Inca Trail to Machu Picchu remains closed until August 30 for technical inspection

Access to the Inca Trail routes 1, 2, and 3 leading to Machu Picchu will continue to be restricted until Sunday, August 30. Specialists are conducting technical inspections to ensure the necessary conditions are met for reopening these popular tourist paths.

The Directorate of Culture of Cusco confirmed the extended closure, stating that the evaluation aims to guarantee the safety and integrity of visitors before tourist transit is authorized again. Representatives from the Directorate, along with personnel from the National Service of Natural Protected Areas (Sernanp), are working on rehabilitating the sections of the trail affected by landslides.

These routes have been closed since August 18 as a precautionary measure following intense rains and flash floods on August 17 and 18. Since then, technical assessments, rehabilitation work, and cleaning of affected tourist infrastructure have been underway. The initial reopening was planned for August 22, but the conditions found during the evaluations led to postponements.

A new technical inspection is scheduled between August 27 and August 30. This assessment will involve representatives from the Regional Directorate for Disaster Risk Management and Security, the National Civil Defense Institute (Indeci), Sernanp, and the Directorate of Culture. Their objective is to verify safety conditions, assess transitability, and identify any remaining risks along the routes.

Once the inspection is complete and based on the specialists' report, a definitive reopening date for Inca Trail routes 1, 2, and 3 will be determined. Currently, no confirmed date has been set for the resumption of tourist access to these three circuits. However, Route 5 remains open, offering an alternative access to the Inca Trail.