Four travelers from the Estrada group, Luis Ángel Carbia, Tania Míguez, Iago Saborido, and Tania Domínguez, arrived in Peru for a short vacation last Friday. Their plans included attending a friend’s wedding before returning to Spain to explore Machu Picchu. Instead, they found themselves stranded for days in Aguas Calientes, a town at the foot of the former Inca capital, now primarily reachable by rail. The disruption reflected broader protests across Peru following the dismissal of President Pedro Castillo and the appointment of Dina Boluarte, an upheaval that has touched even the country’s most visited spots.
Tourists flock to Peru’s iconic sites, yet the current unrest has complicated travel logistics. Machu Picchu is reached by a 110-kilometer train ride from Cusco, a route the Estrada group relied on to reach the famed citadel. “When we set out for Machu Picchu, the chatter was soft, nothing alarming yet. We were almost alone up there. By the time we descended, protesters and uncertain conditions dominated the scene,” Carbia recounts from Aguas Calientes.
Locals and protest groups targeted the train line that connects Aguas Calientes with Cusco, aiming to disrupt travel for outsiders during the protests. Strikingly, authorities reported that public transport was halted with a level of force that alarmed visitors. The Estrada travelers were told that the train line, controlled by a political faction, became a point of leverage where tourists were seen as potential leverage. Prices for visiting Machu Picchu reportedly spiked to around 500 euros, and some venues reportedly refused to accept other terms.
As days passed, the four friends faced growing concerns. They feared the unrest could escalate into wider civil turmoil. “The protests shut the country down until the president resigned, but tensions and casualties have sparked fear,” one member notes. The atmosphere in Cusco and the surrounding area has grown tense, with military and emergency measures mentioned in local discussions.
In Aguas Calientes, the train interruption revealed another layer of the crisis: the town’s capacity to host visitors was suddenly strained. Aguas Calientes recorded 779 foreign visitors in the town hall, according to locals associated with the Estrada party, yet supply chains dependent on daily rail deliveries were suddenly unreliable. Businesses reported shortages and rising concerns about fuel and other essentials. “Many shops are already closing, and some gas reserves may be limited for the week,” the travelers say, reflecting on the immediate impact on daily life and hospitality services.
With options narrowing, the Estrada group began weighing ways to depart Peru. One clear wish remained: to return home safely and reunite with their families. They considered walking along the rail corridor toward Cusco and then continuing to Lima to catch a flight home. The route would be arduous and not guaranteed, especially with airport closures complicating any exit. “We need a viable path out of here, ideally supported by some form of government effort to facilitate tourist departures,” one member commented, underscoring a sense of helplessness and the urgency of finding a safe solution.
As these conversations unfolded, it became evident that the travelers faced a rapidly changing reality. Some peers reportedly began walking toward Ollantaytambo, a journey that could take eight to ten hours along rail tracks through forested terrain. “There may be no option but to undertake this route,” Carbia noted, acknowledging the hardship and uncertainty ahead. He added that even if they reach Ollantaytambo, the plan to fly from Lima depended on airport operations, which were also affected by the crisis. The possibility of road travel between Ollantaytambo, Cusco, and Lima posed its own risks, especially if obstructed by lookout groups along the way.