Hundreds of international visitors have been left stranded at Peru’s iconic Machu Picchu after protesters blocked train tracks, halting services on the only rail link to the UNESCO World Heritage site.
Local groups placed rocks and logs across the lines in protest over a change in bus operator contracts that they claim was awarded without transparency or fairness. The dispute centres on the concession to operate buses that connect the town of Aguas Calientes with the Machu Picchu archaeological site.
Rail operator PeruRail suspended services between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes in response to the blockade. Authorities have since evacuated around 1,400 tourists, but close to 900 remain stuck in the town at the base of the Inca citadel.
Images from the scene show long queues of travellers waiting for assistance while local businesses struggle to accommodate the influx. The U.S. Embassy has urged travellers to avoid demonstrations and monitor travel advice.
At this stage there are no confirmed reports of Australian tourists being among those stranded, although Australians have been caught up in similar disruptions in the past. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is monitoring the situation through the Australian Embassy in Lima.
Peru’s Ministry of Culture has said it is working with local authorities to restore transport links and ensure visitor safety, but no timeline has been given for when rail services will resume.
