Conflict Erupts Over Machu Picchu Tourist Bus Service

Thu Nov 27 2025 00:20:40 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A dispute involving the bus service to Machu Picchu has led to the stranding of 1,400 tourists, revealing tensions between local communities and transport companies.

Machu Picchu, Peru's renowned archaeological site, is facing operational turmoil due to a dispute over its tourist bus service. The main operator, Consettur, has had its license contested by a rival firm, leading to protests and disruptions that left numerous tourists stranded. As legal battles continue, residents express concerns about the management of tourism revenues and community needs.

Machu Picchu, the remains of a 15th Century Inca city and a UNESCO World Heritage site, continues to be Peru's most popular tourist destination. However, a recent conflict over the bus services transporting visitors to the site has led to significant operational disruptions, including the stranding of 1,400 tourists who required evacuation.

Operated by Consettur for the past 30 years, the bus service faces a challenge from a rival company after losing its operating license. The journey to Machu Picchu takes just 20 minutes by bus, but visitors must first arrive in Aguas Calientes by train—a trip that can take over three hours.

Local disputes escalated into protests, disrupting transportation to the site. In September, demonstrators blocked the train tracks, expressing dissatisfaction with the bidding process that allowed the transition of the bus service to a new company. While the local community accuses Consettur of monopolizing the lucrative transport route, the company asserts that it has always operated with local partners.

Despite the expiration of Consettur's license, they continue to provide bus services amidst ongoing legal challenges faced by their competitor, San Antonio de Torontoy. Current disputes over service operations also highlight broader issues, including local community demands for a fairer redistribution of tourism revenues, as only 10% of ticket sales remain in the Aguas Calientes region where most profits go to the national Ministry of Culture.

The situation is compounded by dissatisfaction among tourists regarding ticket pricing and access logistics, which sometimes complicate their visits to this iconic site. Local leaders call for unity and regulation to improve service delivery and benefit the communities involved in Peru's tourism sector.