CapriAnniversary

I had seen another posting today on Machu Picchu and perhaps the question I had posted therein was considered off message, as no one has replied to it. I had been planning a trip for May 2012 to Machu Picchu and am aware that the Peruvian authorities have imposed a capacity limit of 2500 people per day to the ruins; however, that is an entirely separate issue from one raised today by my daughter. She has very recently been advised by a Peruvian native that tourists are now no longer able to walk the grounds of the ruins. Instead, there as a viewing bar to which people with tickets may arrive to look out over the ruins, but going past that bar is prohibited. If this is true, this entirely changes the desireability of visiting Machu Picchu. I have not been able to find anything with a google search that discusses this rumored change of policy, but if the new policy is what she has been told it to be, the trip my wife and I had planned to Machu Picchu will be foregone. If we cannot gain admission to the ruins proper, why bother going? To have to pull up short at the edge of a bar demarcating the viewing area simply isn't worth (to me) the expense and time of going. Does anyone know if this rumor is true or not as to no longer being able to walk the grounds of the ruins, even if one is one of the 2500 with a ticket?

Jeff_Costa_Rica

I haven't heard anything like this at all. The big news this year was the limit on numbers to 2,500 per day, the online reservations system, and the supplemental admission and advance reservations required to climb Huayna Picchu. That's been it.

I think we would have heard about greater restrictions if they were being putting into place. I'd be interested in knowing who told your daughter this.

CapriAnniversary

Jeff, thank you for your repy. Perhaps the native Pervuian who informed my daughter either confused the facts, or, my daughter confused the meaning of what he had said to her. I don't know the fellow by name, just that he's a native and a friend of hers. I will investigate further and if learning anytning more, pro or con, will post it to this thread.

qwovadis

Think you are referring to the new separate fee

to climb HP that was recently added...

Folks can still roam around MP no costs a bunch more

to climb HP it was included last year.

Locals like inkalandadventures.com will have info also

pmexplorers.com 2 good trek providers.

One way to beat this is to trek in through the sun gate

from $300 from Flavio with inkalandadventures.com last.

Yure Chavez PeruTrek4good gets great reviews good prices.

www.lokihostels.com great placefor young folks in

Lima Cusco will have latest info also might PM them.

Happy Planning!

Jeff_Costa_Rica

The website:

www.andeantravelweb.com

keeps very current information about what's going on in tourism in Peru. They mention nothing about this on their website.

CapriAnniversary

Thank you Quovadis and Jeff.

waylluy

There was miscommunication between your daughter and friend. You must purchase the entrance ticket at least one week in advance. If you want to climb huanya picchu it is an extra cost but cannot be purchased separately.

javi342

Interesting info, I already booked my trip to Machu Picchu with Mythical trails peru and i didn't get any news about it, it seems that i have to contact and ask the travel agency.

Thanks so much!

stesand

I was told this my numerous guides when hiking the Inca trail in April 2011.
They said in 2012 a viewing platform will be completed and you will no longer be able to walk amongst the ruins.

I don't know why numerous guides told our group this. as they had no reason to - we were on our way anyway - but I'm still not entirely sure of the validity of this as i can't find anything online.

Huentetu

There is an ongoing discussion in Perú about how to best manage and protect the site. As there is input from various organisations, the guides may have heard of some proposals and be worried about their future place in the result. All I can find on the subject is this, which indicates that there are differing points of view:
http://www.fertur-travel.com/blog/20...ts-visit/3086/

In South America we have all seen a huge increase in visitors to our iconic sites. This is a welcome turn of events for the tourist industry of the various countries, but has its downside too. Large numbers of tourists can actually damage what they came to see (look at Torres del Paine) and often some control has to be put on the numbers or how the visits are managed.