Machu Picchu Finally Reopens to The Public

After being closed to visitors in December and January due to social upheaval in Peru, the ancient Inca fortress of Machu Picchu resumed visits.

Protests erupted throughout Peru in December when Pedro Castillo, the country's leader, was deposed and replaced by then-vice president Dina Boluarte.

The company that runs the tourist train in Peru, PeruRail, said that as a consequence demonstrators had damaged and obstructed the rails. When the carriages that normally serves the region were temporarily taken out of operation two months ago, some 300 people from other countries were left stranded in Machu Picchu, which is the most popular tourist spot in the nation. The local and international governments collaborated at the time in order to safely remove the tourists from Machu Picchu, with some of the evacuations taking place by helicopter.

But now, following 2 months of closure, the ancient Inca fortress resumed visits, as the unrest in the south of Peru, where most of the demonstrations and road blockades have taken place, has subsided in recent days.

However, Machu Picchu requires visitors to get a permission before entering its perimeter. Travellers whose permits were granted for January 21 or later were informed that they would also be eligible for refunds by the Regional Cultural Directorate and the Machu Picchu Heritage Sanctuary Directorate, the agencies responsible for selling and managing the admission credentials.

During the first day following its reopening, the sanctuary saw at least 700 people, with 38 people from within the country and 45 people from abroad being the first to enter. Tourists who had previously postponed their January trips to Machu Picchu were among the first visitors.

Machu Picchu was reportedly constructed in the 15th century for an Incan ruler. After being forgotten at the period of the Spanish invasion, it was uncovered again in 1911 by American explorer Hiram Bingham. Currently, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

 

Source: cnn.com, reuters.com