One of UNESCO’s most famous sites is welcoming visitors once again.
At the peak of the Incan Empire, its people were the largest nation in the world. Almost 500 years later, no Incas exist, but the remains of their civilization have stood the test of time.
The most famous of these is Machu Picchu in southern Peru.
The 15th-century citadel is located on a mountain ridge 7,970 feet above ground and was voted as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
As the incredibly advanced civilization that they were, the Incas included a route to Machu Picchu within their road system. Each year, thousands of people walk the Inca Trail to visit the ancient site, but that has been impossible for the last month.
Peru has been subjected to political protests since December 2022 when President Pedro Castillo was ousted and replaced by Dina Boluarte. This led to Castillo’s supporters engaging in violent protests around the country. As a result, a decision was taken to temporarily close Machu Picchu to the public from January 21.
The sudden resolution meant that more than 400 tourists had to be airlifted from the citadel to the city of Cusco.
Following an agreement between Peruvian officials, community groups, and the tourism industry, it was decided to re-open Machu Picchu on February 15 after security could be guaranteed for the site and transport services.
However, it is good to bear in mind that the US State Department has recommended that Americans reconsider traveling to Peru at this time.