Machu Picchu will have two new accesses on the Inca Trail

20-07-23

Peru plans to facilitate the arrival of tourists to one of its main attractions, Machu Picchu, with the implementation of two new accesses on the Inca Trail, the Inkarakay and Eastern Platforms project, and Inca Trail Route 1 and 2. In addition, the project to improve the internal roads with the Geoblocks system, access control and signage inside the Inca citadel.

This was explained in an interview with the Peruvian newspaper Gestión by Juan Carlos Mathews Salazar, Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, the entity in charge of managing access to the area.

It is worth remembering that getting to Machu Picchu is not an easy task for tourists, as there are only two railway companies that operate to the closest town to the monument, Aguas Calientes. Once in the town, getting up to the citadel is easier.

However, despite the fact that Machu Picchu will have two new entrances, the number of tourists visiting will remain the same. The Minister of Culture, Leslie Urteaga, has pointed out that the carrying capacity requires a prior study in this regard and has maintained that the capacity will remain at 4,044 visitors per day.

According to the minister, this is a fairly reasonable figure, although it is advisable to buy tickets for the monument in advance. In fact, for this month of July there are no more tickets available, those who want to visit Machu Picchu will have to wait until August.

This is also very good news, as tourism and therefore the economy of the area was badly affected, first by the pandemic and then by the violent social protests following the arrest of former president Pedro Castillo. However, so far this year, demonstrations have decreased peacefully and the government, the private sector and citizens have spoken out in favour of social peace for the country's economic recovery.

On the other hand, although it is true that the Peruvian government has declared a health emergency in view of the cases of Guillain Barré syndrome, this is due to the need to purchase supplies for the timely treatment of this syndrome. Likewise, with regard to Dengue, the extension of the emergency is intended to reinforce prevention and control of the disease. Therefore, Peru continues with the reactivation of tourism and expects to reach 2.2 million international tourists by December 2023.