Machu Picchu has become a world tourist destination. Now face the unwanted consequence: die of success

Machu Picchu is one of the most popular icons in Peru, one of its greatest heritage treasures and a powerful magnet for tourists who only during the first two months of 2025 attracted more than 191,000 visitorsalmost 17% more than in 2024. For that reason, the Inca citadel of Cusco faces the same threat that looms over other large international destinations, such as Mount Fujithe monumental areas of Rome, Venice and Florence either The pyramids of Guiza, in Egypt, to cite only a handful of examples: tourist saturation.

So They just warned The Peruvian authorities, who have launched a notice to navigators: the “tourist overload” of the Inca city threatens its conservation.

What happened? That the Would control general Of the Republic, an autonomous body responsible for ensuring the assets and resources of Peru, has just made a warning to the country’s ministry of culture: Machu Picchu is suffering a “tourist overload.” The problem has been detected both in the old citadel and in the Inca road network (Qhapaq Ñan), he Road System of the Incas.

After verifying the influx of visitors, the general control has come to the conclusion that there is an excess of tourists that puts “at risk” the conservation of both points and affects their “structure and ecosystem.” And if that message had not been clear enough, warns: To extend, that situation could lead to Machu Picchu ending in the World Heritage List in Danger of UNESCO, a risk that he already faced A few years ago.

What is the problem? The Peruvian agency provides concrete data to support its complaints. Between April 17 and 30 of this year its operators detected “an overload” of 2,505 people on the upper terrace of the Inca city (Route 1-B). And it was not an isolated case. In May they estimate that this saturation will reach 1,546 users. What does that mean? That authorized maximum aguoros are repeatedly overcome in the protected space.

“Although the sustainable access limit to said AES area of ​​450 people per day in regular or low season, the sale of tickets for daily income from 549 to 789 users was evidenced. And while in high season the limit is 490 people, access tickets of between 495 and 639 users were sold.” The key, They need From the control, although the state platform for the sale of tickets is respected the capacity of the upper terrace of the LlaqtaVisitors arrive on the road network.

Is there more data? Yes. The agency has also detected a considerable “overload” of 836 visitors, on Route 5 of the Inca road network between April 17 and 30. In May the data will amount to 1,490. “Although the permitted capacity is 250 people per day, the sale of tickets for the entry of 300 users between tourists, guides and support personnel was evidence insist From the entity.

In the case of the Route Route designedanother of the great tourist claims in the region, saturation reached 1,368 visitors during the last 13 days of April and set 1,248 people in May. The control even speaks of “errors in the sales platform” that “make it difficult to plan the number of visitors.”

Why is it a worrying? Because that excess tourists can take its toll to the deposits. “These situations do not guarantee the conservation of the areas because the constant transit of visitors could cause the erosion of the soil in areas with pronounced slopes and nearby areas, as well as the compaction of the land due warns The entity.

Something similar would happen on the route, where the technicians consider that the “overload” endangers the residential and ceremonial area for the wear of the stone.

Is it something new? Yes. And no. The touch of attention of the control of the Ministry of Culture of Peru is new, but as it is responsible for remembering the body itself in Your official statement It is not the first time that the preservation of Machu Picchu generates debate. In 2017, UNESCO He examined the situation of the Inca citadel to decide whether or not to include it in the world heritage list.

The problem, explained at that time from UNESCO, was not so much the state in which the sanctuary was, as the management of the “long -term” environment. “The difficulties are in the control of tourist flow in the area”, warned. E that occasion the Unesco chose not to register To Machu Picchu on his list, but he would control it, he remembers that this option could be on the table again.

Is it a real risk? I would control it like this seems to believe it. In fact, he recalls that at the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting held in July last year in New Delhi, the state of the Inca deposit was approached. “Concern about the state of conservation of the historical sanctuary was expressed in relation to several aspects, including the high number of daily visitors that has generated pressure on the structures and the natural environment of the site.”

The truth is that Peru It has moved token so that his great tourist claim does not die of success. At the beginning of this year the authorities of Cusco and the headquarters of the Archaeological Park of Machu Picchu They announced that would reinforce the safety and control in access to the citadel after a field guard be convicted of accepting bribes to pass to tourists skipping the rules.

To avoid repeating episodes thus Cusco promised to reinforce inspections by the police and install cameras. Machu Picchu is one of Peru’s great claims: only during the first two months of 2025 attracted More than 191,000 peoplepromoting national tourism to record figures.

Images | Eddie Kiszka (UNSPLASH) and Shashi Bellamkonda (Flickr)

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