Changes are being made to Machu Picchu in response to the pandemic. Some of these changes may be permanent after the global epidemic ends. Over-tourism has long been a problem at Machu Picchu's 15th century Incan archeological sites. Visitors have reported seeing the Citadel destroyed by large crowds on their trips. This may be due to the pandemic. Jose Miguel Bastante (director of Peru's National Archaeological Park at Machupicchu), spoke to CNBC about new rules that govern who is allowed inside and what they can do once inside.
Safety
Machu Picchu, like other monuments in the world, was closed to visitors as of March 2020.
Visitors to Machu Picchu should wear masks all the time, even when taking photos. Percy Hurtado | AFP | Getty Images
The facility reopened in November with new safety protocols. These include mandatory mask-wearing, group sizes limits of no more than nine people, a guide, and the requirement that groups remain at least 20m (66 feet) apart.
Fewer visitors
Over the last five years, Machu Picchu has received on average 4,800 visitors per day. According to UNESCO's World Heritage Committee report, everyone who came to Machu Picchu was allowed to enter. According to the report, Machu Picchu's ticketing site sold 3,700 tickets per day. However, that did not include 500 daily visitors who hiked up to the site. The report also stated that additional tickets were being sold at the site and by tour companies.
We opened at 6 AM, and there were many people who wanted to go in... Jose M. Bastante Conservator
Peruvian authorities set a limit of 2,244 visitors per day to Machu Picchu in July 2020. However, even this change didn't address the problem of visitors preferring to visit Machu Picchu at the same hour of the day, especially at dawn. He said, "Everybody wanted the first to Machu Picchu." "We opened at six in the morning and there were hundreds to hundreds of people who wanted to get in, with lines that would last for more than two hours." The visitors seemed to believe that "the sun would rise super early and illuminate Machu Picchu"; they also stated that afternoon is the best time to visit after the morning mist has cleared.
Although the park remains open all year, tickets can now be purchased for certain times of day. Universal Images Group
It changed the way it issued tickets before the site was reopened. Tickets were issued for half-day blocks of time in the morning and afternoon. Visitors can now purchase tickets for specific hours. Bastante said that tickets purchased for 10 a.m. must be used between 10 and 11 am. He also stated that travelers who arrive outside the time frame "cannot enter."
Emotional outbursts
Tourists have been reacting to the new rules with mixed emotions. Some may have traveled from other continents to visit Peru's most popular tourist spot. Bastante stated that there were many people outside the site crying and complaining in an interview published by The Getty Conservation Institute this spring. "But we can't go against our existing capacity."
According to Jose Miguel Bastante, Machu Picchu was designed to house 400 people and some 1,200 more during festivals. iStock Editorial
Visitors now spend slightly less time on the site. Although the old half-day rule allowed them to explore the site for only four hours, it was not strictly enforced. Bastante said that they can now stay for as long as it takes to complete their route. This can vary from one to three hours. Bastante said that the hourly quota system will continue to be in place even after the pandemic ends. It has made crowd management easier.
"Not a last-minute getaway anymore"
It has become more difficult to plan a Machu Picchu trip. Because tickets sell so quickly, visitors can't expect to be able to purchase tickets immediately or even days before. Bastante suggests booking tickets at least two months ahead of time. Bastante also recommends booking tickets at least two months in advance for flights and hotels. He added that Machu Picchu is no longer a last-minute getaway. He said that people have arrived in Cusco and found that Machu Picchu tickets are not available. This is referring to the Peruvian town located 50 miles away from the site. In 2018, authorities launched a new ticketing site. The website allows travelers to see the number of available slots for each hour. The majority of dates for the next two months were already full. However, tickets became more easily available.
There are fewer trekkers along the Inca Trail
The number of trekkers who can take the Inca Trail has been restricted by authorities. Although the four-day trek from Cusco to Machu Picchu's entrance is popular, most tourists travel by rail for a 3.5 hour train ride. Fernando Rodriguez, operations manager at Intrepid Travel Peru, stated that the Inca Trail is now able to accommodate only half its former limit of 250 hikers per days.
As with visitors to Machu Picchu and other places, there has been a limit on the number of Inca Trail hikers. Universal Images Group
After porters have been accounted for, there will be 100-110 permits left per day for visitors, he stated. He said that it was a good idea to book your trip at least three months in advance. Rodriguez stated that similar Covid-19 restrictions apply to the Inca Trail. There are eight Machu Picchu group sizes plus a guide. Mandatory mask-wearing is required when social distancing cannot be achieved even at campsites.
Closed routes
Four circuits or fixed routes were created at the Citadel in 2019 to improve crowd control and site management. These routes were only recommended. People could go back and explore more than one. All of this is now forbidden.
The Citadel has four circuits or routes. This is the area that is most frequently depicted on Machu Picchu photos. AFP
Bastante explained that the circuits help disperse people and keep them moving. Tourists can't see the whole site in one day due to predetermined routes. Bastante suggests that you visit the upper circuit first, then stay overnight in Cusco to return the next day to see one of the lower routes.
Future: More tourists?
Site authorities plan to expand Machu Picchu's tourist capacity in the future, despite the restrictions on tourists. Bastante said that a new visitor center is being built this year. It will allow approximately 6,000 people to visit Machu Picchu daily.
Machu Picchu is among eight mixed UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Latin America and The Caribbean. This means that it has both cultural and natural significance. AFP
