New route from Machu Picchu will inaugurated in May

Next May will be delivered and enter into operation the new route out of tourists from the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, work which will relieve the current point of entry and exit.

The ramp that has been adapting over stone walls located at the bottom of the enclosure, parallel to the platform access to Machu Picchu, and it recorded an increase of 30%.

"This way out will have approximately 98 linear meters, will be adapted to the topography and mimetizará with the natural landscape, as it has been reforested the area with tree seedlings, shrubs and own environmental herbs," said HolderThe Decentralized Directorate of Culture of Cusco, Daniel Maraví.

Additionally wooden rails, a waterproof roof and floor of compacted clay will be placed. "This work will show it to the technical mission of UNESCO will be in Cusco and Machu Picchu the last week of January," the official culture.

Source: Portaldeturismo

Discover Machu Picchu!

Machu Picchu Full Day

Machu Picchu & Huayna Picchu 2D/1N

Machu Picchu reopening celebrated with “Payment to the Earth” ceremony

The reopening of Machu Picchu Inca citadel, scheduled for Thursday, will be celebrated with a “Payment to the Earth” ceremony at the Explanade of the Koricancha Temple, located in the city of Cusco, south east of the country.

The event takes place at 20:00 hours (local time) and the organization is in charge of the Foreign Trade and Tourism Ministry and the Municipality of Cusco, Peru's Export and Tourism Promotion Board (PromPeru) reported.

Before these celebrations, they will screen images of the Imperial City and Machu Picchu in two big screens.

Then, the Inca and its entourage will appear accompanied by a group of musicians and dancers that will participate in the tribute to Pachamama Raymi or Mother Earth.

At the end they will exhibit fireworks and music bands will perform.

The reopening of Machu Picchu will represent a new stage in the recovery of tourism, started after the implementation of the campaign called “Cusco Pone.”

Peru announces Machu Picchu reopening in April

PromPeru today surprised ITB in Berlin by announcing the re-opening of the vital rail link to the ruins of Machu Picchu.

The line was severely damaged in heavy rains and floods which hit the country in January and eroded railway tracks between Cuzco, Ollantaytambo and the Inca citadel.

Following the successful completion of track repairs ahead of schedule, it has been confirmed that, weather permitting, PeruRail will recommence its Vistadome train service to Aguas Calientes , the station for Machu Picchu Pueblo, on March 29.

The Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu will reopen to tourists on April 1, travelmole.com reports.

Initially train services will operate between Pisacucho, a station beyond Ollantaytambo, and Aguas Calientes, with a replacement bus service from Wanchaq Station in Cuzco bringing passengers by road to Pisacucho.

The train journey will take 1 hour 20 minutes and the drive approximately 2 hours 30 minutes.

It is estimated that it will be possible to make the entire journey from Poroy station in Cuzco to Machu Picchu by rail from July 2010, subject to favourable weather conditions.

PeruRail also operates a backpacker service and the luxury Hiram Bingham train between Cuzco and Machu Picchu.

The backpacker train will resume at the end of April and the Hiram Bingham will be back in operation at the end of June.

Peru: Machu Picchu Pueblo Mayor claims it is "not chaos"

Machu Picchu Pueblo Mayor, Edgar Miranda, said that his office is dedicated to restoring the order in the area, and that, like many other districts in Peru, Machu Picchu is prone to suffer from climatic events and natural disasters.

“We are working in organizing the town, asphalting streets, supervising constructions, and we expect to uniformize the ceilings and the colors of the houses,” said Miranda, quoted by TNews.

He said that during the last days media attention has been focused on the “inability” and “inaction” of local authorities regarding preparedness for disasters, but he said that this topic is included in Mayors' agendas.

“It is not correct saying that Machu Picchu is a chaos. We are a district that provides services, and in recent years it's been an improvement in these services' quality,” added Miranda.

He also remarked that now the works are focused on restoring the road between the town and Puente Ruinas, the train station: “this might take up to 20 days,” he said.

Resource: Living in Peru

Peru: Machu Picchu not damaged by rains

The citadel and archaeological park of Machu Picchu has not suffered any damage due to the rains (Link in spanish), said Fernando Astete, Director of the park. He told Andina news agency that at present there are no reports of emergencies inside the complex, and that so far the only issue is the big increase in the levels of the Vilcanota river, which runs at the feet of the mountain where Machu Picchu is located. He also pointed out that Machu Picchu has undergone previous prevention works, and that is being constantly monitored to prevent any damage caused by the rains.

Fuente: Isabel Guerra, Living Peru and RPP Noticias