Machu Picchu Faces Transport Crisis Amid Tourist Disputes

Wed Nov 26 2025 14:15:17 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The iconic Inca site Machu Picchu is experiencing a transport crisis as conflicts arise over the bus services crucial for tourist access, leading to hundreds being stranded while local communities express concerns.

Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage site and Peru's top tourist attraction, is facing a transport crisis due to ongoing disputes over bus services. Recently, approximately 1,400 tourists were stranded as protests erupted regarding the licensing of the local bus company, Consettur. The head of Consettur claims the company is not a monopoly but acknowledges the tensions as the community demands fair access to lucrative transport revenues. Local leaders insist that the tourist influx has not benefitted the locals as intended.

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 take visitors up to the mountain-top site recently saw some 1,400 stranded tourists needing to be evacuated.

Cristian Alberto Caballero Chacón is head of operations for bus company Consettur, which has transported around 4,500 people daily to Machu Picchu from the nearby town of Aguas Calientes for over 30 years. The journey takes 20 minutes, while the only alternative is a two-hour arduous hike.

Conflicts between different communities have erupted in recent months, revolving around Consettur losing its license to a rival bus firm. With limited access to Machu Picchu, tourists must first take a train to Aguas Calientes, only to transfer to a bus for the final leg of their journey.

Back in September, local protestors, upset over what they perceived as a lack of transparency in the bidding process for the bus services, obstructed the railway leading to Aguas Calientes with rocks, prompting authorities to intervene. Many believe that Consettur's exclusive rights to the bus service are being transferred arbitrarily to new company San Antonio de Torontoy.

Although San Antonio de Torontoy is yet to start operations due to legal challenges, Consettur continues to run afloat.

With high train ticket prices, an Australian tourist expressed frustration over the lack of inclusivity in transport costs to reach the famed archaeological site. The mayor of Aguas Calientes echoed these sentiments, lamenting that only 10% of ticket revenues remain in the local community to support tourism and enhance local services.

As local vendors voice concerns over basic services like running water and healthcare, improvement efforts are underway. Carlos González, the regional tourism chamber president, advocates for systematic changes to enhance the tourism experience while confronting political instability complicating reforms.

As the conflict unfolds, Caballero expressed openness to fair competition, demonstrating a willingness to collaborate with the incoming bus service if granted the final approval. The local community continues to push for better resources and transparency as they navigate the intricacies of tourism at one of the world's most cherished destinations.