Inka Trail
Ein Abenteuer hinter den Spuren der Sonne

Floods in Cusco

Message due to recent floods

Last update: April 2, 2010

Current situation

Jan. 23: There were heavy rains in the Cusco area, including Machu Picchu, which caused serious floods. Several land accesses were damaged or interrupted, such as roads, bridges and the railroad connecting Aguas Calientes, at the bottom of Machu Picchu, to Cusco. All this has seriously disrupted local and tourist life in the area.

The area is in mourning because 8 people died (1 Argentinean tourist, 1 tour guide and 6 peasants) and 25,000 residents have suffered material damages. Our thoughts go to the victims. 3,500 tourists who were on the spot were blocked and have been evacuated little by little to Cusco in military and civilian helicopters.

Jan. 29: At night all the tourists were evacuated.

Feb. 15: The repair of the section Aguas Calientes-Hydroelectric Central was finished. Even if material damages are important, reconstruction has begun and the government is working to reestablish the accesses. There have been important progresses but complete access has not been reestablished yet. Authorities expect tourist transportation will be fully operational beginning of April.

Mar. 19: The Director of the National Institute of Culture has confirmed the reopening of Machu Picchu and the restart of the Inca Trail trek for April 1st, as scheduled, despite the circulation during the week of rumors of a sooner reopening.

Mar. 20: The National Institute of Culture has decided to suspend the new reservations of treks for April while this institution and the railroad company evaluate the capacity of operational trains for the returns. The final decision will be known on Monday 03/22.

Mar. 23: The National Institute of Culture has reopen reservations for April.

Mar. 26: The public works supervision organism has approved the repair of the railroad Cusco-Aguas Calientes between kilometers 82 and 110. This will allow the transportation of 1500 tourists per day at the beginning, then 2500 as works progress. In consequence, the National Institute of Culture has decided to suspend the new reservations of treks for April in order to evaluate the capacity of available trains for the return.

Apr. 2: As expected, Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail have reopened to the public. The Inca Citadel received 1500 tourists on this first day of reopening, which was marked by the arrival of several national and international personalities and folk shows.

Credit: CBC News

Consequences on our services

In front of this exceptional event, which has had important consequences for the region and tourism, we have done and will do everything to satisfy our customers for the best and we treat each one case by case.

To all tourists willing to do the Inca Trail in the next months, we inform the following points:

• Our priority is the safety of tourists. So, some changes of routes and access means will be made when we consider that there is any risk for the trekker. Due to the exceptional condition of the event, we hope you will understand that sometimes we will propose alternate solutions.
• First of all, we remind you that the Inca Trail is closed every year in February. This year, exceptionally, it will be closed in March too. The reopening of the trek is planned around April 1st.
• Machu Picchu is currently closed for tourists and it is expected to be open around April 1st.
• The route of the trek itself remains the same because the Inca Trail has not been damaged.
• For the 4-day trek: on the 4th day the arrival in Machu Picchu will still be done by the Sun Gate.
• The railroad company expects to go back to normal around April 1st, 2010. However, if the service could not be provided, partially or totally, we will offer alternative means of transportation by assuming the cost.
• All treks already booked and programmed for January and for March that have been canceled are changed without fees for another date or fully refunded, up to the customer’s choice.
• We will not give any compensation or reduction of the price because of exceptional changes in our services. In the same way, we assume the fees of the possible changes in our services.