Railway blockade disrupts 900 tourists’ journey to Machu Picchu as protests cause chaos in Peru

On Tuesday, at least 900 tourists found themselves stranded near the renowned ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, following the suspension of a passenger train service due to a protest. This disruption occurred after PeruRail halted its operations on Monday, citing the blocking of the route in Peru’s mountainous Cusco region by rocks of varied sizes. The protest, initiated by residents, targeted authorities and bus companies, stemming from concerns over the lack of transparency and fairness in the process of replacing Consettur, the tourist bus operator whose concession had expired. Thus, different local businesses could benefit from the lucrative tourism industry. The tourism minister, Desilu Leon, mentioned that while 1,400 tourists were evacuated on Monday, approximately 900 remained stranded in Aguas Calientes, the town closest to Peru’s most-visited cultural site. The protest was triggered by the end of Consettur’s concession, which used to transport tourists from Aguas Calientes to the entrance of the 15th-century Inca citadel. However, the selected replacement bus company faced opposition from protesters in Aguas Calientes, preventing it from operating.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/17/rocks-on-train-tracks-strand-900-machu-picchu-tourists-amid-protest