Dispute Over Tourist Buses Strands Visitors at Machu Picchu

Wed Nov 26 2025 06:18:27 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A conflict over bus services to Machu Picchu has left thousands of tourists stranded, highlighting tensions and operational challenges amidst increasing visitor numbers.

Machu Picchu's iconic status as a tourist destination is marred by a dispute over bus services by Consettur, the longtime operator, which recently lost its license to a rival company. The conflict sparked protests and stranded around 1,400 tourists, drawing attention to the complexities of accessing this UNESCO World Heritage Site. As the community calls for better resource allocation and oversight, local residents express frustration over limited benefits from the tourism boom.

Machu Picchu, the remains of a 15th Century Inca city, is Peru's most popular tourist destination, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Yet, a continuing dispute over the buses that transport visitors to the mountain-top site recently saw 1,400 stranded tourists needing evacuation amidst ongoing protests.

Cristian Alberto Caballero Chacón, head of operations for Consettur, the company that has transported around 4,500 people daily to Machu Picchu for 30 years, admits conflicts have arisen among local communities following the loss of their operating license to rival firm San Antonio de Torontoy.

Visitors to Machu Picchu must take a train to Aguas Calientes, the nearest town, before catching a bus for a 20-minute journey to the ruins. The only alternative is a challenging two-hour hike up the mountain.

Local protests were ignited by accusations of an opaque bidding process favoring the new operator, leading to blocked train tracks and the evacuation of tourists via special trains. The mayor of Aguas Calientes, Elvis La Torre, lamented that only 10% of the entry ticket revenue remains in the region, calling for better financial support for local communities.

As the dispute continues, both tourists and locals highlight the pressing need for clearer oversight of public transport in Peru’s tourism sector, risking the sustainability of one of the country's most cherished sites.