Inca Trail to close for works next month

The Inca Trail leading to the legendary lost city of Machu Picchu will be closed through February to undertake cleaning, conservation and maintenance works along the 42 kilometers of stone path built by the Incas some 500 years ago, reconfirmed officials from the Archaeological Park of Machu Picchu.

The measure, to be implemented by 60 experts and technicians from the Cusco's Regional Directorate of Culture through the Ollantaytambo district to the Inca citadel, will be achieved under the regulations of the Red de Caminos Inca (Inca Trail Network).

The restoration works include treatments in camping zones, compaction, assessment of the rainwater drainage system in affected zones, reforestation, as well as the preservation of 18 monuments and archaeological sites.

The growing vegetation will be cut, and maintenance works will be carried out in Machu Picchu terraces and sanitary areas.

This legendary road winds through Peru's Andes Mountains and along the path of the ancient royal highway. More than 75,000 people make the trek each year to get to Machu Picchu the way the ancient Inca did—on foot.

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Source: Andina

Over 13400 tourists hiked Inca Trail to Machu Picchu since reopening

Over 13400 domestic and foreign tourists hiked Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Archeological Park since its reopening on April 1, the anthropologist and head of the archeological park Fernando Astete Victoria reported.

He also noted that the tourist flow is normal along the alternative route toward the country's main tourist destination affected by landslides.

The route is lined with 17 archaeological sites: Salapunku, Q’anabamba, Willkarakay, Q’entimarka, Patahuasi, Runkuraqay, Sayaqmarka, Qonchamarka, Phuyupatamarka, Yunkapata, Wiñaywayna, Intipunku, Choquesuysuy, Chachabamba, Waynaq’ente, Torontoy and Qorihuayrachina.

“The National Institute of Culture (INC) is responsible for the maintenance
of Inca Trail as well as its monitoring and surveillance in any emergency case,” the anthropologist and head of the Park said after remarking that tourists are primarily young people.

According to INC figures, about 200 tourists walk the Inca Trail to
visit Machu Picchu daily.


Read more about Machu Picchu and the different sites visited in our inca trail