Machu Picchu, the ruins of a 15th Century Inca city and Peru's most famous tourist attraction, is embroiled in a transport-related controversy that has led to the evacuation of 1,400 stranded tourists. The bus company Consettur, which has provided service for 30 years, is at the center of the conflict following the loss of its license to a competitor amidst allegations of poor bidding processes.
Consettur's general manager, Cristian Alberto Caballero Chacón, acknowledges ongoing disputes within the community about the bus service's management and access, with many locals feeling sidelined as the control of the lucrative shuttle service shifts to the San Antonio de Torontoy company.
Accessing Machu Picchu typically requires a train ride to the town of Aguas Calientes followed by a bus journey, or a demanding hike. However, as protests against Consettur's transition unfolded — including blocking the railway lines earlier this year — alternative solutions remain a topic of heated discussion.
Local tourists express frustration over inflated ticket prices for the necessary train services to visit the site, with costs for a round-trip starting at $140. The mayor of Aguas Calientes has called for a greater share of ticket sales revenues to benefit the local community instead of going to the national Ministry of Culture.
With administrative instability in Peru complicating progress and local leaders pushing for reform in tourism management policies, solutions for sustainable tourism at Machu Picchu remain uncertain. Caballero has stated that he welcomes fair competition but insists that Consettur's operations represent a diverse ownership, challenging the notion of a monopoly.
