Source: Andina
CUSCO, Peru (UPDATED) — Communities around Machu Picchu extended their truce for another 72 hours on Saturday, keeping train and bus services running while officials prepare to reopen stalled negotiations over the disputed tourist transport concession.
The extension eases immediate pressure on tourists and operators, but the conflict over who controls the bus route to the Inca sanctuary remains unresolved. Local leaders demand the government decentralize management, while transport companies battle for the lucrative concession. Officials warn that without a settlement, the crisis could flare again, threatening visitor access and damaging Peru’s global tourism brand.
Consettur Winding Concession
The dispute comes as Consettur Machupicchu, the long-time monopoly operator of shuttle buses to the ruins, faced the end of its controversial concession. The company announced last year the addition of electric buses in 2025 in a partnership with Pluz Energía, pledging to make the winding Hiram Bingham Highway a zero-carbon route.
But Consettur’s dominance has been disputed since its founding in 1995. The firm was originally granted a two-year concession, later extended to 30 years under contracts that Peru’s consumer protection agency, Indecopi, deemed irregular. La República reported that Segundino Humpire Huallpa, Consettur’s former manager, alleged his signature was forged on the extension. “In the original contract, my signature appears, I did it for two years, not a day more or less,” he said. “After that contract (1995), everything is false.”
The municipality of Machu Picchu Pueblo owns 38 percent of Consettur, creating what critics describe as a conflict of interest between regulator and beneficiary. Local entrepreneurs have since organized a rival, Machupicchu Bus Operator, promising community ownership, reinvestment and eventually an electric fleet of their own.
Ongoing Losses
The fight over the Hiram Bingham road has spiraled into blockades, sabotage and emergency interventions. Local mayors, the Cusco governor and the central government have traded blame as thousands of visitors faced canceled trips. According to El Comercio, the turmoil has already cost more than 50 million soles ($13 million) in lost bookings and could cut inbound tourism by 30 percent.
Foreign visitors voiced frustration as the conflict played out. “We came from Spain for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and instead we’ve spent days waiting in line,” one tourist told Infobae, which reported widespread disappointment among travelers who found protests and delays instead of seamless access to the site.
International Scrutiny
The unrest has drawn international scrutiny. The New7Wonders Foundation has warned that Machu Picchu could lose its status as one of the “New Seven Wonders” if Peru fails to improve management, El Comercio reported. Overcrowding, irregular ticketing, unreliable transport and recurring protests all undermine confidence in the sanctuary’s stewardship.
Calls for Decentralization
Local authorities continue to push for change. Machu Picchu Pueblo Mayor Elvis La Torre told Canal N that the Ministry of Culture “continúe gestionando Machu Picchu desde Lima” and argued for an autonomous authority based in Cusco to manage revenues and transport. He said his district receives “barely 10 percent” of the more than 250 million soles generated annually.
Regional governor Werner Salcedo also pressed for reforms. “Solo tenemos paliativos hasta hoy de parte del Ejecutivo,” he said, according to El Comercio. “Pareciera que buscan que esta situación se repita año tras año.”
Negotiations Resume
The Ministry of Culture confirmed that a dialogue table originally set for Friday was pushed to Saturday after the Urubamba mayor failed to appear, RPP reported. The ministry said it remains committed to facilitating talks between local leaders and transport firms.
Despite the upheaval, demand to visit the ruins remains strong. La República reported that starting in 2026, Peruvians and Cusco residents will be able to enter the sanctuary free of charge on select dates — a move officials hope will boost domestic tourism.
For now, access to Machu Picchu continues under a renewed truce, but its future rests on negotiations still shadowed by mistrust and competing interests. As El Comercio put it, the citadel’s role as both a global icon and a cornerstone of Peru’s economy is “under threat.”
(This report includes material generated with AI; all facts and attribution were reviewed by Peruvian Times.)
