The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, jewel of Peruvian tourism, closed its doors indefinitely on Monday, December 14 for security reasons, due to protests from residents affecting the rail service, authorities said.
"Due to the protests announced in the district of Machu Picchu and for the sake of protecting the integrity of visitors, the llaqta
(citadel)
of Machu Picchu will not be open from December 14 until this situation is resolved"
, said the Regional Directorate of Culture in a statement.
Read also: The Machu Picchu site reopens after 8 months of closure
This measure comes six weeks after the citadel reopened to the public, which had been closed for nearly eight months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The suspension will last until protests by residents of the towns of Machu Picchu and Ollantaytambo against the railway companies that provide services in the area cease.
The protesters demand cheaper tickets and a greater frequency of trains between Cuzco and Machu Picchu.
The train is the only form of transport for tourists visiting the citadel but it is also widely used by locals.
The protests began on Wednesday and escalated over the weekend with the occupation of the rails, clashes with police and threats to occupy the citadel.
On December 1, a month after its reopening, Machu Picchu had increased its capacity by 40%, or 1,116 daily visitors, entry being free until December 31.
Before the pandemic, between 2,000 and 3,000 people visited the citadel daily, and in high season, up to 5,000.
Built in the 15th century, the citadel of Machu Picchu was listed in 1983 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.