machu picchu tourism impacts

National Geographic content straight to your inbox—sign up for our popular newsletters here

• CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

The collapse of tourism brings problems to Machu Picchu

As international travel disappeared, hospitality workers in Peru turned to farming and construction. COVID-19 vaccines could bring back their jobs.

In the fall of 2020, a woman walked by the Cathedral of Cusco high in the Peruvian Andes. Tourism in the area surrounding the Incan ruins at Machu Picchu have come to a halt due to COVID-19 closures, and many residents have returned to agriculture and other trades to support themselves.

Juan Yupanqui stared at a pile of mattresses, still wrapped in the plastic they came in when he bought them nearly a year ago. He wondered out loud if they would ever do more than gather dust.

The mattresses were stacked in one of the round, thatched-roof guesthouses Yupanqui built last year on his homestead in Patacancha, a small village nestled more than 11,000 feet above sea level near the colonial city of Cusco, in Peru ’s southern Andes. With their small windows and rustic furniture, the cabins were erected to expand his family’s experiential tourism business .

In the fall of 2020, Rosmery Barriga and her father Ramón Barriga removed crafts and souvenirs from their store in the Inca town of Ollantaytambo, a popular stop on the route to Peru’s Machu Picchu. COVID-19 measures kept the shop closed for months, and the Barrigas experienced thefts and break-ins.

Park ranger Tomas Huamanttica Quispe looked over the empty Moray Archaeological Center in the fall of 2020. The Inca site holding terraced depressions is believed to have served ceremonial or agricultural purposes. Like most tourist attractions near Machu Picchu, it was closed for months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sebastián Tobón, owner of Supertramp Hostels in Aguas Calientes, Peru, sits in one of his empty properties in the Peruvian town adjacent to Machu Picchu. The COVID-19 pandemic has decimated the tourism economy in the area surrounding the Inca ruins, which attract more than a million visitors in a normal year.

Tourist arrivals started to pick up in 2019 after Yupanqui had worked on the property for years, with an average of five groups a month coming to spend a day or two learning how to herd alpacas; weave the colorful red ponchos that are a community trademark; and dance a quellwa tusuy , a festive step that means “dancing bird” in Quechua, the local language.

Yupanqui decided to upgrade his guesthouses after a brisk start to 2020. Then everything came to a screeching halt in March as Peru imposed a harsh lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The French and U.S. tourists he expected that month cancelled, and his cabins have sat empty since then.

Agriculture remains the cornerstone of life in Patacancha and similar hamlets high in the Andean valleys outside of Cusco, but it is tourism that generates cash flow. For now, the visitors have stopped arriving. Yupanqui and thousands of others who worked in the multi-layered tourism industry in the region around Machu Picchu are wondering how long they will be able hold out before tourist dollars and euros return.

A tourism industry in crisis

“Tourism gave us money. Today, we have food, but we don’t have any money,” said Yupanqui, posing for a photo with a lamb, something his visitors used to do. “I get more concerned each day, because we don’t know when this is going to end.”

Weavers like Myriam Cuba Callañaupa (far left) usually demonstrate textile crafts and cooking in the village of Chinchero near Cusco. But the COVID-19 pandemic forced her and many other women who work in tourism to temporarily return to farming.

Besides homestay tourism, many of the men in Patacancha earn cash working as porters or cooks for adventurers hiking the Inca Trail, the ancient route that leads to Machu Picchu. Yupanqui, 44, did this for 18 years. Women in the community weave ponchos and other textile crafts sold in local markets.

The Yupanquis and other Patacancha families are getting through the pandemic financial crisis by selling alpaca yarn and chuño , naturally freeze-dried potatoes , to traders. They raise animals for food, though this is not possible for many of the thousands of people who worked in tourism around Cusco.

(Get a taste of why potatoes are such a hot commodity in Peru.)

In the fall of 2020, a girl stood outside her family’s store in Aguas Calientas, Peru. The Andean town near Machu Picchu is usually buzzing with tourists, but it has been nearly empty since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Eliana Miranda, director of the Cusco government’s tourism bureau, said 92 percent of people employed in the industry—from hotel receptionists to sidewalk souvenir sellers—had lost their jobs as of August, when Cusco entered into a second lockdown.

“We have had problems in the past, but nothing as devastating to the industry as COVID-19,” she said.

According to Peru’s government, the country’s tourism business could be down as much as 85 percent for 2020. The World Travel and Tourism Council estimates that the direct and indirect economic impact of tourism in Peru in 2019 was approximately $22 billion, or 9.3 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.

Cusco’s airport received nearly 635,000 travelers in the first two months of 2020, up 16 percent from the same period in 2019. The number was only 231,726 over the next eight months, with nearly three quarters of those arrivals in March, according to Peru’s Trade and Tourism Ministry. Only 990 passengers arrived at Cusco’s airport in June, compared to 323,367 the same month last year .

Tourist visits to Machu Picchu, the Inca ruins that anchor tourism in Cusco and draw foreign travelers to Peru in general, were down 72 percent in the first half of the year. The site was receiving around 500 people a day in December, nearly all of them Peruvian tourists, down from more to 2,500 during normal times. The government eliminated the entrance fee to Machu Picchu for Peruvians to stimulate domestic tourism. The site received 1.6 million tourists in 2019.

(Learn how women porters are breaking the glass ceiling on the Inca Trail.)

Turning from tourism to other industries

In the fall of 2020, after a pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the train between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes, Peru, reopened to local users. Aguas Calientes, nicknamed Machu Picchu Town, is the gateway to the Inca ruins, the most visited tourist destination in the country.

Miranda said there has been an exodus from the tourism industry, with people moving to other businesses or returning to rural areas to wait out the coronavirus crisis. Her office is coordinating with workers’ associations and local governments to provide assistance to people displaced by the collapse of tourism.

“We have labor training and short-term programs to help maintain income. We have been working with municipalities on job programs for people who have returned, but we think it is going to be temporary. Everyone is really waiting for tourism to return,” she said.

Fernando Condori Torres and his son Gonzalo tended to apple trees in front of the Ollantaytambo archaeological site in Cusco, Peru in late 2020. Torres, who used to work as a tour guide, had temporarily returned to farming due to COVID-19 shutdowns.

Hilda Ortiz de Orue Bautista worked maintaining and harvesting salt from the natural pools in the town of Maras. The popular Peruvian tourist site was closed for months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The clock, however, is ticking for many in the hospitality business.

Rubén Tello, a tour guide who speaks Spanish, English, and Quechua, hasn’t worked in the industry since he helped a group of Thai visitors rush home on March 15, 2020, as the government announced it would be closing the borders. He stayed in his apartment for two months, figuring the situation would be resolved by mid-year. When the pandemic didn’t improve, he decided to “reconvert,” the term being used for people leaving tourism for other industries.

“I thought I could wait this out, but the bills started piling up, and by July I had no choice but to find other work,” he said.

Tello said goodbye to his wife and twin 14-year old boys in the city of Cusco and headed to the nearby jungle lowlands, where he is from originally, to look for employment. He found a job driving a truck on a highway construction project. He later worked as a toll collector.

Tello came back to the city in early December, with two groups of tourists lined up and a few others in the wings. But he is realistic about his prospects. “I can’t make ends meet with a group or two a month. If the situation doesn’t pick up in January, I will go back to the construction job,” he said.

How the industry might rebuild

In the fall of 2020, a policeman asked locals to keep their social distance on the esplanade of the Church of San Cristóbal above Cusco, Peru. The spot is popular with tourists and residents for its panoramic views of the colonial city.

Maria Santos Quispe swept the cobblestones in front of her shop on Cusco’s Hatunrumiyoc Street. Though she usually stocks mostly textile art and other souvenirs, she now also carries fruit and sundries. “I have learned that I have to be attentive to all kinds of people,” said Quispe. “Before we did not offer anything to the local population.”

Sofia Arce, who runs a boutique tourism agency, Intense Peru , said the pandemic is transforming the industry. She worries that many restaurants and hotels catering to tourists could close permanently if Peru tries to simply go back to business as usual.

A former banker, Arce managed through the worst months of the coronavirus crisis with a government-backed loan from the Reactivate Peru program, and has started to rebuild as the country reopens.

Peru began allowing international air travel again in October and, in December, reestablished nearly all routes including long-haul flights from Europe and North America. Arce considers these positive steps for tourism, but believes it will take time to get back to pre-pandemic numbers.

“We have sold four tour packages for December, the first ones in nine months. It is a start, but we are going to have to be super active to regain our market,” said Arce. “There is no room for slacking off if we want to build back better.”

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, tour guide Fernando Condori Torres spent much of the year away from his home near Cusco. Due to COVID-19 lockdowns and cratering tourism in Peru, in 2020 he has spent more time with his son, Gonzalo.

A new concern for Arce and others in the industry is Peru’s current political instability—it had three presidents in the span of eight days in November—and rising social demands created by the pandemic-ravaged economy. Peru’s economy contracted by 13.4 percent in the first 10 months of the year; the hospitality industry was down 54 percent from to 2019, the most significant drop in the calculation by the national statistics agency. The national unemployment rate is 15.1 percent .

Machu Picchu, just starting to recover, was forced to close again briefly in mid-December when communities along the train that ferries tourists to the ruins called a strike and blocked the tracks, demanding lower prices for locals who also use the service.

(Explore Peru beyond Machu Picchu via sacred rivers, bike trails, and otherworldly sand hills.)

“The political problems are adding a new dimension to the problems here. I think tourists could stay away a little longer if we had instability due to the pandemic,” said Fabricio Zelada, who recently moved back to Cusco after years of living in the country’s capital, Lima.

Peru’s trade and tourism minister, Claudia Cornejo, recognizes that the industry still faces a tough climate, estimating that it might take two or three years for it to return to pre-Covid traffic. The government’s idea is to use the crisis as a reset button so that tourism can “return differently.”

Cornejo said the conditions created by the lack of tourists today should be used by industry “to concentrate on improvements, making upgrades needed so that when receptive tourism begins, we are ready to offer even more than before.”

She sees the kind of experiential, more sustainable tourism offered in places like Patacancha as part of a trend that was gaining ground prior to the pandemic, with tourists wanting to go beyond observing a culture to experiencing it. She said the pandemic might even give it a boost.

“I think experiential tourism is going to continue. COVID-19 interrupted it, but will not stop it,” she said.

Related Topics

• SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
• AGRICULTURE
• ARCHAEOLOGY

You May Also Like

These remote Inca ruins rival Machu Picchu

Explore Inca life beyond Machu Picchu on this South American trail

Free bonus issue.

Meet Rodrigo Pacheco, the Ecuadorian chef shining a light on native ingredients

These historic Greek sites shed fresh light on Alexander the Great’s lost kingdom

In Tajikistan, discover the ruins of a once mighty Silk Road kingdom

One of Italy’s most visited places is an under-appreciated wine capital

20 of the coolest travel adventures for 2024

• History & Culture
• Environment
• Paid Content

History & Culture

• History Magazine
• Mind, Body, Wonder
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Your US State Privacy Rights
• Children's Online Privacy Policy
• Interest-Based Ads
• About Nielsen Measurement
• Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
• Nat Geo Home
• Attend a Live Event
• Book a Trip
• Inspire Your Kids
• Shop Nat Geo
• Visit the D.C. Museum
• Learn About Our Impact
• Support Our Mission
• Advertise With Us
• Customer Service
• Renew Subscription
• Manage Your Subscription
• Work at Nat Geo
• Sign Up for Our Newsletters
• Contribute to Protect the Planet

Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society Copyright © 2015-2024 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved

• Environment
• Road to Net Zero
• Art & Design
• Film & TV
• Music & On-stage
• Pop Culture
• Fashion & Beauty
• Home & Garden
• Things to do
• Combat Sports
• Horse Racing
• Beyond the Headlines
• Trending Middle East
• Business Extra
• Culture Bites
• Year of Elections
• Pocketful of Dirhams
• Books of My Life
• Iraq: 20 Years On

Peru shuts parts of Machu Picchu from tourists due to erosion

Machu picchu was awarded unesco world heritage status in 1983 but has long suffered from 'overtourism'.

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Photo: Xiyuan Du / Unsplash

Peru announced on Thursday it would be suspending tourist visits to parts of Machu Picchu because of the erosion of certain stone structures that make up the Inca citadel.

The ancient Incan site is Peru’s top tourist destination, with about 3,800 people visiting per day.

However, because of the wear and tear suffered from too many tourists visiting, the country's Culture Ministry said it is suspending visits to the Temple of the Condor and the Temple of the Sun, as well as the "Intihuatana" – a carved stone structure that was sacred to the Incas.

"The damage is irreversible. We have to protect our heritage," said Maritza Rosa Candia, the ministry's delegate in the town of Cusco.

The citadel, 130 km from Cusco, was built in the 15th century as a religious sanctuary for the Incas at an altitude of 2,490 metres.

Last February, the site reopened after a month-long closure caused by violent protests against the country’s then-newly elected president. When the site was closed, demand for travel dropped dramatic for the country.

Over the past few years, Peruvian authorities have tried to find ways to manage increasing visitor numbers to the popular site which often had long lines and overcrowding, leading many tourists unable to enter.

Machu Picchu was awarded Unesco World Heritage status in 1983 and is described by the awarding body as “probably the most amazing urban creation of the Inca Empire at its height". It added its giant walls, terraces and ramps "seem as if they have been cut naturally" into the continuous rock escarpments.

However, Unesco also highlighted the challenges faced by the site, which it says requires more stringent management. “Tourism itself represents a double-edged sword by providing economic benefits but also by resulting in major cultural and ecological impacts,” said Unesco.

“The strongly increasing number of visitors to the historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu must be matched by an adequate management regulating access, diversifying the offer and efforts to fully understand and minimise impacts. A larger appropriate and increasing share of the significant tourism revenues could be reinvested in planning and management.”

With additional reporting from AFP

Checking In

Travel updates and inspiration from the past week

• Tectonics Fieldwork
• Urban Fieldwork
• Ecology Fieldwork
• Coastal Fieldwork
• River Fieldwork
• Compass Reading
• Accommodation
• Geography Forum
• Google Compass
• Google Earth Teaching
• Google Street Maps
• OpenStreetMap Compass
• OS Maps Compass
• Coursework Helpline
• Urban Case Study
• Climate Vocabulary
• Coasts Vocabulary
• Causes and Effects
• Glaciation Vocabulary
• Rivers Vocabulary
• Anticyclones
• Frontal Rain
• Relief Rain
• Employment Structure
• Agribusiness
• Costa del Polythene
• LEDC Rice Farming
• Location Change
• Multiplier Effect
• Formal/Informal
• Transnational
• Distribution
• Tropical Rainforest
• Demographic Transition
• Population Change
• Ethnic Characteristics
• LEDC/MEDC Structure
• Population Dependency
• Rural/Urban Structure
• LEDC Land Use
• MEDC Land Use
• Site and Situation
• Urban Zones
• Zomba Case Study
• Classification
• Attractions
• Costs and Benefits
• Urban Sprawl
• Introduction
• Data Collection
• Data Presentation
• Organisation
• Economic Activity
• Economic Change
• Grid References
• LEDC Urban Land Use
• Map Bearings
• Map Reading
• Population Structure
• Rainforest Management
• Rainforest Vegetation
• Weather at a Front
• Active Test Users
• Change Name
• Your Data Log
• Classroom Support
• Coursework Examples
• Password Protection
• Geo Factsheets
• Data presentation
• Methodology
• Capital Cities
• Describing Places
• Open or Free Text
• Test Troubleshooting
• Using a Compass

Machu Picchu: Impact of Tourism

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Move Over, Machu Picchu: There’s More to See in Peru

In recent years, Peru has engaged in a grass-roots effort to elevate Huchuy Qosqo, Waqrapukara and other archaeological sites that are just as well preserved or culturally significant as Machu Picchu itself.

By Richard Morgan

Elvis Lexin La Torre Uñaccori knows quite well that a wonder of the world often creates a less-wondrous world of waste — he is the mayor of Machu Picchu Pueblo, the gateway village to the bucket-list destination in Peru that draws millions of visitors (and their trash) each year.

Mr. La Torre shared this expertise in waste and waste management in February, at a two-day summit he organized about environmental and infrastructural advances at the Inca citadel. To 99 mayors and other municipal leaders from across Peru, Mr. La Torre spoke about a plastic bottle compactor, a glass bottle pulverizer and a processor his village developed for hotel and restaurant food scraps.

But the main goal of the summit was larger than recycling and food waste initiatives; it was about disseminating effective practices for sustainable tourism across Peru, part of a national desire to fast-track tourism development of lesser-known archaeological sites and their local villages. In recent years, the country has engaged in a grass-roots effort to elevate its vast trove of archaeological sites that are often just as well preserved or culturally significant as Machu Picchu itself.

“Machu Picchu is a wonder seen by the world. We are fortunate. But there are many wonders in Peru waiting to be seen,” Mr. La Torre said.

Local leadership like that of Mr. La Torre has filled a power vacuum in Peru, which has had seven presidents since 2016 — all from different political parties. Violent protests after its last transfer of power , in December 2022, prompted a mass evacuation of tourists from Machu Picchu and a complete shutdown of the site for 21 days.

The importance of Machu Picchu and tourism overall to Peru’s economy is unquestionable. Madeleine Burns Vidaurrazaga, Peru’s vice minister of tourism, said the industry in 2019 accounted for $8.9 billion, or 3.9 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, and 1.5 million jobs.

Ms. Burns said the Peruvian government in 2023 raised its annual tourism budget to $100 million, about a 15 percent increase from $87 million last year, then dedicated an additional $144 million for tourism infrastructure, marketing, and support for artisans and businesses with fewer than 50 employees. In December, Ms. Burns plans to unveil a national campaign called “Peru al Natural” that will highlight Huascarán National Park and other “nature and adventure hot spots” and complement better-known sites like the Nazca Lines , the ancient geoglyphs etched into the coastal desert in Southern Peru.

“We have jewels but don’t know how to use them, how to discuss them, how to share them,” Ms. Burns said, adding that her tourism models are Egypt and India, both of which have expanded their tourism offerings and infrastructures beyond the Great Pyramids and the Taj Mahal.

“We have a living culture and a living history,” said Jose Koechlin, chairman of Canatur , Peru’s national tourism agency. “We’re one of the cradles of civilization on the level of Egypt or Mesopotamia. But it needs un codazo suave.” A gentle nudge.

‘Challenging, but it’s exciting’

In 1975, Mr. Koechlin founded Inkaterra , an ecotourism company based in Peru that now employs 600 workers across several properties.

“We can make things happen on our own terms. It’s challenging, but it’s exciting,” said Mr. Koechlin.

One of Mr. Koechlin’s employees, Joaquín Escudero, transferred from Inkaterra’s Machu Picchu hotel, where he worked as its general manager, to become general manager at Hacienda Urubamba , its property in the Sacred Valley near Cuzco, in 2014. In 2017, he founded a tourism alliance in the region that now includes 14 local restaurants, hotels, travel agencies and a clinic. The alliance recently met with local police chiefs to strategize on safety, including the creation of special patrols and the installation of security cameras for tourists and locals alike.

Mr. Escudero has lobbied the local government for better roads and sewage treatment for the whole community. “We are not living on another planet,” he said of the travel industry in Peru. “We are in the same towns. We are neighbors. I want to feel proud of my neighborhood. Pride is the magic that changes stones into world wonders.”

For some of Peru’s Indigenous Quechua people, the movement to expand tourism is also a chance for increased visibility for their ancestors and culture.

“Peru is not only Machu Picchu. It is the home of a vast empire,” said Roger Gabriel Caviedes , a tour guide across the Cuzco region who is mestizo of Andean descent and who grew up speaking Quechua. “If tourists can see all of our story, we have an opportunity to exist in their hearts, not only their Instagrams.”

Mr. Caviedes is especially hopeful that tourism could be developed around Waqrapukara , an Inca fortress, and Vilcabamba, the final holdout of the Inca Empire before the Spanish-led conquest in 1572.

“When someone arrives in Cuzco or even Peru, most of the names — of places, of plants, of birds, rivers and mountains — are Quechua,” Mr. Caviedes said. “By sharing this knowledge with tourists, I am maintaining the cultural heritage of Quechua.”

New infrastructure to go farther afield

One of the obstacles in expanding Peru’s tourism is that many archaeological sites can be reached only by intense hikes. After a four-hour drive from the city of Cuzco, the round-trip trek from the trailhead of Capuliyoc to Choquequirao , an Inca citadel three times as large as Machu Picchu, requires four days.

Yet industry insiders are encouraged by the rapid prepandemic increase of younger tourists’ treks to Rainbow Mountain , which requires a two-hour hike after a four-hour drive from Cuzco. In 2019, government agencies reported it received a record 440,676 foreign visitors.

“Rainbow Mountain is not just a possibility,” said Ms. Burns, the vice minister of tourism. “It’s proof of other possibilities.”

To create access to those possibilities, infrastructure projects abound.

A new airport for Cuzco, one that will offer international service, is scheduled for completion in 2025. The development is expected to eliminate the need for 80-minute flights to Cuzco from Lima, the country’s capital and home to one of Peru’s five international airports. (Lima is also renovating its airport, to be completed by 2025.) Similarly, Ms. Burns said a cabled gondola to Choquequirao is being planned, to be completed by 2029.

New visitors can bring new price points. In the first eight months of 2023, the luxury hotelier Belmond’s Andean Explorer train service from Cuzco to Lake Titicaca pulled in $1,758 per passenger, as opposed to $327 in per-passenger revenue for its Machu Picchu-bound Hiram Bingham train , according to Carla Reyes, Belmond’s communications director for Peru.

“It’s a different way to experience and see things,” said Seema Kapur, head of Latin American travel design at the Jacada Travel agency. “But it’s not getting up at 4 a.m. or having a long day. It’s within comfort.”

This year, luxury tour group Black Tomato began itineraries to Huchuy Qosqo (a royal estate of Viracocha, the eighth Inca ruler) that include a candlelit sunset dinner by a local chef amid the ruins. The five-night package start at $6,800 per person, without international flights.

At the same time, a visit to Machu Picchu has become a highly choreographed experience with specific arrival times, time-limited visits, roped-off areas and caps on daily visitors (now set at 4,044).

“It was almost like the Disneyfication of the Incas,” said Rachel Rucker-Schmidt, 48, a tourist from Dallas, of her Machu Picchu visit last summer. “It was like being back in Texas. Everyone was American, just a little less special. It was neat to see but had a different vibe. We had resigned ourselves to checking it off the list.”

Then her family went to Moray , a terraced farm site built by the Incas, where they encountered fewer than a dozen other tourists. “It was very intimate,” Ms. Rucker-Schmidt said. “We were often the only people there with locals.”

Her husband, Jason, 48, agreed. “I found it much more charming,” he said of Moray. “It wasn’t being presented to you in a perfect state. It’s maintained, but not to the same level as Machu Picchu. Everyone has the same photo from Machu Picchu.”

Moray and the eight-hour hikes the family completed through the Andean wilderness also resonated with their daughter, Trilby, 15. “It was more of a local point of view,” she said. “We were basically in Peru’s backyard.”

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2023 .

An earlier version of this article misspelled the given name of a traveler in Peru. Her name is Trilby Rucker-Schmidt, not Twilby.

An earlier version of this article misstated the number of international airports in Peru. There are five airports that serve other countries, not one.

How we handle corrections

Saving Machu Picchu

Will the opening of a bridge give new life to the surrounding community or further encroach upon the World Heritage Site?

Whitney Dangerfield

When Hiram Bingham, a young Yale professor, discovered Machu Picchu in 1911, he found a site overrun with vegetation. At an altitude of nearly 8,000 feet, the ruins, which sat above the cloud line in Peru's Andes Mountains, had remained relatively undisturbed for more than 300 years. Media in the United States declared it one of South America's most important and well-preserved sites.

Now nearly 2,500 tourists visit Machu Picchu everyday. This influx of visitors has caused a dilemma: How can Peru promote the ruins as a tourist destination, while also preserving the fragile ancient city? In March, a controversial bridge opened within the Machu Picchu buffer zone, some four kilometers outside of the sanctuary, making available yet another pathway to visitors. This development has caused heightened alarm among those who find it increasingly difficult to protect the World Heritage Site.

Bingham probably never envisioned the sheer number of people visiting Machu Picchu today. After all, he came upon the site by chance. While exploring Peru on a scientific expedition, Bingham met a local tavern-keeper Melchior Arteaga who described ruins at the top of a high mountain. In July 1911, a farmer in the area led Bingham up a treacherous incline through thickly matted jungle to an ancient city.

Buried under hundreds of years of brush and grass, the settlement was a collection of beautiful stone buildings and terraced land—evidence of advanced agricultural knowledge. This site, Bingham believed, was the birthplace of the Inca society, one of the world's largest Native American civilizations.

At its height, the empire that natives called Tahuantinsuyu spanned some 2,500 miles across what is now Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Bolivia and parts of Argentina. It was a society of great warriors with both architectural and agricultural know-how, whose 300-year reign came to an end in the 1500s when Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro and his army invaded the area. Machu Picchu, Bingham came to believe, was not only the birthplace of the Inca, but the last surviving city of the empire as well. He also thought that the area held a great religious significance. With evidence of a high number of female remains, Bingham postulated that the city was home to a cult of women, deemed the Virgins of the Sun, who found safe haven here, away from the Spanish conquistadors.

Bingham took several hundred pictures of Machu Picchu and published his findings in National Geographic . The explorer also shipped several thousand artifacts back to Yale for further investigation. That the university still has many of these on display has become a point of contention in recent years between Yale and the Peruvian government.

After years of analysis, scholars have put forth an explanation of Machu Picchu that differs from Bingham's interpretation. Archaeological evidence points to a more balanced ratio of female and male remains at the site, dismissing the Virgins of the Sun story. Instead, they believe the early Incan ruler Pachacútec set up Machu Picchu as one of his royal retreats. In the mid 1400s, the Inca constructed the city with intensive planning that complemented its natural settings. A couple thousand people lived there in its heyday, but they quickly evacuated the city during the Spanish invasion. Save for a couple of farmers, the city was left abandoned for hundreds of years.

Peru recognized the cultural tourist attraction it had in Machu Picchu right away after Bingham re-discovered it, but many years passed before backpackers arrived on holiday. In the 1950s and 60s, tourists could visit the site and, after being admitted by a lone guard, take a nearly private tour of the area. In 1983, UNESCO named Machu Picchu a World Heritage Site for its cultural significance in the area. In the 1990s, as Peru's guerrilla war ended, more and more visitors flocked to the area. Now some 300,000 people visit every year, arriving by foot, train, even helicopter.

Tourism at Machu Picchu now boosts Peru's economy to more than $40 million a year. Aguas Calientes, a town constructed at the base of mountain, has become a tourist mecca with more than a hundred hotels, souvenir shops and restaurants. Perurail, a railway owned by Cuzco to the base of the mountain, where a bus takes tourists to the top.

Predictably, the tourist boom has impacted the area. The thousands of people hiking through the ancient Inca city have worn down its fragile pathways. In 2000, during the shooting of a beer commercial, a crane damaged a sacred stone pillar on the site. Afraid that the site would become overrun, UNESCO issued the Peruvian government a warning and threatened to put Machu Picchu on the endangered sites list. This means that the government has not maintained the site to UNESCO standards. "It's the first step in removing the site from the World Heritage list," says Roberto Chavez, the task team leader for the Vilcanota Valley Rehabilitation and Management Project, a World Bank initiative devised to protect Peru's Sacred Valley and promote sustainable tourism in the area. In response, the Peruvian Institute of Culture limited the number of visitors to 2,500 a day, although this number is still under review.

"A group of experts is studying how many visitors the site can exactly support without causing damage to the structure," says Jorge Zegarra Balcazar, director of the Institute of Culture. "Right now, the experts feel that more than 2,500 could contribute to the deterioration of the site."

A few miles from Machu Picchu sits Santa Teresa. Isolated by the surrounding mountains, the town has not benefited from tourism as much as Cuzco and Aguas Calientas. The community, instead, relies on its produce to bring in money. In the past, locals loaded their wares in Santa Teresa on a train that traveled to Cuzco. In 1998, a flood washed away the bridge that connected the train to the town. The government refused to rebuild it because of its close proximity to Machu Picchu. This forced some locals to travel to Cuzco on a badly worn road around mountains, in all, nearly a 15-hour trip. Others crossed the Vilcanota River using a makeshift bridge made of a metal cable and pulley system, where they pulled themselves across while sitting in what amounts to a human-sized bucket. From there, they took their goods to a train stationed at a hydroelectric power plant located within the sanctuary of Machu Picchu.

In 2006, Felia Castro, then mayor of the province, authorized the construction of a new bridge. She felt it would bring tourism to the area and also break the monopoly of Perurail, one of the only motorized routes to the foot of Machu Picchu's hill. The railway, which has operated since 1999, charges anywhere between $41 and $476, depending on how luxurious the ride, for roundtrip tickets from Cuzco to Machu Picchu.

More importantly, the bridge, which Castro planned to open to automobile traffic, reduces the drive to Cuzco significantly, and it also provides a quicker connection to the train at the hydroelectric plant. The bridge was so important to Castro that she ignored warnings and orders from the government and other organizations, who feared the new outlet for tourists, automobiles, and trucks would further harm the health of Machu Picchu. She even told press she would was willing to go to jail for its construction.

"We are dead set against it," says Chavez, who adds that automobile traffic has threatened other World Heritage Sites in the area. His group sought an injunction against the bridge, stalling construction for some time. Now that it has opened, the World Bank project staff hopes to restrict automobile traffic on the bridge, and they are working on alternatives such as pedestrian bridges for the locals in the area.

Balcazar at Peru's Institute of Culture endorses the bridge, but not its location, which sits inside the buffer zone of Machu Picchu. "Originally the bridge was for pedestrians only," says Balcazar. "Mayor Felia Castro opened the bridge to vehicle use. We are concerned about the conservation of Machu Picchu."

Others find the construction of the bridge a little less black and white. "This is a very complicated issue," says Norma Barbacci, Director of Field Projects at the World Monument Fund in New York. She understands that there is a local need, but still remains concerned for the health of Machu Picchu. "Every time you open a road or a railway, it's not just the bridge, it's all of the potential development."

Now that the bridge is complete—it opened March 24th to no protests—,the different organizations involved have resolved to work together. "All the different parties have joined forces with the Institute of Culture and World Heritage to bring a compromise to restrict the use of public transportation and private vehicles on the bridge," says Balcazar.

UNESCO is sending a team in late April and May to evaluate what impact, if any, the bridge has had on Machu Picchu. Chavez anticipates that UNESCO may once again threaten to put Machu Picchu on the endangered sites list. If this happens, he says, "it would be a black eye for the government, especially a government that relies on tourism."

Whitney Dangerfield  is a regular contributor to Smithsonian.com .

Get the latest Travel & Culture stories in your inbox.

Filed under:

How your epic trek to Machu Picchu is changing life for Peru’s indigenous communities

Adventure tourism is affecting Peru’s indigenous communities in dramatic ways.

Share this story

• Share this on Facebook
• Share this on Twitter
• Share this on Reddit
• Share All sharing options

Share All sharing options for: How your epic trek to Machu Picchu is changing life for Peru’s indigenous communities

Nestled in the flat space between two steep granite mountains in the Andes lies the remote community of Huallhuaray, Peru. The stone houses with mossy thatched roofs almost blend in with the hillside, as if they simply grew out of the hill to house the hardy people who came here in the 16th century fleeing the advancing Spanish armies.

Huallhuaray is only accessible on foot — the nearest road dead-ends after winding its way down the side of a very steep cliff, two and a half hours downhill from the village. By 2018, that road should reach the village, and Huallhuaray’s residents hope that the road brings tourists.

No one in Huallhuaray is quite sure what life will be like when the road arrives and when tourists begin to trek through the valley. But experience in similar towns suggests that road access combined with adventure tourism can have an enormous impact on a town’s economy, its culture, and its environment.

The trekking economy

Each year, hundreds of thousands of trekkers pass through Peru’s Andes Mountains. The trekking industry has created thousands of jobs, from trail guides to porters to the cashier outside the trailside toilet, and it brings millions of dollars in tourism revenue to Peru.

At one time, the trekking trails were used to connect remote mountain villages like Huallhuaray with larger towns on the valley floors. Residents would walk the four hours over the mountains with a crop of potatoes in cloths on their backs, following footpaths that wind up sheer hillsides and through valleys decorated with lakes that reflect the mountains like mirrors. They would return to the village with staples like oil and salt.

Now hundreds of tourists trek through those trails each day to admire the natural beauty and to get a glimpse of what life is like in these rugged valleys. Some tour operators emphasize the opportunity to witness traditional ways of life as a key part of the trekking itinerary.

They take time to visit farms, schools, and weaving cooperatives, and encourage trekkers to bring small gifts for the village children. For many visitors, observing indigenous cultures is just as remarkable as viewing crystalline mountain lakes or exploring trailside Incan ruins.

The presence of so many tourists brings opportunities for work that would not otherwise exist. Huacahuasi, located a few valleys away from Huallhuaray, has seen immense growth over the past 15 years, due in part to its strategic location as a major stopping point on the Lares trek route.

Modesto, age 48, was born in Huacahuasi and has worked for several years as a porter on the Inca Trail. Now he is taking a year off to transform his family’s land on the outskirts of Huacahuasi into a trekking campsite, just like the ones he frequented while working on the Inca trail. He is building tent-size terraces into the hillside, and his major selling point is the private bathrooms currently under construction.

Similar opportunities exist in other trekking towns. Chaullay, for example, is carved into the granite cliffside and surrounded by cloud forests in the middle of the Salkantay Trek, not far from Machu Picchu.

Enterprising residents have built terraced campsites here as well, complete with shops that sell soft drinks and beer to the sound of American pop music. For a fee, weary trekkers can also enjoy a hot bath.

Both Chaullay and Huacahuasi are home to recently built luxury trekking lodges. Huacahuasi’s lodge, completed in 2014, employs locals to maintain the lodge and cook in the restaurant. It also includes spaces for locals to sell their handicrafts, like knit hats or traditional woven tapestries made from local alpaca hair.

And while most of the lodge’s profit goes to the owners living in larger cities, 20 percent is shared with the town. The lodge is so new that the impact of this money is still uncertain.

This kind of opportunity is not available in Huallhuaray or other towns that are not on trekking routes. However, trekking has still had an impact in these towns because so many residents can find work on the trails.

Many of the men in Huallhuaray work as porters on the Inca Trail, carrying a 50-pound pack over the mountains surrounding Machu Picchu. The porters carry the camping and cooking supplies ahead of the group, climbing the ancient stone steps fast enough to arrive at each stopping point in time to set up camp and cook a four-course meal before the tourists arrive.

It is difficult and tiring work, but many people from remote high mountain communities welcome the reliable, regular pay they get from tour agencies. Traditionally, people living high in the Andes farmed potatoes and kept alpacas for textiles and meat.

Farming at 12,500 feet above sea level feet is unreliable business — pests or an unseasonal wet or dry spell can ruin a year’s worth of income in just a few days, few crops can even survive at that altitude, and the short growing season makes it difficult to grow enough to sell after feeding the family. When there is no road, it is also difficult to transport crops to market.

Roads and the life of a town

The road to Huacahuasi was completed in 2009. It winds its way up one wall of the valley, and tiny trekkers are visible making their way up the trail on the other side. The valley floor is picturesque, with little stone homes and grazing llamas, alpacas, and sheep.

But the valley does not look frozen in time the way Huallhuaray does. With the road came access to the modern world, and this access has changed daily life in town. The first thing most residents will point to is the construction. In the past few years, the town has nearly doubled in size, and new homes have been built using imported materials.

Nearly half of the buildings have visible metal roofs, while only a small handful of structures in Huallhuaray were built this way. Bridges made of rebar and cement have replaced the old wood walkways, and the roads are wider to accommodate cars. There is a brand new school, completed in 2014, and a wifi tower that came with the lodge that sits on top of a ridge. The town simply looks different because of the road.

The road also makes it easier to get products to and from larger towns. Before the road, residents would walk three to six hours over the mountains with whatever they could carry on their backs. Now trucks arrive each week full of everything from underwear to tomatoes to natural gas canisters.

Residents can easily buy fresh fruits and vegetables to supplement their usual diet of alpaca, guinea pig, and potatoes, and they can cook these foods on imported gas stoves rather than the traditional open fires.

Curiously, many residents say they aren’t farming more potatoes than they used to, despite the trucks. They say that changes in weather have made harvests weaker, and many families have found that with the income from other opportunities, they don’t rely so much on selling potatoes.

There is a complicated relationship between the roads, the trekkers, and the changes in Huacahuasi. Trekkers passed by with their money, and the men left town to work as guides and porters and cooks on the tourist routes before the road came.

But the road brought about widespread changes in the way the valley looks and the way its people live on a daily basis, and it enabled private investments like the lodge, which in turn brought more trekkers and more jobs to Huacahuasi.

Locals don’t agree on whether the road would have come so quickly if tourism had not put the town on the map. Huacahuasi resident Ricardo Castillo, age 25, felt that the government only pays attention to Huacahuasi because of the influx of trekkers. Eder Taboada, a trail guide, believes the government builds roads based on local politics, without giving priority to tourist needs beyond basic access to trailheads.

After all, the government is building a road to Huallhuaray, a place with no history of tourism at all.

Modernization and cultural change

Not all of the changes in Huacahuasi are as visible as the new construction. The culture is changing, too. Before the wifi and the electricity, people went to sleep at 6 or 7 pm and woke up at 5 am to tend the animals. Now the young people stay up playing online video games or watching TV until 10 pm, and the community’s elders call them lazy.

The elders and many of the women only speak Quechua. But for the younger men, working in tourism means that they have to learn Spanish, and so gradually the everyday language is changing as well.

Working in tourism has also exposed people to different towns, different cultures, and new ideas for businesses that could be profitable in their hometown. The younger generation of women have also started wearing Western-style clothes instead of the traditional full pleated skirts, layered knit sweaters, and colorful stiff hats topped with flowers.

In other parts of Peru, even on trekking routes, the children will more or less ignore foreign visitors unless they are spoken to. In Huacahuasi, they approach foreigners with hands outstretched.

It has become something of an expectation that trekkers bring gifts for the children — rolls of wheat bread, little candies, or pencils. Rolando, age 10, guesses that he receives about five such gifts each day.

Some of these changes may be the inevitable product of time and economic development. They might have occurred without tourists, and maybe even without the road. But tourists played a role in increasing the speed of growth, and in selecting the types of opportunities that would be most profitable.

The tourists are a key part of the complex system of factors that drive the economic, social, and environmental changes that are increasingly obvious in Peru’s remote valleys. The irony here is that tourists, often motivated by a desire to connect with traditional cultures, are hastening the irreversible changes to these same cultures.

Yet when local residents consider the rapid changes happening all around them, their first response is that the economic opportunities make all the change worthwhile.

People like Mario, another Huacahuasi resident, say they want their children to have better opportunities for education and meaningful work, even if it means their children will move away or live a life that differs from tradition. These feelings are likely familiar to parents in many other parts of the world.

Environmental impact

The most popular trekking route is the famous Inca Trail, which takes visitors up a winding set of ancient stone stairs, past Incan ruins, and into the mountaintop citadel of Machu Picchu.

In response to the erosion along the trail and damage to the stone steps caused by the hordes of trekkers on the trail, Peru’s government began issuing trail permits in 2001. Only 500 people, including tour staff, are allowed to pass each day, and the trail is closed in the month of February for maintenance.

This quota is one of the reasons that more tourists are trekking along alternate routes like Salkantay and Lares. However, the same types of damage that prompted regulation on the Incan Trail are now evident on these routes as well.

Along the Salkantay route, the trail is wide and crumbling where groups of mules burdened with heavy packs full of camp equipment make their daily passage. Llamas, a native species in the Andes, are much lighter and cause less erosion on mountain trails, but they are fickle and stubborn, and cannot carry as much weight as mules. So the packed mules haul equipment ahead of the tourists, then make the return journey back to their pastures.

Human excrement and toilet paper can be found behind any large boulder or scraggly bush, alarmingly close to streams that serve as water sources for communities downhill. While most people boil their water before drinking, the abundance of untreated human waste still carries potential to spread disease. Some tour operators carry portable toilets along the trail so that they can haul this waste out of the valley, but evidence on the trail suggests many do not.

The future for Huallhuaray

Not all towns with roads and tourists see the same changes as Huacahuasi. The Salkantay trek starts near in the windswept Soraypampa valley high above the tree line, which had once been inhabited by a handful of families who grew potatoes and kept alpacas in stone enclosures.

Now the village is composed of campsites, bathrooms, geodesic dome huts (for midnight stargazing in defiance of frigid mountain wind), and a grandiose mountain lodge, all to accommodate the many thousands of tourists who trek through each year. There are no alpacas in sight, the fields are fallow, and the families who lived here have moved elsewhere.

Instead of growing in the presence of a new road and an influx of tourists, the village of Soraypampa essentially disappeared.

Other farming villages along the trekking routes remain seemingly unaffected by the tourists. Many kilometers of the trail are located on private property and pass right through farms carved into the hillside, yet in most places the owners are not compensated for use of their land. They simply work the terraced fields as they usually would while thousands of visitors walk across their property admiring the orchids or the granite hills.

Why is it that some towns end up like Huacahuasi — communities that thrive and evolve with the help of public and private investments coupled with tourist dollars — while others simply die off or do not change at all?

Answering this question is critical for communities like Huallhuaray that face major changes in the near future. Eder Taboada, the trail guide, says the answer will depend on how Huallhuaray manages the transition.

In some places, the money that tourism brings in ends up concentrated in a few families, and this can breed discontent between neighbors. In other places, people eventually sell their land to tour operators and leave the town as a shell of its former self.

Other options exist that could help Huallhuaray maintain its culture while also making life easier for residents. Taboada believes that towns along the trekking routes should charge an entrance fee for the use of their land, and that the proceeds should be used to improve the town or provide resources for more efficient farming practices.

Towns in the Lake Titicaca region of Peru have done this, and they have collectively decided to continue to speak their traditional language and wear traditional clothing, sometimes requiring visitors to do the same.

These kinds of local reactions to the changes brought on by tourism and infrastructure investments create a complex feedback loop. If trekkers are primarily interested in observing indigenous cultures, they will begin to avoid towns that appear too modern, thus changing the character of the trekking itineraries and the local economic opportunities that arise from the tourists.

Tour operators could work to improve declining environmental conditions on the trail, provide itineraries that are respectful of local cultural norms, and ensure that tourist dollars flow toward the people and communities who bring in trekkers. Private and public investors may change their strategy in response to changes in local economic prospects and tourist activities.

The culture and environment of Peru’s most remote Andean communities will continue to evolve as towns, tourists, and local investors adapt and react to one another. If all goes well, these forces will eventually create a sustainable balance between the economic opportunities that locals seek and the culture changes they are willing to endure in order to achieve these opportunities.

It will take years for Huallhuaray to find this balance. But if neighboring communities — just a few years ahead in their transition to modernity — are any guide, tourists interested in observing indigenous cultures may soon find that what they are looking for no longer exists.

Angelyn Otteson Fairchild is an economist, writer, and avid traveler based in North Carolina.

Will you help keep Vox free for all?

At Vox, we believe that clarity is power, and that power shouldn’t only be available to those who can afford to pay. That’s why we keep our work free. Millions rely on Vox’s clear, high-quality journalism to understand the forces shaping today’s world. Support our mission and help keep Vox free for all by making a financial contribution to Vox today.

We accept credit card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. You can also contribute via

How the war in Gaza has gone differently than expected — and how it hasn’t

Vox podcasts tackle the israel-hamas war, taiwan’s earthquake preparedness saved a lot of lives — and prevented a catastrophe for the global tech economy, sign up for the newsletter today, explained, thanks for signing up.

Check your inbox for a welcome email.

Oops. Something went wrong. Please enter a valid email and try again.

Experts say tourists harm Machu Picchu

An influx of tourists to Peru's famed Inca citadel of Machu Picchu may prompt UNESCO to add the jungle-shrouded ruins to its list of endangered World Heritage sites.

Yearly visits to Machu Picchu, Peru's top tourist destination, have more than doubled since 1998 to 800,000 people, and conservationists advising UNESCO's World Heritage Committee warn that landslides, fires and creeping development threaten the site.

UNESCO officials will discuss those findings this week at a World Heritage Committee meeting in Quebec City that was called to determine which of the world's cultural treasures should be added to its list — and which of those already included there are now threatened.

UNESCO committee spokesman Roni Amelan declined to confirm that Machu Picchu, which was named a World Heritage Site in 1983, would be classified as endangered, but said "it's a possibility."

Unregulated growth, including a boom in hotel and restaurant construction in the nearby mountain town of Aguas Calientes, is putting pressure on erosion-prone riverbanks and could undermine the site, the report said.

The village lacks adequate sanitation and Peru's government has done little to address landslide concerns on the winding, mud thoroughfare that leads to the citadel, according to the report. Officials also have no way to detect fires in the stone citadel or its heavily wooded environs, the report said.

Residents in the nearby city of Cuzco, an ancient Inca capital, burned tires and blocked roads to protest state plans to extend private development near the site earlier this year.

But park officials note that while there may be room for improvement in Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu itself is intact. Archaeologist Piedad Champi, who oversees conservation efforts, noted that UNESCO praised the monuments' preservation just last year.

Still, uncontrolled tourism could still degrade the ruins, said Luis Lumbreras, an independent, Lima-based archaeologist who has studied Machu Picchu for more than 40 years.

"Machu Picchu was never made for lots of people," he said, noting the original citadel was designed for sandals and bare feet. "If we put tourists with boots that are jumping, running, climbing the walls, et cetera, that's the danger."

A spokeswoman for the state-run National Culture Institute, which manages the park, declined to respond to UNESCO's advisory report. Peru's government has promoted the site as one of Latin America's top tourist destinations.

UN Tourism | Bringing the world closer

share this content

• Share this article on facebook
• Share this article on twitter
• Share this article on linkedin

Machu Picchu: the First Carbon Neutral Wonder of the World

Transforming Vision into Action - Policy and Governance

16 December 2020

Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983 and one of the New Seven Wonders of the Modern World in 2007, the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu can be defined as an archaeological wonder. However, its natural wealth is not yet appreciated to its true extent, if we consider that it is the natural habitat of species such as the Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus), in addition to endemic birds and orchids. It is one of the most fragile and threatened ecosystems on the planet.

The loss of cloud forests is a latent global impact risk caused by a variety of factors, such as population growth and unregulated land use for grazing, logging or agriculture, leading to various habitat alterations and degradation of ecosystem services, including the capacity for absorption of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases.

Among the  most  obvious consequences is the one the United Nations warned against in September 2019: we live in a period of climate emergency, which will increasingly impact all social and economic segments, without exception. The increasingly evident climate emergency is not a natural phenomenon,  but  the result of several –relatively few– decades of excesses in the emission of greenhouse gases, which today accumulate in the atmosphere and alter the balance of the climate on our planet.

In Peru, it is  estimated that about 5% of total emissions are related to tourism. This fact reveals the importance of the commitment of the tourism industry to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, mainly with Goal 12 (Responsible Production and Consumption)  and Goal 13  (Climate Action), which promotes CO2 mitigation through offsetting and reducing emissions. 

Keeping in mind the challenge of decoupling tourism’s development from increased CO2 emissions, Peru, as a tourism destination, takes a comprehensive climate change mitigation approach, which envisages three levels of action.

The first level is that of destinations, which are committed to curbing their carbon emissions and achieving neutrality, following the guidelines of the Paris Agreement, with the most significant example being Machu Picchu;

The second level is that of enterprises, working with professional associations, corporate entities and value chains, seeking to achieve carbon neutral certification;

The third level is that of tourists, who through mitigation actions can compensate for the carbon emissions of their travels and in this way connect with actions of ecosystem restoration and biodiversity recovery.

These three levels of action are integrated into the One Planet vision for people, planet and prosperity.

It was in this context that last 14 October 2020, a strategic alliance constituted by the Municipal District of Machu Picchu, Inkaterra, Grupo AJE and the National Service of Protected Natural Areas (SERNANP), supported by allies at the Commission for the Promotion of Peru for Export and Tourism (PROMPERU), the Ministry of Environment, the Sociedad Hoteles del Perú association, and the Peruvian Association of Adventure and Ecotourism Companies  (APTAE), announced their climate commitment to make Machu Picchu the first wonder of the world and the first international tourism destination to obtain carbon neutral certification.

A collaboration was initiated with the certification company Green Initiative, in order for Machu Picchu to meet the necessary requirements to achieve carbon neutral certification within four months. This commitment seeks to reduce carbon emissions by 45% by 2030, and to achieve zero net emissions (carbon neutrality) by the year 2050, in accordance with the guidelines of the Paris Agreement.

This alliance was incited in the wake of a waste management crisis in Machu Picchu, due to which UNESCO considered the inclusion of the Citadel on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2016.

The first action was the donation by Inkaterra and AJE of a compacting machine to the MP municipal district to process seven tons of plastic waste daily. The success of this initiative was followed by the Oil to Biodiesel and Glycerine Transformation Plant, inaugurated in 2018 at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel in order to prevent oil seepage into the Vilcanota River.

The most recent project is an innovative technology with the ability to process eight tons of organic waste through pyrolysis (chemical decomposition at high temperatures in the absence of oxygen, without carbon emissions). This generates  bio-coal, a natural fertilizer that will help the reforestation of the cloud forest with one million Cinchona officinalis  trees, an iconic species with medicinal properties that is depicted in the national coat of arms, and other endemic species, whose cultivation will help restore biodiversity and prevent natural disasters in Machu Picchu.

Peru, as a destination, enjoys the privilege of having this cultural and natural heritage of humanity, which entails the great responsibility of safeguarding it for future generations. This alliance committed to the decarbonization of Machu Picchu is an example of this commitment to climate action of destination Peru. This is a success story about the goals that can be achieved when the public and private sectors work hand in hand. With the support of the local community, this is Latin America’s first destination to have achieved a circular economy, through the sustainable management of its waste.

Peru will have the first Wonder of the Modern World committed to carbon neutrality and certified as such, mitigating its carbon footprint and offering all its visitors a climate-responsible experience consistent with the major challenges of the tourism sector and the planet. 

Note: Machu Picchu achieved its carbon neutral certification on 2 September 2021.

This article for Transforming One Planet Vision into Action has been prepared by the members of the Patronato de MachuPicchu, a multi-sector collaboration that supports the District Municipality of Machu Picchu, catalyzing the exchange of knowledge, the mobilization of resources and strategic projects that contribute to sustainable investment and development. For more information visit Green Initiative website.

• Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (Full Day)
• Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (2 Days)
• Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (4 Days)
• Royal Inca Trail Tour (4 Days)
• Private Inca Trail Tours (5 Days)
• Inca Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu (4 Days)
• Llactapata Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (4 Days)
• Salkantay Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (7 Days)
• Lares Trek to Machu Picchu (4 Day)
• Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu (5 Day)
• Ausangate Trek Private Tour (7 Day)
• Ausangate Rainbow Mountain (4 Days)
• Cachicata Trail (Full Day)
• Cachicata Trek to Machu Picchu (4 Day)
• Huchuy Qosqo Trek (2 Days)
• Huchuy Qosqo Trek to Machu Picchu (3 Days)
• Vilcabamba Trek to Machu Picchu (6 Days)
• Rainbow Mountain Hike (2 Days)
• Rainbow Mountain Hike (4 Days)
• Choquequirao Trek to Machu Picchu (9 Day)
• Choquequirao Trek (4 Days)
• Machu Picchu Tour (Full Day)
• Machu Picchu Tour (2 Days)
• Machu Picchu Sunrise Tour (2 Days)
• Machu Picchu Huayna Picchu Hike (2 Days)
• Sacred Valley Machu Picchu Tour (2 Days)
• Cusco City Tour (Half-Day)
• Classic Sacred Valley Tour (Full Day)
• Sacred Valley & Maras Moray Tour (Full Day)
• Mountain Bike Tour to Maras & Moray (Full Day)
• Maras Moray (Half Day Tour)
• Rainbow Mountain Trek – Vinicunca (Full Day)
• Rainbow Mountain Tour – Palccoyo (Full Day)
• Rainbow Mountain ATV Tour (Full Day)
• Humantay Lake Trip (Full Day)
• South Valley Tour (Half Day)
• Waqrapukara Trek (Full Day)
• Cloud Forest Peru Tour (3 Days)
• Manu Peru Tour (7 Days)
• Tambopata Research Center Tour (5 Day)
• Tambopata Tour (4 Day)
• Refugio Amazonas Tour (4 Day)
• Posadas Amazon Tour (3 Days)
• Inca History Tour (3 Days)
• Peru Vacation (18 Day)
• Peru Cusco Tour (7 Days)
• Luxury Peru (15 Days)
• Peru Discovery (18 Days)
• Peru Tours (8 Days)

Sustainable Tourism in Machu Picchu

In an era where both the allure of off-the-beaten-path travel and the drive toward environmental conservation are escalating, balancing these priorities has become a critical challenge. Nowhere is this more apparent than at Machu Picchu , the iconic Inca citadel nestled high in Peru’s Andes Mountains. The increasing influx of eager tourists, drawn to the mystical aura of the ancient site, has raised concerns about preserving its unique cultural heritage and fragile ecosystem. 

This article explores the concept of sustainable tourism in this remarkable setting, investigating ways to balance unrestricted access to one of the world’s most coveted destinations with the imperative of its preservation for future generations. Through an examination of the efforts by local authorities, international bodies, and tourism stakeholders, we delve into this delicate equation.

The fragile majesty: Understanding Machu Picchu’s cultural and ecological significance

Machu Picchu, an Inca citadel nestled high in the Andes, is a testament to an ancient civilization. Built in the 15th century, it symbolizes Inca architectural prowess and cultural depth. Its intricate stonework, terraced fields, and impressive temples of Machu Picchu whisper tales of a society in harmony with its environment.

The site embodies the Andean cosmovision – a holistic worldview merging the spiritual and the physical. This principle guided Inca society, threading through agriculture, architecture, and astronomy. Machu Picchu brings this worldview to life, as the site’s layout mirrors celestial patterns.

Yet, the site is more than a cultural treasure. It’s also an ecological marvel. Machu Picchu resides within the Peruvian cloud forest ecosystem, a biodiversity hotspot. This ecosystem, a humid forest region, is home to numerous endemic species. Hence, preserving Machu Picchu isn’t merely a matter of protecting a cultural asset. It’s also about safeguarding a unique ecological tapestry.

But the majesty of Machu Picchu is fragile. The site, primarily built with limestone, is susceptible to natural and human-induced erosion. Similarly, the surrounding ecosystem, a delicate balance of various species, is vulnerable to human disruption. The increase in foot traffic, brought on by tourism, amplifies these vulnerabilities.

Understanding the cultural and ecological significance of Machu Picchu underlines the need for its preservation. It also sets the stage for a deeper discussion on sustainable tourism. By appreciating its dual importance, we can strive to protect this fragile majesty for future generations.

The challenges of tourism: Impact and overcrowding in the Inca citadel

Machu Picchu, a revered relic of the Inca Empire , has become a global tourism magnet. Its popularity, while beneficial economically, has sparked various challenges. The chief among these are the impacts of tourism and site overcrowding.

Every year, thousands of visitors traverse the ancient Inca Trail , fulfilling their quest to witness the citadel firsthand. This overwhelming influx, however, is causing irreversible damage. Pathways, originally built for Inca feet, now endure modern-day foot traffic. The resulting wear and tear degrade these historical remnants.

Overcrowding doesn’t only harm the physical structures. It also disrupts the serene ambiance that characterizes the site. The quiet hum of the wind and distant bird calls are frequently drowned out by the din of visiting crowds. This shatters the tranquility, altering the overall visitor experience.

The surrounding ecosystem is equally affected. Increased human activity disrupts wildlife habitats and introduces pollution. Even small changes can trigger significant ripple effects in this delicate environment. What’s more, the litter left behind by tourists can take years to degrade, further damaging the habitat.

The local community, too, faces the brunt of tourism. With the influx of visitors, the cost of living has skyrocketed. Local resources are strained, affecting the quality of life for residents.

These challenges, however, are not insurmountable. With mindful tourism practices and effective policies, the balance can be restored. By recognizing the impacts of our actions, we can ensure that the footprints we leave on the Inca Trail are only metaphorical. Thus, preserving the magnificence of Machu Picchu for generations to come.

A path to balance: Innovative strategies for sustainable tourism

The challenges presented by tourism at Machu Picchu are not insurmountable. Innovative strategies for sustainable tourism can create a path to balance. This involves both regulation and education.

One approach is limiting visitor numbers. By capping daily entries, the physical strain on the site can be reduced. A ticketing system, which provides timed entry slots, can help manage visitor flow.

Improved infrastructure is another key strategy. Constructing well-marked paths and viewing platforms can channel foot traffic, reducing damage to fragile areas. Local community involvement in maintaining these infrastructures can also generate employment.

Education plays a critical role in sustainable tourism. Awareness campaigns about responsible travel can encourage tourists to respect the site. This involves adhering to guidelines like sticking to paths and not leaving litter.

Alternative routes and sites can also alleviate pressure. The Lares Trek to Machu Picchu, for instance, offers a less crowded but equally captivating experience. It traverses traditional Andean communities, offering a unique cultural immersion.

Moreover, promoting other attractions can divert some tourist traffic. For instance, Rainbow Mountain Vinicunca , with its stunningly colorful slopes, is a breathtaking alternative. This spreads the economic benefits of tourism while minimizing pressure on any single site.

Finally, supporting local communities should be an integral part of sustainable tourism. This can be achieved by promoting local businesses and products to tourists. This not only benefits the economy but also enhances the authenticity of the tourist experience.

Happy Gringo Tours

Why book with us.

• No-hassle best price guarantee
• Customer care available 24/7
• Hand-picked Tours & Activities
• Free Travel Insureance

Get a Question?

Do not hesitate to give us a call. We are an expert team and we are happy to talk to you.

+51 918 885 164

[email protected]

What Are the Impacts of Tourism on Machu Picchu?

By Alice Nichols

Machu Picchu, also known as the Lost City of the Incas, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in South America. Located in Peru, this ancient Incan city attracts millions of visitors every year. While tourism has had a significant impact on Machu Picchu, both positive and negative, it’s essential to understand how it has affected this iconic destination.

Positive Impacts:

Tourism has undoubtedly brought economic benefits to Machu Picchu and its surrounding communities. The number of tourists visiting Machu Picchu has increased exponentially in recent years, leading to an increase in job opportunities for the local people. Tourists also bring income to local businesses such as hotels, restaurants, and souvenir shops.

Another positive impact of tourism is that it has helped promote and preserve the cultural heritage of Machu Picchu. The Peruvian government has invested in restoring and preserving the site’s structures, thanks to revenue generated by tourism.

Negative Impacts:

While tourism has brought economic benefits to Machu Picchu, there are also some negative impacts that need to be addressed. One of the most significant negative impacts is environmental degradation.

The high number of visitors leads to soil erosion and damage to vegetation. The use of vehicles also contributes to air pollution.

Tourism can also affect the social fabric of communities surrounding Machu Picchu negatively. Mass tourism can lead to overcrowding and put pressure on public services such as healthcare and education.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, tourism has had both positive and negative impacts on Machu Picchu. It’s essential to strike a balance between promoting tourism while preserving its cultural heritage and natural environment.

The Peruvian government should continue investing in sustainable tourism practices that promote responsible travel while mitigating its negative impacts. Tourists should also play their part by practicing responsible travel habits such as reducing waste and respecting the local culture and environment.

4 Related Question Answers Found

What is the impact of tourism in our economy, what is economic impact of tourism, what are economic impacts of tourism, what are the major impacts of tourism, backpacking - budget travel - business travel - cruise ship - vacation - tourism - resort - cruise - road trip - destination wedding - tourist destination - best places, london - madrid - paris - prague - dubai - barcelona - rome.

© 2024 LuxuryTraveldiva

Sustainable Tourism in Machu Picchu – Everything You Need to Know

• November 10, 2022
• / By Timothy Chilman

Machu Picchu attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists every year.

It is the most visited site in South America, generating a reported $40 million each year for the economy of Peru.

However, the overwhelming interest has made it a victim of overtourism and is taking a tool on the environment.

Learn all about sustainable tourism in Machu Picchu and 3 things you can do to help when visiting .

Also, take advantage of our special discount below to save money on sustainable products!

$$ SALE - Save Money on Eco-Friendly Products! $$

Do you want to  save money on eco-friendly products ?  Take advantage of these  special sales going on now !

All of these products are  certified "Climate Pledge Friendly" and on sale now on Amazon . Limited time offer!

What is Sustainable Tourism?

Sustainable tourism is responsible vacationing and traveling that takes economic, environmental, and social impacts into consideration.

It allows local economies to benefit from tourism without hurting the community and the planet.

Why Does Machu Picchu Need Sustainable Tourism? 

When Machu Picchu was built in the 15 th century, it wasn’t designed for the almost 2,500 visitors it receives every day.

The increased commercial activity has a negative effect on the rainforest’s fragile ecosystem, but it also harms the people living there.

Increased foot traffic has led to deforestation, erosion, and pollution.

3 Ways to Use Sustainable Tourism in Machu Picchu

1. abide by the rules, including daily limits and restrictions.

The government has established a lengthy list of rules and restrictions to help preserve this site. You can help by abiding by those rules and taking them seriously. For instance, you cannot bring umbrellas, tripods, selfie sticks, speakers, posters, or signs. You cannot fly drones, climb, or lean on any structures, feed animal life, disturb, collect, or remove flora or fauna, smoke, vape, or make disturbing noises.

Additionally, there are limits on how many people can enter Machu Picchu and when and how long they can see various attractions like the Inca Trail. There is a limit of 3,500 people per day, and visitors can only stay for 4 hours at a time during designated slots in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Abiding by these rules makes the experience enjoyable for everyone.

2. Don’t Bring Single-Use Plastics, Leave No Trace Behind

One of the biggest ways you can contribute to sustainable tourism in Machu Picchu is by not bringing single-use plastics such as disposable cups or water bottles. Also, don’t litter. You should “leave no trace” behind when you enter and leave the site.

3. Support the Locals, Contribute to Fair Wages

Lastly, some locals rely on tourism for their livelihood and living expenses. It is important to support them and contribute to fair wages. You can do this by tipping tour guides, porters, cooks, bus drivers, and trekking staff to acknowledge their hard work. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. is machu picchu sustainable tourism.

Yes, Machu Picchu is one of the most eco-friendly sites in the world. There are numerous organizations and initiatives committed to preserving the site.

2. What problems does overtourism bring to Machu Picchu?

Overtourism in Machu Picchu causes deforestation, erosion, and pollution if handled incorrectly.

3. What is overtourism?

Overtourism happens when too many people visit a site or attraction. It can have a negative impact on the environment and the local population.

4. How can I contribute to sustainable tourism in Machu Picchu?

You can contribute to sustainable tourism in Machu Picchu by abiding by the rules and daily limits, avoiding littering, using single-use plastics, and supporting the locals and contributing to fair wages.

5. How is Machu Picchu being preserved?

The government is taking multiple steps to preserve Machu Picchu, including limiting the number of daily visitors and enforcing rules about what visitors can do and bring.

More Articles

• Best Biodegradable Sunscreen - 7 Brands You Need to Know:  Your sunscreen likely contains harmful chemicals that are destroying our coral reefs. Find the best biodegradable sunscreen for you and your family!
• 7 Best Solar Lanterns for Camping - Solar lanterns for camping provide a fun and eco-friendly way to have light at all times. Here are our picks for the best solar lanterns for camping and a buyer’s guide with frequently asked questions.
• 8 of the Best Portable 100W Solar Panels - Portable 100W solar panels are must-haves for camping, RVing, vanlife, and emergencies. Here is everything you need to know about portable 100W solar panels and our picks for the best brands!
• 13 of the Best Ecofriendly Dog Toys  - Have fun with your puppy and help the environment! These ecofriendly dog toys will keep your best friend entertained for hours. 
• 5 Ways to Keep the Environment Clean:  EASY tips that anyone can use!
• EcoFlow vs. Jackery - The Best Solar Portable Power Stations:  Is your family protected from a power outage or blackout? Find the best portable power station to keep your home powered with clean energy! Also take it camping, RVing, and overlanding!
• The Environmental Impact of Coffee Production - What is your cup of coffee costing the planet? Find out here and learn how to choose ecofriendly coffee instead!

About the Author Timothy Chilman

Timothy Chilman used to work in IT. Once, in Sydney, he was turned down for a job because he was “too flamboyant” (“Someone who wears green tartan suspenders to a job interview probably isn’t going to fit in here”). Timothy then became an English teacher. University students in Bangkok complained that he was “too enthusiastic” and company students in Prague complained that he was “too theatrical.”

Leave a Comment:

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Popular posts

The environmental impact of coffee production: what’s your coffee costing the planet, 5 places where you can sell used industrial equipment, 7 office recycling tips that will obliterate your waste cost, benefits of lpg vs petrol vehicles.