Machu Picchu, the remains of a 15th Century Inca city, is Peru's most popular tourist destination, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. However, ongoing disputes over the buses that shuttle visitors to the mountain-top site recently left some 1,400 tourists stranded, necessitating an evacuation.
Cristian Alberto Caballero Chacón, head of operations for Consettur, a bus company that has been transporting around 4,500 people daily to the site from Aguas Calientes for over 30 years, acknowledged recent conflicts among local communities regarding the bus service.
The dispute has arisen following Consettur's loss of its license to a competitor in an area where public transportation is vital for access, apart from a physically demanding two-hour hike. Tourists must first take a train to Aguas Calientes to reach Machu Picchu, as no direct bus service exists.
Back in September, protests erupted after locals decried the bidding process for the bus routes as inadequate and blocked the railway line with rocks, resulting in authorities clearing tracks to ensure tourists' further movement. Observers note that the source of dissatisfaction stems from the monopoly Consettur held over the bus service, now reportedly transitioning to another company, San Antonio de Torontoy, yet to comply with legal requirements to commence operations.
Despite losing its license, Consettur continues operations under legal contention. Caballero asserts that Consettur does not hold a monopoly but instead represents a collective of 12 different local businesses, including shares from the town council. However, discontent remains high among local residents seeking a share of the bus revenues.
Tourists like Annalise Jaksic and Todd Carland express frustration over transport costs, revealing how the layers of travel logistics to Machu Picchu blur their expectations of a seamless experience. Additionally, Aguas Calientes' mayor, Elvis La Torre, highlighted that a mere 10% of entry ticket sales remains local, with most funneled to broader national initiatives, underpinning the community's call for greater local revenue retention to bolster tourism infrastructure and societal benefits.
Dina Huillca, a local vendor, echoes the sentiment, emphasizing the need for basic services and community welfare improvements. The tourism chamber president, Carlos González, proposes more government oversight for transportation and differentiated visitor experiences that cater to various groups—highlighting a lack of cohesive governmental direction in tourism policy within an ever-changing political landscape.
As the bus conflict lingers, Caballero anticipates competition enriching the sector rather than undermining it, stressing an openness to collaborative service with rival companies. The situation remains fluid, capturing both the hopes for improved bus services and ongoing struggles for equitable tourism benefits in the Machu Picchu region.
