The Machu Picchu Disaster: A Report on the Disruption After Castillo’s Proclamation to General Relativity
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About 300 tourists from around the world have been left stranded in the ancient city of Machu Picchu, according to the mayor, after Peru was plunged into a state of emergency following the ousting of the country’s president.
Castillo was impeached and subsequently arrested in early December after announcing his plan to dissolve Congress. The unrest after his arrest prompted warnings about traveling to Arequipa, as well as other places. Peruvians, South Americans, Americans and Europeans are among the stranded travelers.
The government has been asked to help with helicopter flights in order to evacuate the tourists. The only way to get in and out of the town is by train, and these services are suspended until further notice, he said.
The primary means for accessing the UNESCO World Heritage site was halted on Tuesday, according to the statement from the operator of the railway.
The Peruvian Air Lines Experiment (LATAM) is Sufficient to Operate in the Presence of Political Unrest
Baca called on the government, led by new president Dina Boluarte, to establish a dialogue with the local population to put an end to the social unrest as soon as possible.
“We regret the inconvenience that these announcements generate for our passengers; however, they are due to situations beyond the control of our company and seek to prioritize the safety of passengers and workers,” the company said in a statement.
The Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport in Cuzco, 75 kilometer (48 miles) from the ancient city of Machu Picchu, has been temporarily suspended.
“LATAM keeps an eye on the political situation in Peru to give the relevant information when it might affect our air operation,” the airline said. “We are waiting for the response from the authorities who are supposed to ensure safety for the development of air operations.”
The US State Department has a travel advisory for citizens traveling in Peruvian, which is a level three “reconsider travel” destination.
Without prior notice or estimated reopening timelines, demonstrations can shut down local roads, trains, and major highways. It warns that road closings may make it harder for people to get around in public transportation and airports.
It is only a week until Christmas, and Mechelle Lutsko is holding onto hope that her daughter will be able to come home in time.
Aguas Calientes: Helping a friend in Peru to get back to work after Castillo’s ouster
Lutsko says her daughter, Madison Spellman, a graduate student and travel nurse, was at a coffee shop when a group of protestors took to the streets. The employees locked the doors and encouraged everyone to hunker down, Spellman told her mom.
Spellman, 25, has been stuck with a friend in Cusco, Peru, for days since protests erupted in the country after former President Pedro Castillo was ousted from power last week.
Next week, Lutsko is expecting family to arrive from out of town for the holidays. She was supposed to fly to Ohio on Christmas Eve to be with her family.
Brian Vega is among those stuck in Aguas Calientes, a town that serves as the main access point to Machu Picchu. As days pass with those stranded still unable to leave, Vega says some are beginning to panic.
The town’s mayor warned earlier that Machu Picchu is already suffering from food shortages because of the protests, and the local economy relies 100% on tourism.
Vega, a Miami-Dade Fire Rescue captain, says he’s trying to remain level-headed and may attempt to hike out of the city like others have over the past few days.
The trek would be an 18-mile hike along the train tracks, which Vega says he’s heard many have completed successfully. His plan after that would be getting transportation to the airport.
The fire department in which he works are doing their damnedest to bring him home, which he believes is a direct result of contacts he has made with many back home.