Discovering A Machu Picchu Tour Package

By Michael Moore


When it comes to Peru, there are well known and lesser known tourist areas. One of the most popular is often visited with a Machu Picchu Tour Package. In addition, individuals visiting tourist areas on this type of travel package often learn more about the history of various sites as there are often narrators providing this information.

First discovered in 1911, the site has gone through a lot of changes since that time. In fact, the tourist industry and popularity have actually had negative effects on various remains in the area. As a result, UNESCO and local authorities are now considering whether or not Machu Picchu need be placed on a list of World Heritage locations in danger of being destroyed.

Due to the no fly zone, a large boulder was moved from Machu Picchu's plaza in an effort to create a helicopter landing pad. After which, in 1990, the Peru government prohibited helicopter landings. In addition, when a local company acquired approval for tourist flights, the license was almost immediately rescinded.

The reasons for these cancellations and restrictions are all related to safety concerns. For, in the past there have been a number of tourist deaths whether due to hiking, altitude sickness or floods. In fact, UNESCO and other organizations have been criticized for allowing individuals to visit Machu Picchu due to the high risk of injuries from falling rocks, earthquakes and landslides.

One reason for the concern is that in January of 2010, heavy flooding buried or misplaced thousands of Peruvian locals when railways and roads to Machu Picchu were washed away. During that time, over 2,000 locals and tourists had to be airlifted to safety. After which, the area was temporarily closed until April of the same year.

Nudists and boisterous parties have recently invaded this historic cultural and heritage area. While authorities have installed new security cameras and parole the area more often, the problem still exist. Currently, those caught first-handed or identified on camera are either being detained or banned from visiting the site in the future. For, the effects of the nudists, partiers and criminals are causing even more destruction to the sacred sites in the area.

Following the flood in 2010, the country began instituting stricter guidelines on admissions. In one case, the new rules were aimed at reducing negative effects caused by tourism. For, the country felt that by reducing the number of tourists whom visited the area on a daily basis, there would be less impact to the sacred mountain and other sites in the area.

In 2018, the number of visitors allowed to the site has diminished even further due to a three phase process in which the number of tourists allowed per day was reduced over the last decade. While this three phase process is now complete, this does not mean there will not be additional restrictions in the future. In fact, there are some in Peru whom would like to see the site sealed off from tourism in entirety to protect from further degradation and destruction.




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