Machu Picchu, the remains of a 15th Century Inca city, is Peru's most popular tourist destination, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. However, a dispute over the buses that transport visitors to this iconic site recently left approximately 1,400 tourists stranded and requiring evacuation.
Cristian Alberto Caballero Chacón, who heads operations for Consettur, the long-standing bus service provider, reported ongoing conflicts with opposition from local communities following the awarding of licenses to a rival firm, San Antonio de Torontoy.
For many tourists, the only way to reach Machu Picchu without an arduous hike is via a train to Aguas Calientes followed by a 20-minute bus ride—a service that Consettur has dominated for decades. However, the recent tensions, including blockades on access routes, have raised questions about the sustainability of this service model.
In response to local protests claiming the bidding process was unfair, Consettur has remained operational despite its license expiring, complicated further by legal challenges facing its competitor.
Annalise Jaksic, an Australian tourist, expressed dissatisfaction with the high costs associated with traveling to Machu Picchu and raised concerns about where the ticketing revenues are directed, noting that only 10% remains in Aguas Calientes.
City officials and representatives from the tourism sector contend that more local resources are needed to improve community services and bolster economic benefits from tourism.
As the conflict continues, Caballero maintains that Consettur is not monopolizing services but rather, is a collective of multiple local businesses, including local government representation, aimed at enhancing community involvement in tourism.
