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It is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and on the bucket list of many travelers, however, the dream to visit will need to be temporarily put on hold because Machu Picchu (as well as the Inca Trail) has been closed indefinitely due to the internal conflict in Peru.
There have been several reports of tourists being stranded due to the suspension of flights in and out of Cusco's Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ) along with train routes from Cusco. The US Travel.Gov website has put Peru at a "Level Three: Reconsider Travel" status and the Peruvian government is advising against visiting due to the civil unrest. Learn more about the current ongoing situation in Peru below.
The difficult decision to close the two main tourist attractions in Peru arrived several days ago. Cusco, the closest city to the ancient Inca civilization has been at the forefront of the recent anti-government protests, leading to tourists being stranded due to the nearby Cusco International Airport shutting down and rail routes out of Cusco being suspended because of the intervention of the demonstrators.
The Peruvian Ministry of Culture has closed the site of Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail from January 21st until an undetermined later date, since they cannot ensure the safety of travelers visiting these sites.
The travel.gov website has had Peru at a Level 3: Reconsider Travel since mid-December, when the conflict first arose.
Protests against the government in Peru have been going on for about a month and a half and, as a result of clashes with the police, there have so far been dozens dead and hundreds injured. Protesters are calling for new elections with the resignation of Dina Boluarte, promoted to head of government from vice president following the December arrest of President Pedro Castillo, accused of trying to dissolve parliament in a coup attempt. The form of protest has often been the blocking of roads and highways, as well as strikes and large demonstrations with violent police crackdowns.
The government has declared a state of emergency in the regions of Cusco, Puno, and Lima (where there are major problems also in the airports) and in those of La Libertad, Amazonas, and Tacna, in the Constitutional Province of Callao and in the provinces of Andahuaylas, Tambopata y Tahuamanu, as well as in the District of Torata. A curfew is in force in the Puno Region, with a ban on driving from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.