Desperate race for tourists stranded in Peru before political protests resume

Australian tourists are scrambling to secure last-minute flights out of southern Peru, amid fears its airports could shut down for a second time.

Chloe Broeckelmann with a local guide who helped her.

Australian tourists are scrambling to secure last-minute flights out of southern Peru amid fears its airports could shut down for a second time as political protests resume across the embattled South American country.

After travelling to the southern city of Cusco overnight, scores of Australians were attempting to ­return home to Australia before violent protests reignited across Peru’s major cities on Monday.

Political unrest has swelled across several cities and regional centres since Wednesday last week, leaving at least 18 people dead, including minors. Despite a brief pause in demonstrations over the weekend, Australians tourists have been warned of an escalation in violent protests.

Supporters of former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo protest to demand the resignation of President Dina Boluarte.

Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said on Monday they were continuing to monitor the situation in Peru, with 171 Australians having contacted the embassy in Lima since Wednesday.

Brisbane woman Chloe Broeckelmann, who had been volunteering in Peru for a fortnight before civil unrest broke out, said scores of Australians in Cusco were nervously waiting to book flights home before the protests resumed.

“We’ve been informed that the protests are likely to begin again tomorrow morning and there is a chance the airport will close, which is making everyone feel very nervous, especially those that have booked or are trying to book flights back home,” she said.

Workers attempt to remove a rock placed by rioters on the railway track to block the train's passage to and from the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Ollantaytambo.

Ms Broeckelmann, who was stranded in a town below the ancient Inca temple Machu ­Picchu for three days, said dozens of Australians trekked out of the city or were able to board trains on Sunday after local officials cleared roadblocks and ­repaired railway gauges out of the region.

“The effort by local guides to lead tourists out of the town, through the jungle and along the railway was incredible and made it a positive experience in a dreadful situation,” she said.

Ms Broeckelmann said she had booked a $6000 flight home on Monday morning via Lima, to Houston, Los Angeles and then to Brisbane.

Sydney woman Monique Spurr, who also trekked out of Machu Picchu to Cusco on Sunday, said tourists had been given a “narrow window” to escape the country before “demonstrations ramp up again this week”.

“The last 48 hours have been very uncertain and now most people are ready to get out of here as soon as possible because it’s such a volatile situation … Keeping the airport open will be critical,” Ms Spurr said.

Sydney woman Monique Spurr trekking along the railway from Machu Picchu. Photo: Monique Spurr

DFAT said it was providing ­assistance to a small number of Australians in locations that still lacked transport options.

It comes after Peru’s embattled president Dina Boluarte said she would not step down over her predecessor’s impeachment, calling on MPs to bring forward the country’s general elections as a way to quell civil unrest.

Stranded tourists visiting Machu Picchu walk along the railway track. Photo: AFP

The country’s congress rejected a bid on Friday to hold polls next December, more than two years earlier than scheduled.