[Aztlan] Machu Picchu Update

[Gary Drimmer]

I think that this is one of the best reports from a friend of mine who owns the Mountain Lodges of Peru, a few of them on the Inca Road to Machu Picchu.

Turn of events 
in PERU 
CUSCO & MACHU 
PICCHU ON THE WAY TO PROMPT RECOVERY 
Cusco, 02 February 
2010, 12:00m 
   
In regards to the unusual heavy 
rains in Cusco last week, though we understand (and tolerate) the inherent 
nature of the media and its need to utilize the shock value to keep us – the audience – on 
our toes, we feel that it is our responsibility to “tell it like it is” and 
provide up to date input to unfounded rumors and news of continuing tragedy and devastation, 
which is certainly not the 
case. 
   
Here is a list of what’s official, 
what’s rumor and our take on each. 
   
Machu 
Picchu and the Town of
 Machu Picchu (a.k.a. Aguas 
Calientes) are different things. Unfortunately, the 
media is not being clear in making the distinction between the two, when this 
case clearly merits it. ‘ Machu 
Picchu ’ is the archeological site or Inca citadel. The 
‘Town of Machu Picchu ’ or ‘Aguas Calientes’ 
(which are one of the same) is the town located at the bottom of the mountain on 
which ‘ Machu 
Picchu ’ is located. 
   
Is
 Machu Picchu going to be 
‘closed’ during February and March, or onwards? The answer is NO. 
Officially, the archeological site of
 Machu Picchu was only ‘closed’ for 3 days last 
week. Today, Machu 
Picchu is not ‘closed’ but ‘inaccessible’.
 Machu Picchu 
will not be ‘closed’ during February and March. In fact, by the 
3rd week of February 2010 – OR SOONER – Machu 
Picchu will become accessible again and
 Machu Picchu will be ‘open 
to the public’. 
   
Is
 Machu Picchu accessible 
right now? 
Machu 
Picchu has 2 entry points. Imagine a donut 
with Cusco at the bottom and Machu 
Picchu at the top. The left semi-circle is the access to 
 Machu Picchu via the town of
 Santa Teresa/Hydroelectric , 
where there is a train station. The train tracks from the Hydroelectric Train 
Station to the TOWN of Machu 
Picchu have suffered damages, BUT THIS PORTION IS SAID 
(OFFICIALLY BY THE TRAIN TRACK OPERATOR, AS WELL AS THE TRAIN SERVICE OPERATOR) 
TO BE OPERATIONAL BY THE 3RD WEEK IN FEBRUARY. Unofficially, 
we have learned that after a 2nd inspection to determine repair work, 
they have estimated a new time frame for repairs of 10 DAYS – OR LESS, for the 
train tracks that go from the Hydroelectric Train Station to the Town of 
 Machu Picchu . 
The access road from Cusco to the town of
 Santa Teresa is transitable, but is still being 
currently repaired by the Government. 
The right semi-circle is the access 
to Machu Picchu via the
 Sacred
 Valley of the Incas (Ollantaytambo). The 
train tracks from Ollantaytambo to the TOWN of
 Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes) have suffered 
damages and this portion is said (officially by the train track operator, as 
well as the train service operator) to be operational by the 3rd week 
in March – OR SOONER. 
   
The train track 
repairs and subsequent restoration of the train service are not temporary 
measures. Safety and security are guaranteed 
for the train service by the train and track operators, for each portion of the 
train track that will be re-opened in the course of the next 60 
days. 
   
Has
 Machu Picchu suffered any 
damages? The Tourism Minister and local 
Archeological/Cultural authorities (INC) categorically say “NO”. They 
have officially stated that it is “in perfect 
condition”. 
   
Has the Town of 
 Machu Picchu 
(Aguas Calientes) suffered any damages – how about the 
hotels? Yes, the Town has suffered damages 
but mostly in accessibility which – as explained – will be restored soon. 
Otherwise, the river has affected the riverside boardwalk, but this does not 
make the town ‘un-walkable’ or unsafe. There are still plenty of main and side 
streets to transit the town. The hotels are in good condition and have not been 
affected. 
   
Rumor of 
permanent helicopter access for Machu 
Picchu visits (during the first 3 weeks in February) 
until ground access is restored (3rd week in 
February). This was an idea proposed by some 
industry leaders, but was discarded by the Government.  Off the record, 
during the first 3 weeks in February the air space to
 Machu Picchu will only be 
usable for emergencies. 
  
The city of 
 Cusco and the 
archeological sites of Saccsayhuaman, Pisac and Ollantaytambo (to name the main 
ones) are currently fully operational, fully accessible and in perfect 
conditions. In fact, they are being visited by 
many tourists right now. 
   
What is being 
shown in the news (video/photo) of houses collapsing, floods and broken train 
tracks is what happened ONE WEEK AGO in some communities in the region of 
 Cusco . Today, this is not 
happening anymore. The water levels have decreased significantly (allowing for 
much quicker repair/restoration work everywhere), the floods have drained and 
significant amounts of relief efforts are being provided to those affected, on a 
daily basis. 
   
Cusco depends 
heavily on Tourism and – especially – on
 Machu Picchu . Yes. This is why 
there are significant amounts of resources being deployed to QUICKLY restore 
things to normal and there is ample confidence that there will be (ITS ALREADY 
HAPPENING) significant advances to bring things back to normal in the next 30 
days. 
   
Should I cancel 
or postpone my trip? No. By the time our (Mountain 
Lodges of Peru) trips begin for the season (5th March 2010) we 
anticipate that Machu 
Picchu will be fully operational and accessible. MLP is 
not canceling any of its departures, as the current conditions and reparation 
estimates present sufficient time frames for MLP to consider that by the 
beginning of the season MLP will be able to offer the standard schedule, 
including the visit to Machu 
Picchu and the standard 
activities. 
   
Has the 
 Salkantay 
Route to
 Machu Picchu been affected? 
The Salkantay Trail is affected 
every year by the rainy season. Therefore, every year before the beginning of 
the trekking season, MLP and the local authorities commit to trail maintenance. 
This year is no different. The trails have only been moderately affected, as 
expected and as always. There has not been severe damage on the trail and by 
the 5th of March, we anticipate offering normal trekking 
operations. 
   
Have the MLP 
lodges been affected? No. The lodges are being monitored 
on a daily basis and are currently in perfect conditions due to strategic 
placement as well as reliable construction materials and 
methods. 
   
What does it mean 
that Cusco has been declared in a ‘state of 
emergency’ by the Peruvian Government? This is a legal 
mechanism through which resources are heavily deployed to a certain activity, 
situation or area. In this case, the need of declaring Cusco in a ‘state of 
emergency’ served the goal of liberating and assigning significant amount of 
funding to restore things to normal and to provide aid to those affected. The 
‘state of emergency’ should not be interpreted as a safety/security 
risk. 
   
We always 
recommend (as usual, regardless of this specific situation) purchasing travel 
insurance, through your trusted provider. 
   
   
We hope that this alleviates 
some of the confusion created around varying – but infrequent – reports 
on the situation. Please know that this is only MLP’s assessment based on our daily and constant 
monitoring of the situation, through industry contacts, Government 
agencies and officials and our own team on the 
field. 
   
Also, please note that we have 
purposely focused on what is being done to restore 
things to normal, instead of continuing to focus on what already 
happened, which we are sure you will continue to obtain information about 
through the media. We kindly ask that you handle and interpret 
this information and the information offered by the media, 
responsibly. 
   
We will continue to keep you 
updated/informed as information comes in, but with previous discernment on our 
behalf. 
   
Warm 
regards, 
   
The Mountain 
Lodges of
 Peru 
Family