Aussie tourists pursue escape routes out of Peru

Dozens of Australians travelled by train overnight from the tourist destination of Machu Picchu in the hopes of leaving the embattled South American country.

Dozens of Australian tourists have spent the night travelling from Machu Picchu to the neighbouring city of Cusco, in Peru’s mountainous southern region, with more than 170 Australians attempting to escape the embattled South American country.

As protests eased across parts of Peru at the weekend, up to 30 Australian tourists trapped in a town below Machu Picchu boarded trains to escape the famous Inca temple and mountain region, amid deepening political violence.

The unrest has swelled across several cities and regions, leaving at least 18 people dead, including minors.

On Sunday, officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed 171 Australians were seeking consular assistance through the embassy in Lima, with the reopening of Cusco Airport and some train services, allowing many of the Australians stranded to depart Cusco and Machu Picchu over the coming days.

While violent clashes inflicted widespread damage across the region’s transport network, the Australian embassy said trains and buses were able to reach a designated point from where passengers would disembark and take vehicles to the city of Cusco.

Janelle Nicholson, her husband and a group of Australians successfully escaped Machu Picchu after days stranded near the citadel.

Sydney woman Janelle Nicholson, who spent a fortnight in Peru volunteering with her husband, said they were stranded in the ­famous tourist region since Wednesday, when violent protests erupted nationwide following the impeachment and arrest of former President Pedro Castillo earlier this month.

“We were very lucky that we could leave on a train to Cusco, where we can fly on to Lima and then to Los Angeles before we get home,” Ms Nicholson told The Australian.

“We weren’t so much scared about the violence, but the severe lack of food and water, which would not have lasted much longer.”

“Tourists were leaving early each morning to trek to Ollytaytambo. Some arranged to hike along the hydro electrical rail line, which is roughly a 10km hike.”

“For us the journey on the train was 88 km until the train stopped because of the massive boulders on the track placed by protesters. We walked in the dark along the train line and across Incan ruins to get to our mini-van waiting for us.”

Janelle Nicholson travelled today with her husband (Dean Nicholson) from Machu Picchu to Cusco, where they are trapped due to unrest. Pictures - Janelle Nicholson.

Brisbane woman Rachel De Haan, who was also stranded in the Machu Picchu region since Wednesday, said fears began to escalate among locals and tourists when there was “basically no food left”.

She said flights to Australia were unaffordable — ranging between $4000 to $11,000 — and hoped her university insurance could help cover the cost.

The Australian understands most of the 171 tourists seeking consular assistance are based in the city of Cusco and Machu Picchu. It remains unclear whether the Australian government will assist in flying stranded residents home.

DFAT were unable to confirm how many Australians were currently in the South American country.

Stranded tourists who were visiting the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu wait to board a van to travel to Cusco after being evacuated by train to Ollantaytambo.

On Sunday, the Australian embassy in Lima said Peruvian government officials were continuing to co-ordinate transport options for Australians, despite cancelling plans to evacuate vulnerable tourists out of Machu Picchu due to poor weather conditions.

Defence Minister Alberto Otarola said much of the “organised violent acts” were aimed at damaging airports, highways, natural gas pipelines and hydro-electric installations.

“The trend is downward. But we remain on alert. The situation of violence hasn’t passed and the crisis goes on,” he said.

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

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

But in an address aimed at tamping down the unrest rocking the South American nation, the new President stood defiant.

“What is solved by my resignation? We will be here, firmly, until Congress determines to bring forward the elections,” Ms Boluarte told Peruvians.