How Long Will Machu Picchu Be Out of Reach For Tourists?

February 1, 2010 at 2:25 PM | by JetSetCD | Comments (3)

For tourists to Peru's famed Machu PIcchu site, the nightmare of being trapped by raging flood waters in the nearby Vilcanota River has ended. The last trapped tourists were airlifted out of the remote area at the end of last week, but locals are already attempting to rebuild as the waters subside.

As the river gushed out of control, beginning back around January 25, over 3500 visitors found themselves stuck in the town of Aguas Calientes with the only transportation route back to the nearest city of Cuzco—the train—wiped out in the flooding and mudslides. As evacuation by helicopter progressed slowly and prices of basic things like food and water were jacked up in the small town, tourists became desperate, and a few even hiked back along the dangerous route.

So how long will Machu Picchu be out of the commission?

Although estimates say that the route to Machu Picchu won't be safe again "for weeks," we've seen the pictures of the destruction and wonder if it's more like months. Even Delta Airlines are offering free, one-time changes to passengers who had booked flights to Peru with the specific goal of seeing Machu Picchu, but now cannot.

Nonetheless, these floods can't be a huge surprise, since Machu Picchu is listed on the World Monuments Watch as at risk of flooding due to climate change. It joins all of New Orleans (who already experienced a taste with Hurricane Katrina) and all of Shanghai (up next?) on the list.

If you've been planning a trip to Peru or have any curiosity about what's holding up the tourism down there, we recommend you check out the AP video below, which shows tourists chipping in to keep not only themselves alive, but the village as well.

Related Stories:
· Photo You Must See: Flooding Near Machu Picchu, Peru [WorldHum]
· Tourist evacuation overwhelms Peruvian city [Sydney Morning Herald]
· Peru Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Reuters/WorldHum]

Comments (3)

Return to » How Long Will Machu Picchu Be Out of Reach For Tourists?

Maccu Piccu has a history of flooding which it was actually designed for in its construction. There is a complex network of under-ground drainage, which keeps the complex from sliding off the mountain! 4396508

I'm glad to hear that this site is getting back on it's feet but it's sad that people want to make a profit when others are having hard times. Personal Loans

This will be a really great destinatination when peole can come back. Its important for things to get back on their feet. Hopefully this will be soon. Mobile Tablet

Jaunted

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