Police break into a Lima university to disperse protesters

Credit: CAROLINA PAUCAR/AFP via Getty Images

The entrance of tourists to the Citadel of Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail Network has been suspended until further notice due to ongoing unrest in Peru, officials in the country said on Saturday.

The Decentralized Directorate of Culture and the Directorate of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu said in a statement on Friday that tourists who have a ticket for January 21 or later can claim a refund up to a month after the end of the protests.

According to Andina, parts of the Urubamba-Ollantaytambo-Machu Picchu railway were damaged during anti-government protests on Thursday, forcing the suspension of train services until further notice. A total of 417 tourists are immobilized in Machu Pichu, of which 300 are foreigners, according to the Minister of Foreign Trade, Luis Helguero.

Credit: CAROLINA PAUCAR/AFP via Getty Images

“People are still trapped in Machu Picchu,” Helguero said. “417 tourists cannot leave the city, more than 300 are foreigners.”

Helguero said that the authorities are evaluating and repairing the damage so that the tourists can be evacuated. Some tourists have been evacuated on foot, but the walk, Helguero said, lasted at least six to seven hours.

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