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Friday, January 29, 2010
Flooding in Peru Damages Rail Tracks to Machu Picchu
UPDATED: January 30
Heavy rains in the Machu Picchu region have caused a series of landslides which have damaged and eroded railway tracks between Cuzco, Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu, the direct means of access for Machu Picchu tours. Torrential rain and rising levels on the Vilcanota and Urubamba Rivers have reached their highest levels in 15 years.
PeruRail services are currently suspended and none of the trains between Cuzco and Machu Picchu are currently operating. No PeruRail trains were involved in the landslides and all staff and passengers are safe and well.
Travelers to Peru have asked us about the safety, security and viability of forthcoming trips. The federal government has released emergency funds in order to serve the needs of local people who have been affected by the flood damage and to restore tourism services in this critically important region as quickly as possible.
For the most part, outside of the transportation routes, tourist infrastructures are in good condition and have not been affected. Cusco city is practically untouched. Archaeological sites around Cusco are fully operational and have not been damaged. Although the bridge crossing the Urubamba River into the town of Pisac has been damaged and is impassable by vehicle, access to the Sacred Valley from Cusco open. Machu Picchu has not been damaged, nor have the hotels in Aguas Calientes (below Machu Picchu) sustained any damaged. Only two hotels in the Sacred Valley have been partially damaged (neither of which we use).
The Mountain Lodges trek to Machu Picchu is unaffected and the Salkantay trekking route is in normal condition and, regardless, will be undergoing normal annual reparations in Feb/March.
Our director of operations in Peru, Alfredo Ferreyros, is currently working at the highest levels of government assessing damage and making plans with government ministries for restoring transportation throughout the area, especially including tours to Machu Picchu. We are also receiving communications from PeruRail and are in touch with our outfitters and accommodations in Cusco, the Urubamba Valley and Machu Picchu. At this moment (January 29, 2010) business owners and government officials are working on keeping main transportation routes open and taking measures to begin repairs.
Now that rains are beginning to subside, Peru Rail has informed us that they expect to repair the track between Ollantaytambo (Urubamba Valley) and Machu Picchu by the end of March. In the interim beginning February 20, they are making arrangements to provide transportation for tours to Machu Picchu via overland by road that takes up to 6-7 hours. They also expect to offer helicopter service for tours to Machu Picchu as another alternative until the rail is fixed. (Without intentions of putting a positive spin on a bad situations, this would be a great way to see Machu Picchu, and with very few other people!)
We will continue to monitor the progress of the reconstruction and provide updates to this document as we gather more information.
