Tourist Turmoil at Machu Picchu: Buses, Protests, and Local Discontent

Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Peru’s most visited destinations, is currently embroiled in a dispute over tourist access that has left over 1,400 tourists stranded. The conflict centers on the operation of buses by the company Consettur, which has had a monopoly for 30 years, transporting 4,500 daily visitors from Aguas Calientes to the Inca ruins. As tensions rise, locals expressed their frustrations about the recent handover of bus operations to a rival company, San Antonio de Torontoy, which has yet to start operations due to legal challenges.

Local protests against the transition saw protestors blocking train tracks, necessitating emergency evacuations of tourists by train. Though Consettur’s license expired in September, it has continued to operate, claiming it is not a monopoly because it consists of 12 different local companies. Tourists have voiced concerns regarding the cost of travel, faced high ticket prices for train services, and encountered complications in purchasing entry tickets for Machu Picchu itself, which costs $57. Many visitors expected all transportation costs to be included in the initial ticket price.

Local leaders, like the mayor of Aguas Calientes, Elvis La Torre, spotlight the need for greater revenue retention at the community level from ticket sales to improve local infrastructure and services. Dina Huillca, a local vendor, highlights the severe lack of basic services, such as clean water and hospitals. Meanwhile, Carlos González, president of the region’s tourism chamber, advocates for more consistent government oversight and new experiences tailored to different demographics of tourists, suggesting areas for spiritual travelers versus social media enthusiasts. Despite the current turmoil, Consettur’s head, Cristian Alberto Caballero, expressed openness to coexist with the new bus company, indicating a desire for resolution as the dispute continues.