Machu Picchu Closed Down for Security Reasons After Protests from Local Villages

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, the crown jewel of Peru’s tourist sites, closed its gates on Monday, December 14th, for an indefinite period for security reasons amid protests by locals over train services, officials said.

“Due to the announced stoppages in the Machu Picchu district and in order to safeguard the integrity of its visitors, the citadel of Machu Picchu will not be open from Dec 14 until this situation is restored,” said a statement issued by the Directorate of Culture of the Department of Cusco where Machu Picchu is located.

The surprise measure came just six weeks after the tourist hotspot reopened following an almost eight-month closure due to the coronavirus pandemic. The suspension is expected to last until the end of protests by residents of the towns of Machu Picchu and Ollantaytambo against the railway companies that offer local train service.

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This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief