Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Cusco Update and Photos

Photos from the Sacred Valley taken on February 1st showing the current situation. Much clearer than you might expect…

You will note a distinct lack of visitors, this is partly to do with the situation but don’t forget that February is the height of the rainy season in Cuzco and therefore relatively very quiet every year.

The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is closed every year in February for maintenance and to allow recuperation of flora, fauna, etc.

These sites are in the Sacred Valley so road access from Cuzco. For a proposed timetable of repairs, see our previous news item.

This is Chinchero which is fine. On the road from Cuzco to Chinchero there were a couple of small landslides but these are already cleared and the road is now in great shape.

The route to Moray and Maras are in good condition. Both Maras and Moray are OK, although the pools at salt mines of Maras are empty as they are every year at this time.

Through to Ollantaytambo, the main historical site in the Sacred Valley and close to the start point of the Inca Trail.

There are no issues with the Urubamba bridge.

The route between Urubamba and Ollantaytambo is in good condition right up to the entrance of Ollantaytambo. Here the proximity of the river might cause some delays in case the river level rises again.

The town and ruins are in perfect conditions except for a couple of houses.

Finally, the route Ollantaytambo back to Urubamba and on to Pisac.

Hotels like Pakaritampu, Casa Andina Private Collection, Sol y Luna are OK. The road near Calca and Pisac is the one which has suffered the most and this can be seen easily.

Pisac ruins are operating normally and although the market has not suffered any damage most shops and stands are closed.

The bridge in Pisac was destroyed by the river so the return to Cuzco has to be done via Urubamba and Chinchero.

Again, we urge you to consider your plans for travel to Peru. Whilst there are going to be infrastructural issues for the next month, possibly through March, it is hard to imagine that services will not be fully functioning by April.

Please read our original posting on the situation for our view on the importance of responsible tourism to Peru.