RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu will welcome tourists again this Saturday, after social order and tranquility were restored in Cusco’s district of Machu Picchu Pueblo, the Decentralized Culture Directorate (DDC) of Cusco has confirmed.
According to the cultural entity, services and access to the Llaqta (Inca citadel) —for both national and foreign tourists— will be granted to those holding unused pre-booked tickets.
“Those with unused entrance tickets —due to the strike in the district, between December 12 and 18— will be able to use them. To do so, ticket holders need to go to the Machu Picchu Cultural Center to authorize their use,” it stated.
The Inca citadel had remained closed since last week because locals went on an indefinite strike until last night, demanding a reduction in rates and an increase in frequencies of the services provided by PeruRail and IncaRail railway companies. This measure has been suspended until January 12, 2021.
The visitor capacity at this world wonder was limited to 1,116 people per day.
At first, it reopened at a limited capacity of just 675 visitors a day, but due to compliance with the required biosafety measures (visits must be conducted in groups of eight people, accompanied by a tour guide, distance from one group to another should not be less than 20 meters), authorities decided to increase the number.
The reopening of Machu Picchu aroused a widespread interest, especially in October when Cusco’s authorities allowed the visit of Japanese Jesse Katayama to the Inca citadel, who fulfilled his dream of being able to enter after nearly 7 months of mandatory quarantine decreed by the Government of Peru to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Japanese tourist became the first person to visit Machu Picchu before its official reopening.
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