and inclusive tourism governance in high-traffic heritage destinations, where local communities seek greater transparency and benefits from the tourism economy they help support.

The article Train services to Machu Picchu suspended amid local protests over transport concession first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.