This world-famous destination is breaking visitor records despite warnings from travelers

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Did you know that one of the Seven Wonders of the World was only brought to the world stage in the 20th century?

One of Latin America’s most epic bucket list destinations has only been brought to the public’s attention in the past hundred years, which explains why it’s such a trek to get to.

Found deep in the vertiginous Andes, and often accessible by train so visitors can rest before putting their hiking boots to work, it’s hard to fathom how this stone wonder was forgotten for lifetimes before being revealed to the modern world.

Yes, we are talking about world famous Machu PicchuPeru’s most remarkable destination, beyond the bustling city of Lima and a series of timeless towns in the rugged highlands.

Visiting Peru without planning a Machu Picchu excursion is like visiting Cancun and going back to your room without a single crevasse of sand.

The numbers back this up, as the iconic Inca citadel had one record-breaking Octoberwhere around 150,000 tourists were welcomed – but those planning a trip to Machu Picchu in recent months have surely caught wind of a US Embassy warning that was activated amid a cluster of chaos that left tourists stranded.

In addition, Peru as a whole received a separate security alert weeks later.

Tourists remained stranded: is Machu Picchu safe to visit?

If there’s one thing none of us here at Travel Off Path hope to ever use, it’s travel insurance.

For me personally, I have reached almost 40 countries and returned unscathed without having to file a claim.

Although those who visited Machu Picchu in recent months may have fared differently….

It’s one thing to be stuck at an airport, or maybe mom forgot to pick you up from school one day, like what happened to me in childhood… because that’s completely normal, right?

But it’s another thing entirely to be stranded in a remote destination like Machu Picchu, where you’re unlikely to find a volleyball to befriend.

What happened?

According to the US Embassy, ​​large-scale protests in the region blocked the highly popular railway line to Machu Picchu.

Contractual disputes between different carriers ultimately resulted in a report 900+ tourists being left behind by this blockage.

The good news is that this was a unicorn scenario. Although every traveler from Machu Picchu comes home with only fond memories of an ordinary trip, this was an unforeseen circumstance.

Train operator PeruRail recently made an announcement on their website website that these problems have now been resolved, so it seems to be business as usual again.

Still rising despite safety concerns

Ironically, shortly after the US Embassy issued a travel warning, Machu Picchu set a new monthly visitor record for the month of October.

Whether this is due to a backlog of tourists coming here or just a classic coincidence remains to be seen, but if there’s one thing for sure, it’s that Machu Picchu is as popular as ever.

We know tourists don’t have to worry about getting stranded right now, but what about that other (even more recent) Peru advisory we covered?

Well, that’s a different story, but not entirely separate from Machu Picchu…

You see, most travelers enter Peru through Lima. The main airport is in Callao, a region designated by the US Embassy as a crime-ridden area.

In reality, the The Peruvian government declared a state of emergency on October 22 is currently still in force. It is expected to end on November 21 unless there is a yet-to-be-announced extension due to unprecedented crime levels.

Travelers venturing to Machu Picchu will want to mind their P’s and Q’s in Lima if it’s a stop on your adventure before flying to Cusco, the most feasible entry point to this UNESCO-listed sanctuary of the Inca Empire.

Machu Picchu’s new ticketing system

Peruvian reports boast of a new ticket/access control system that would be a major driver of Machu Picchu tourism.

This system was implemented on August 1, about a month before things went wrong with the ensuing chaos that left tourists stranded.

The Decentralized Directorate of Culture in Cusco (DDC Cusco) is now emphasizing a safer, smoother experience without the hassle of overcrowding that visitors experienced in the past.

There are now more ways to pay, including debit cards, credit cards and digital wallets, but the easiest way to ensure you get to witness a true wonder of the world is by booking ahead through the official platform you’ll find here.