Peru: FCDO strengthens advice as tourists stranded at Machu Picchu
James ChappleThe Foreign Office has strengthened its advice to Brits in Peru amid reports hundreds of tourists have become stranded in the Machu Picchu region of the country owing to travel disruption caused by widespread protests, blockades and curfews.
The unrest in Peru follows the ousting of president Pedro Castillo last week following his impeachment. Some of Peru’s major airports, including Arequipa and Cusco, have been closed, while tourist routes have been blocked and rail services suspended.
A 30-day state of emergency was declared on Wednesday (14 December) and now a five-day curfew. The Times reports nearly 800 tourists of various nationalities have been stuck in and around Machu Picchu and Peru’s sacred valley since Tuesday (13 December).
The Foreign Office said sporadic, sometimes violent, protests were ongoing in and around capital Lima, as well as in Apurimac, Arequipa, Cusco, Puno, Ica and along the Pan-American Highway, stressing British nationals should take particular care to avoid all protests.
"This has resulted in the severe disruption of travel, with road blockades, the suspension of train services (including PeruRail and IncaRail train services to/from Machu Picchu) and regional airport closures, including Arequipa, Ayacucho, Juliaca (Puno) and Cusco airports," said the FCDO.
"Travellers arriving in Lima are advised there is currently no ability to travel to/from many regional areas, including Cusco and Arequipa, and further disruption is possible. Lima airport is restricting entry to passengers only with valid flight tickets. Travellers should recheck with their airline and tour operator and revisit travel plans ahead of any travel."
Curfews in the south of the country run variously between 6pm and 4am, with the FCDO adding: "Travel around the country is extremely difficult. You should plan ahead for severe disruption to any plans."
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