Machu Picchu, the star of Peru’s tourism offerings, has reopened. Just a couple of weeks ago, we had reported on the disruption to tourism the closure of this magnificent tourist site was causing, with Daniel Taramona, co-founder of Miami-based Tara Tours, Inc., telling Recommend, “It’s very sad, as Peru was experiencing a tremendous increase in bookings after the pandemic.”
“This decision reaffirms the importance to opt for dialogue and peace, under the articulated work of the authorities with the population, which requires the resumption of cultural activities and the economic reactivation of Cusco,” noted the government of Peru in today’s announcement.
That said, as of February 9, the U.S. State Department has been advising Americans to reconsider travel to Peru and exercise increased caution due to civil unrest. You can check this link for updates. If your clients decide to travel, recommend they register in the free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
Note that tensions in Peru have been limited to particular parts of the country, especially in the southern and southeastern regions, such as Ica, Arequipa, Apurimac, Ayacucho, Cusco and Puno. In all these cases, Peruvian authorities execute various actions to safeguard the integrity of national and foreign tourists in the different regions.
Exploring Beyond Machu Picchu
Additionally, the main tourist attractions in the north and east zones of Peru, as well as the circuit of northern beaches, are fully opened. Ica region’s tourist attractions and national reserves are also opened.
On Feb. 9, the country provided an update and noted that Peru’s main airport in Lima is open, though only ticketed passengers with scheduled flights can enter the terminals, with the exception of minors and others who require special assistance. Several airports throughout the country have paused operations at various times during the protests. In the case of the Alfredo Rodríguez Ballon International Airport in Arequipa, as of Feb. 8, the opening hours have been restored from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Inca Manco Capac International Airport, located in the city of Juliaca in Puno, remains closed until further notice.
For more information, visit peru.travel/en.
