Ferrocarril Transandiono FETRASA is the company in charge of the railroad to Machu Picchu maintenance. They have sent a statement reiterating that they have started reconstruction of the railroad and time-lining progress:
1. The trans Hydroelectrica – Machu Picchu route is estimated to be open around the 17th or 18th of February (*)
2. The Piscacucho to Machu Picchu route is planned to run beginning March 21st.
3. The Ollantaytambo – Machu Picchu route is predicted to open on April 1st.
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Andean Adventures notes their alternative transport to the famous ruins. (Cusco – Ollantaytambo – Santa Maria – Santa Teresa – Hydroelectrica – Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu)***
– Cusco to Ollantaytambo: 81 km on paved road & Ollantaytambo to Santa Maria: 83 km on paved road/35 km on dirt road
Estimated Travel Time: 5-6 hours
– Santa Maria to Santa Teresa: 22.5 km on a narrow dirt road.
Estimated Travel Time: 1 hour
– Santa Teresa to Hidroelectrica: 19 km on dirt road
Estimated Travel Time: 40 min
– Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Town):
Estimated Travel Time: 30 min
Nearest Towns With Hotel:
Quillabamba (2 Stars): 6 hours from Cusco and 2.5 hours from Hidroelectrica
Santa Teresa (small, basic hotel)
*** Please Note: Machu Picchu is inaccessible for the time being. However, a back entrance route is in the works and will hopefully be an option soon. This back route is laid out above.
Any news when the “back entrance” will be accessible again. Is walking along the train tracks from Hydroelectrica an option?
We don’t know yet when the back entrance will be accessible again. The tracks from Aguas Calientes to the Hydroelectric station are actually restored and operational now. The issue is the road to Santa Teresa and Santa Maria is not open, and we aren’t sure yet when it will be repaired. Machu Picchu is officially closed until April 1st, or whatever date the rail line is repaired. So, once the rail line from Pisacucho (Km 82) to Aguas Calientes (km 110) is repaired, Machu Picchu will reopen. The Government has set April 1 as the target date for this, although that may be optimistic.