Machu Picchu update

The lastest outlook from the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu for people visiting Machu Picchu in early 2010.

As per the events that you are already aware of, last week was very intense, but things have started to calm down allowing everybody involved in the tourism sector to have a clearer idea of the situation.

Several communications from different sources were sent abroad and this has created confusion.

At the moment what is certain is the following:

· The Machu Picchu archaeological complex has not been affected

· Although Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town) has suffered very little damage, right now it is only accessible by air and solely for official purposes.

The federal, regional and local governments, along with the private sector, are currently assessing the exact damages and based on that devising the best way to reestablish visits into Machu Picchu, although having accurate information and schedules could take a couple more days to be defined.

The schedule proposed by Fretransa (the company partially owned by Orient Express that leases and operates the railtracks from the government) is at this moment:

1. By the end of February : the route would be : Cuzco / Ollantaytambo / Santa Teresa / Hidroelectrica BY ROAD, and continue Hidroelectrica / Machu Picchu BY TRAIN. This takes 7.5 hours (approx.) from Cuzco and 6 hours from Ollantaytambo.

2. By the end of March : Cuzco / Ollantaymbo / Piscaucucho BY ROAD, and continue Piscaucucho / Machu Picchu BY TRAIN. Piscaucucho (the last entry point of the Inca Trail) is 35minutes by road from Ollantaytambo.

3. By the beginning of April : Cuzco / Ollantaytambo BY VAN OR BUS, and Ollantaytambo / Machu Picchu BY TRAIN

As mentioned before, the above-mentioned dates are an initial estimate by Fetransa and the government

Our opinion is that by the late March the regular route by train to Machu Picchu should be back up and running.