Imagine arriving in the grand citadel of Machu Picchu and finding out that you had the entire historical site to yourself. That was exactly the experience of a Japanese Tourist, Jesse Katayama, due to a very specific set of circumstances, all of which stemmed from precautions taken for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Getting a spot in the tour schedule where you aren’t swarmed by other tourists has been a daily challenge for people who want to visit Machu Picchu, and then one person managed to have zero elbows to rub with for their entire trip!
It was surely a thrill for Jesse, but it’s also a stark reminder to the rest of the world what kind of effect that travel restrictions have had on tourism.
Machu Picchu has reopened since November 2020, but with some limits that the world hasn’t been used to seeing.
The New Normal For Visiting Machu Picchu
There’s no denying the love that people have for the ancient site of Machu Picchu. But there’s also no denying the where and tear on the site by the sheer volume of visitors in the past. And under current world conditions, there’s no denying the risk posed to people who gather together by the hundreds and thousands in close contact with one another. Because of this, visitors to Machu Picchu will face some new regulations and restrictions that have not been in place before. The daily capacity used to be nearly 5,000 per day depending on how you count. Now visits will be at nearly 40% capacity or a maximum of 897 visitors, limited to groups of eight. Visitors that are under 6 or over 65 will not be allowed inside due to the reported vulnerability of those age groups to the coronavirus. Groups that are allowed inside must stay 66 ft apart.
Visitors will have their temperatures taken before entering the site and their tours will be restricted to an hour and 20 minutes.
Outside of Hiking
Modes of travel other than hiking will also be different than what most people have been used to. Buses and trains will be operating at only 50% capacity, and passengers will be required to wear a mask. Also, no food will be served on board.
So yes, it is still possible to make a trip to Machu Picchu and see the citadel in all its glory. But the longer you wait to make the trip, the less likely it is that your trip will be constantly interrupted by regulations and restrictions.
The people that have to implement such restrictions don’t enjoy them any more than the travelers do.
Perhaps the one thing to brag about in the current traveling restrictions is that when you reach Machu Picchu, it will not be nearly as crowded or as busy as it otherwise would be.
Slow Down, Kids
An unexpected side-benefit from these restrictions is the fact that the citadel just won’t get as much wear and tear. The previous traffic of nearly 5,000 people per day threatened to place Machu Picchu on UNESCO’s endangered list. So in a very real sense, the world was loving Machu Picchu to death.
Machu Picchu is like an elderly and beloved grandparent while the world is like a small grandchild full of energy and ready to play. Sometimes the grandparent needs a little bit of a break.
Whether you’re planning on visiting Machu Picchu in the near future or later on down the road, TOUR IN PERU can see to it that your place in the citadel is booked and secured so that all you have to do is focus on enjoying yourself and experiencing this wonder of the modern world.
