More than 13,400 tourists have visited Peru’s sacred Inca citadel, and top tourist attraction, Machu Picchu via the Inca Trail since the site reopened on April 1, state news agency Andina reported.
Visitors are able to access the 45km trail from the Piscacucho community, located at Km 82 on the railway from Cuzco to Machu Picchu. The trail is usually covered in four days.
Since 2001, access to the trail is limited to 500 trekkers per day (an average of 200 visitors plus trekking staff) in organized groups and through authorized travel agencies.
At Piscacucho, located 2,570 meters above sea level, tourists climb to 4,201 meters before hiking back down to the citadel located approximately 2,472 meters above sea level, according to Andina.
The head of the Machu Picchu archaeological site, anthropologist Fernando Astete, said the National Institute of Culture (INC) is in charge of overseeing the condition of the trail, which lies within the Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary.
“The INC is responsible for the conservation of the trails… control and vigilance of any case of emergency,” said Astete.
Access to Machu Picchu was closed in late January after heavy rains caused flooding and mudslides that damaged the railway into Aguas Calientes, the town located below the citadel.
Repairs to parts of the railway between Aguas Calientes and Cuzco continue. Railway concessionaire Ferrocarril Transandino previously said it expects to finish the repairs by June 30.
Cusco expects to receive some 800,000 tourists during this year’s high season, June-September, most of whom will want to visit Machu Picchu by train.
