Machu Picchu, the remains of a 15th Century Inca city, is Peru's most popular tourist destination, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Yet a continuing dispute over the buses that take visitors up to the mountain-top site recently saw some 1,400 stranded tourists needing to be evacuated.
Cristian Alberto Caballero Chacón is head of operations for bus company Consettur, which for the past 30 years has transported some 4,500 people every day to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes. It is a 20-minute journey, and the only alternative is an arduous, steep, two-hour walk.
Caballero admits that in the past few months there have been some conflicts between people from different communities here. This conflict revolves around Consettur losing its licence to a rival bus firm in this remote part of Peru, where, unless you want to hike over Andes mountains, the only access is by public transport.
To get to Machu Picchu without walking, tourists must first take a train to Aguas Calientes, which takes from two to three and a half hours, and then transfer to a bus for the final leg.
Back in September, local protestors angry that Consettur was being replaced - following what they saw as an insufficiently open bidding process - blocked the railway line to Aguas Calientes with rocks. This resulted in Peruvian authorities having to clear the tracks and evacuate tourists on special train services.
A number of local people, speaking off the record, indicate that the protestors were unhappy with Consettur's previous monopoly on the lucrative bus service. A round-trip bus ticket costs $24 for foreigners and $15 for Peruvians.
Although Consettur's licence expired in September, it continues to run its buses, as legal challenges hold up the rival company, San Antonio de Torontoy. Despite the ongoing unrest, Caballero maintains that Consettur is not a monopoly, comprising twelve companies with various partners, including 38% local district ownership.
As discussions continue, local resident Dina Huillca expresses concerns that the area's profitability isn't benefitting the community, lacking basic services like running water and healthcare. Meanwhile, the mayor of Aguas Calientes, Elvis La Torre, is discontent with the low percentage of ticket sales retained locally, advocating for greater community investment in tourism-related improvements.
With the situation evolving, some tourists, like Australian Annalise Jaksic lament the high transport costs, which can reach $2,000 in luxury trains, and the difficulty in securing entry tickets to the historical site. As tensions mount and regulations remain unstable, the local tourism sector's future remains uncertain.
