Machu Picchu will open to tourists very soon
Machu Picchu, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and a World Heritage Site, will reopen to the public very soon, with reinforced and safe entrance roads.
Upon a multi-sector informative meeting with the participation of officials from the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC), the Peruvian Government's Program for Road Building (ProVias), Ferrocarril Transandino S.A. (FTSA), the Peruvian Service of Meteorology and Hydrology (Senamhi), the Vice-Ministry of Tourism and the Peru Export and Tourism Promotion Board (PromPerú), it was informed that the sectors involved in the restarting of tourist activities in Machu Picchu have achieved important advances in the access and entrance routes to the Inca citadel.
Commercial route to Machu Picchu
This route will be used to get to Machu Picchu and will be divided into two parts. The first one will be completed by bus or car, until the provisional railway station in Piscacucho, and starting at that point, the train will complete the trip until the railway station in Machu Picchu Town (formerly Aguas Calientes).
Ferrocarril Transandino S.A. (FTSA), the private company in charge of the southern and southeastern Peruvian railways, has already finished the repairing 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 Cusco and Ollantaytambo has not suffered any damage. The 10-kilometer road connecting this town with Piscacucho will be broadened and conditioned to allow the safe transit of tourist buses. To accomplish this, the MTC has informed about the emission of a Ministerial Mandate in order to immediately proceed with the enhancement of said road.
Northern route to Machu Picchu
Also, there is a second route mixing road and railway, known as the Northern Route, which connects Ollantaytambo with Alfamayo - on an asphalted road - and then continues through Santa María, Santa Teresa, Puente Carrilluchayuc and Estación Hidroeléctrica. At that point, visitors can take the train to Machu Picchu Town. According to the MTC, this route has suffered damage from the January rainfall and is being repaired. It is expected that it will be operative in approximately three months.
Inca Trail
Lastly, the MTC has informed that the Inca Trail - the trekking route to Machu Picchu - is not recommendable for tourist activities at the moment due to safety concerns for the bridges on the route may be deteriorated. According to Senamhi, March is a usually rainy month, so it is expected that rainfall might continue during said period. It is also worth mentioning that the Machu Picchu Sanctuary is in perfect conditions and has not suffered any damage from the rainfall.
PromPeru 08/03/10 |
