access to Machu Picchu is destroyed

Access to Machu Picchu is destroyed

livinginperu.com

American tourist Cole Gainer left hundreds of other stranded tourists at Machu Picchu Pueblo and walked to the town Ollantaytambo, despite treacherous conditions.

During the 10-hour trek, Cole, 26, walked by narrow roads along the raging Vilcanota River, and was able to photograph the damage that the river's surge has done to the railway that leads to Machu Picchu, the ancient Inca citadel.

Gainer's photos have just been published by El Comercio. They clearly show that the flood has swept away the railway like it was spaghetti.


The railway, which goes from Cusco to Machu Picchu, is the only access to the Inca citadel, besides the Inca trail, a footpath. Machu Picchu is Peru's main tourist attraction and receives roughly half a million visitors per year.

There has yet to be official estimates on when the train will be repaired and the cost of the damage.