Something about this is puzzling me, and maybe I’m just not aware of the extent of the mudslides. But I’ve been to Machu Picchu and you can actually walk down a switchback road to the town of Aquas Calientes in about an hour. Even if that road washed out, I’d think it would still be passable, but might take two or three hours instead.
My question is this, are these people just too pampered to walk down to the town?
And the article talks about running out of food and water. But when all these helicopters are flying in to pick up people, why don’t they also fly in food, water, tents and blankets?
“Something about this is puzzling me, and maybe I’m just not aware of the extent of the mudslides. But I’ve been to Machu Picchu and you can actually walk down a switchback road to the town of Aquas Calientes in about an hour. Even if that road washed out, I’d think it would still be passable, but might take two or three hours instead.”
I was wondering the same thing. I actually did walk back, but rather than follow the switchbacks, I walked down the slopes between them. I saw local kids beat the tourist bus to the bottom doing that. If the bridge at the river is washed out, that is a whole ‘nuther matter. Seeing a view of Machu Picchu from atop that mountain in the background is something I’ll never forget.
I found some other clips on YouTube. You know that the railroad track runs very close to the river in spots between Cuzco and Aquas Calientes. Someone said the tracks had been washed out — I can sure believe that. So even if you can walk down, you are still stranded in the town.