Peruvian authorities evacuated around 1,400 tourists overnight from the train station serving Machu Picchu, while about 900 more visitors remained stranded on 16 September after protesters blocked the railway tracks.
Tourism Minister Desilu Leon told RPP radio: “We managed to evacuate about 1,400 tourists” before a fresh blockade resumed. Authorities did not specify the nationalities of those evacuated.
The protests began on 15 September, when residents placed logs and rocks on the tracks to demand the appointment of a new company to run buses between the town of Aguas Calientes and the entrance of the Inca citadel. The concession of the previous operator ended after 30 years, but the firm has continued to provide services, angering locals who want a new provider selected in a fair bidding process.
A police statement confirmed that 14 officers were injured during clashes with protesters as the tracks were temporarily cleared.
Some stranded travellers told AFP they were advised to walk for hours to catch trains or other transport out of the Machu Picchu area. “In my case, I can’t do it because my wife is pregnant,” said Chilean visitor Miguel Salas.
Minister Leon said meetings with local authorities and unions were planned “to find a solution” to the dispute.
Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, draws about 4,500 visitors daily, many of them international tourists. It has previously been affected by protests, including a closure of 25 days in 2023 and an evacuation of 1,200 tourists in January 2024.