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American tourists stranded in Machu Picchu as deadly unrest sweeps Peru

Deadly unrest in the wake of a political crisis has left a number of American tourists stranded in Peru .

Hundreds of international travelers, including some Americans, were stuck in and around the historic city of Machu Picchu as the government raced to secure transport to the nearest airport this weekend. Photos and eyewitness accounts suggest protesters had placed rocks on train tracks leading to the Inca citadel.

Solo traveler Brian Vega, a Miami-Dade fire rescue captain, told NBC News he had been visiting the ancient mountainous town but found himself stuck when the train lines to the airport were shut.

“We’re isolated here,” he said. “The only way in is via train or the other case would be a helicopter." Vega added that he was considering hiking to the nearest town to get to the airport. 

Peru declared a 30-day national emergency on Wednesday after violent protests erupted following the ousting and detention of President Pedro Castillo, who had sought to dissolve Parliament in a last-minute power grab.

The declaration “means the suspension of the rights of assembly... freedom of movement,” Defense Minister Luis Otarola announced on Wednesday, suspending the rights of the people to gather and move freely across the Andean country. An overnight curfew was also in place across major cities.

Peru’s caretaker president, Dina Boluarte, exhorted Congress on Saturday to approve early elections that could provide a way out of the crisis.

At least 20 people have died, and more than 500 demonstrators and security forces have been injured in the unrest, according to the Associated Press.

Many highways are blocked and train services have been suspended, leaving a number of tourists stranded for days at Machu Picchu with no transport from the UNESCO World Heritage site to an international airport almost 50 miles away in Cusco.

Colorado resident Tom Gray’s group had managed to take the last bus back to Aguas Calientes, the gateway town to the citadel, he told NBC News in a video interview.

He said that there were dozens still stuck at the top.

“Our guide had to bribe the protesters to move the rocks to let us go back to our hotel,” said Gray, who had first arrived at Machu Picchu on Monday night. Their group had to navigate through at least 18 roadblocks constructed by trees and boulders, he said, which were guarded by local villagers. 

“There was like 200 of us rather than 5,000, which is the normal population” of the site, said Gray. “We had the whole place to ourselves.

“That was big time silver lining everywhere in being stuck here.”

All trains to and from Machu Picchu had been halted on Tuesday, PeruRail said in a statement posted on Facebook .

“The Government of Peru is organizing an evacuation via four helicopters of the most vulnerable foreign tourists from Aguas Calientes/Machu Picchu Village,” the U.S. Embassy in Lima said Saturday in a statement.

“The Peruvian government has informed the U.S. Embassy that plans are in progress to assist all travelers in Aguas Calientes/Machu Picchu Village with departure,” it said.

Almost 400 tourists from Machu Picchu were accompanied by the tourism police to Ollantaytambo District, northwest of Cusco, and then transported to the airport by bus, the ministry said in a tweet on Sunday.

On Saturday, the ministry said it was planning to “facilitate humanitarian flights,” giving priority to the elderly and vulnerable people.

The violent unrest has prompted advisories from the U.S. State Department recommending citizens "reconsider travel" to the country, and similar guidance from other countries, including the U.K. and Spain.

Following the advisories, Daniels and McLaughlin booked their flights out of Lima for Sunday evening and Gray reserved his for Tuesday. “We can get to Cusco airport, that airport is open, which would transport us to Lima,” Daniels told NBC News, adding she would make her way once trains resumed.

"We miss our families though; we would like to get home. Our kids are all flying in to be with us for Christmas and they might have it without us," said McLaughlin.

Molly Hunter is a London-based correspondent for NBC News.

Mithil Aggarwal is a Hong Kong-based reporter/producer for NBC News.

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What Is Going on at Machu Picchu?

Protesters blocked access to the Incan site in Peru over a new ticketing system. Tourists have been evacuated, but there could be more unrest. Here’s what to know.

By Mitra Taj

Hundreds of tourists were stranded near Machu Picchu, Peru’s most-visited site, over the weekend after demonstrators blocked railway and bus routes to the site and shut down local shops and restaurants in Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu, in the country’s Cuzco region. Some visitors posted videos on social media pleading for help. The police evacuated about 700 tourists on Saturday. Many left without seeing the site.

The protesters had taken to the streets on Thursday to demand the government rescind a contract that allows a company to sell tickets to Machu Picchu for the first time. Tickets had previously been sold through the office of culture in Cuzco, which is controlled by the regional government.

Protesters agreed to a 24-hour “truce” on Tuesday to take part in talks with government officials. While Machu Picchu is officially open, train service to Aguas Calientes and buses that take tourists to the citadel remain suspended. The U.S. Embassy advised travelers who want to try to reach the site by other means to make sure they take enough food and any medicine they might need.

Machu Picchu, believed to be a 15th-century getaway for Incan royalty, received some 2.2 million visitors last year, below prepandemic levels of 4.6 million. Peru has been trying to encourage tourists to visit other ancient sites in part to prevent overcrowding, which UNESCO has warned could damage parts of its structure.

Who is protesting and why are they angry?

Protesters include tour operators, guides, activists and residents in the region of Cuzco. They are opposed to a private company profiting from sales of tickets to Machu Picchu and claim that the company, Joinnus, an events marketing platform, was chosen to administer the sales last year through a corrupt deal with the culture minister, Leslie Urteaga, which she denies.

Elvis La Torre, the mayor of Aguas Calientes, said that the government did not consult local authorities or residents about the new online system.

Distrust of the government of President Dina Boluarte runs deep in Cuzco, a heavily Indigenous region with countless pre-Columbian ruins. Ms. Boluarte took office in late 2022 after her predecessor was ousted and arrested after trying to dissolve the Peruvian Congress, prompting widespread nationwide protests that she responded to with crackdowns that left 49 civilians dead, mainly in Indigenous regions.

What is the government trying to do?

The government says the new ticketing system aims to make sales more transparent. It alleges that “mafias” with ties to the regional government of Cuzco divert a portion of tickets to sell them on the black market, depriving public coffers of revenue and making it harder to measure the true number of visitors to the site.

The government is also trying to implement a “dynamic” system where the daily limit on visitors changes throughout the year.

The company that buses tourists to Machu Picchu routinely reports higher numbers of tourists per day than the official ticket sales, according to the tourism commission in Congress. The national comptroller’s office found that over 2021 and 2022, 70,000 to 80,000 visitors to Machu Picchu had not been counted by the regional culture office, representing a loss of about $2 million per year.

Where do the negotiations stand now?

Protesters want the culture minister to resign and the contract with Joinnus to be rescinded. On Tuesday, the culture ministry announced that it would move the new ticketing system to a platform administered by the central government, with input from the regional government of Cuzco.

Ms. Urteaga said it would take “a prudent period of time” to transition to a new, state-run system. “We cannot return to the previous system,” she said on X , formerly Twitter. We must have a secure, transparent and objective platform.”

Joinnus said it would agree to end its contract early.

Mr. La Torre, the mayor, proposed updating the regional government’s online platform for selling tickets to ensure transparency. “We’ll agree to modernizing the system of sales of the culture ministry,” he said in a video posted online , but only if the process was “transparent” and “communicated to stakeholders.”

It was not clear if demonstrators would resume their protest after the truce ends at midnight on Tuesday.

Hasn’t this happened before?

Peru is rife with social conflicts, and it is not unusual for residents in rural regions to block roads to draw media attention to their demands and pressure authorities to negotiate.

In the past decade, protesters have blocked railway access to Machu Picchu several times as part of efforts to secure higher salaries for teachers and health workers, lower fares for rail service, or assistance for farmers during an acute fertilizer shortage.

In late 2022 and early last year, tourism in much of southern Peru, including Machu Picchu, halted for several weeks during political unrest after Ms. Boluarte took office.

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Tourists evacuated after Peru closes Machu Picchu amid protests

European Union decries ‘disproportionate’ police response to the deadly unrest as protester death toll rises to 45.

Peru has closed its famed historical site Machu Picchu amid deadly anti-government protests, stranding hundreds of tourists for hours, as the European Union decried what it called a “disproportionate” police response to the unrest.

The closure on Saturday came as officials announced that another protester had been killed , raising the total death toll to 46 since demonstrators took to the streets in early December demanding the resignation of newly appointed Peruvian President Dina Boluarte.

Keep reading

Peru president apologises for protest deaths, refuses to resign, peru declares state of emergency in lima over protests, what’s fuelling public anger in peru.

The latest death occurred in the town of Ilave in the south.

Video footage from Ilave that was widely shared on social media shows police shooting right at a crowd of Indigenous demonstrators in the town square. Enraged protesters responded by setting fire to a police station, local media reported.

Clashes between police and the crowd in the town near Lake Titicaca and the border with Bolivia left 10 people injured, hospital officials said.

Amid the unrest, the Ministry of Culture said it was ordering the closure of the Inca trails network and the Machu Picchu citadel “due to the social situation and to preserve the safety of visitors”.

Prior to the closing of Machu Picchu, rail services to the site had already been suspended due to damage to the track by demonstrators. The only way to get up to the popular tourist site is by train.

At least 400 people, including 300 foreigners, were stranded at the foot of the site, in the town of Aguas Calientes, and pleading to be evacuated.

Rescue teams later evacuated 418 tourists, the tourism ministry said in a Twitter post accompanied by pictures of a train and seated travellers.

The weeks of unrest followed a failed attempt by former President Pedro Castillo in December to dissolve Congress and rule by decree, a move condemned by the constitutional court as a “coup d’etat”.

Castillo was impeached and arrested, and his deputy Boluarte ascended to the presidency , becoming the sixth person to assume the role in five years.

The rapid-fire series of events was met with outrage from supporters of Castillo, whose unlikely rise from an elementary school teacher and son of illiterate farmers to the country’s president made him a folk icon among many low-income Peruvians. Experts have said a long history of exclusion in the country created fertile ground for the demonstrations.

In recent days, demonstrators have repeatedly defied declarations of a state of emergency in violence-racked regions to take to the streets.

Police arrested 205 people accused of illegally entering the campus of a major Lima university.

Alfonso Barrenechea, with the crime prevention division of the prosecutor’s office, told local radio station RPP that the arrests at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos were made for illegally trespassing on the university’s premises and for allegedly stealing electronic goods.

The EU condemned the government’s response to the unrest, saying police had used “disproportionate force” against protesters.

“The EU calls on the government and all political actors to take urgent steps to restore calm and ensure an inclusive dialogue with the participation of civil society and affected communities as the way out of the crisis,” the 27-member block said in a statement.

“The ongoing social and political crises should be addressed in full respect of the constitutional order, the rule of law, and human rights,” it added.

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Protests in Peru: With Machu Picchu and Airports Closed, What Travelers Need to Know

By Rachel Chang

As the political protests in Peru that started last month  continue , officials announced on Saturday that access to  Machu Picchu , including the Inca Trail , would be shut down indefinitely, sending 418 tourists back to Cusco by train. Several of the country’s airports also paused operations, with service at Puno’s Inca Manco Cápac International Airport and Arequipa’s Alfredo Rodríguez Ballón Airport suspended until January 26 “as a precaution,” the country’s tourism board  PromPeru shared in a statement. 

“In general, we can say that tourist attractions are open to visitors,” the statement added. “However, in the case of those located in the southern and southeastern regions of the country, they could find limitations to receive tourists; this due to the interrupted transit of some roads (due to the protests), which would condition access.”

Although the clashes have turned deadly in some areas causing more than 50 total deaths, 49 of which were civilians according to The New York Times , tensions have been limited to particular parts of the country.“If [travelers] are in Lima, everything is pretty much normal except protests here and there,”  Marisol Mosquera , founder of luxury travel company  Aracari says. But she does suggest avoiding the south, including Paracas, Ica, Cusco, Puno, and Arequipa. “If you’re traveling in the next three weeks perhaps [think about] postponing, but from March onwards, I think things should be resolved,” she says.  On January 25, Peru's president announced that new elections would happen later this year—a response to a key request of protestors demanding new leadership. At the time of publishing, it's not yet clear if this may ease tensions, as protests continue. 

For now, other airports in the county, including the country's main hub in Lima, remain open, though only ticketed passengers with scheduled flights can enter the terminals, with the exception of minors and others who require special assistance. Those who currently have tickets to Machu Picchu will be able to use them “up to one month after peace is restored,” or can request a refund by contacting  [email protected] .  

Protecting tourists during the demonstrations has been a priority for Peru, as safe tourist corridors were established earlier this month from the airports to historic centers in affected areas like Cusco, Arequipa, Puno and Tacna. (Before protests started again after New Year’s, Peru Rail and Inca Rail worked together to evacuate 2,062 tourists from Machu Picchu, and when Puno’s airport operations were paused earlier this month, humanitarian flights on Air Force planes brought travelers to Lima.)

While the images and headlines seen outside the country may seem alarming, travel operators on the ground can often give tourists the best perspective on the situation.  “It is in their best interest to give you the most updated information and no one would agree to bring anyone to visit unless it would be safe and operating would be possible,” says Silvia Rico, CEO and founder of Cusco-based tour operator  Enigma Peru . “Understand that the current protests are only taking part in a portion of the country. Peru is not under any civil war, and Machu Picchu is not closed forever.” 

The ever-evolving situation also changes day by day, so having that inside knowledge will help keep plans on track. “We do not consider it affecting the safety of guests but rather, the enjoyment of the visit,” Rico says. “They should not panic; there is no risk to personal safety. They should just reconsider their plans to avoid ‘hot’ areas in which protests may affect the possibility and quality of their visits.”

It’s also imperative to understand the reason for these disturbances. “Protests are a common way for Peruvians to have their voices heard,”  Tom Damon of  Southwind Adventures says. “Peru is a relatively peaceful country that is going through a period of political transition. The current unrest is directed at the political institutions, not to cause harm to visitors to Peru.”

In fact, veering itineraries to often less-visited regions may also be an opportunity, Damon says, suggesting the northern beaches of Piura and Tumbes, archaeological sites near Chiclayo and Trujillo, or even a riverboat cruise on the Amazon from Iquitos. “There are some road blocks on the Panamerican highway in the north, so we recommend avoiding long overland routes, but flights are accessible to that area,” he adds. 

That’s precisely what American Autumn Whitefield-Madrano , a writer and digital marketer from New York, did when she got to Peru on December 20 to travel and work remotely for about five weeks. She had originally planned to head straight to Cusco, including a Christmas Day visit to Machu Picchu. “As my departure date grew closer and the unrest continued, I realized that even if I could make it to Cusco logistically—and for a while there was no way to get to Cusco at all—it wouldn't be prudent to do so,” she says. Forty-eight hours before departure, she rerouted, following the advice of a friend who knows Peru well to instead go to Chachapoyas and Trujillo.

“While I'm crushed to have missed Machu Picchu, the fact is I saw things I never would have had I stuck to the beaten path,” she says. “Machu Picchu gets all the love, but there are oodles of pre-Inca sites that are even older than Machu Picchu. Perhaps this is the time for Americans to learn more about what else Peru has to offer, such as the magnificent Moche-era huacas in the Trujillo area, or the holy sarcophagi of Karajia near Chachapoyas.”

But Whitefield-Madrano says she’s also mindful of her own presence in light of what the locals may be going through. “As a foreigner, specifically as a foreigner from a wealthy country with enormous diplomatic power, your safety is likely to be protected, and that protection could potentially come at the cost of local safety,” Whitefield-Madrano says. “In [some] places, there have been disruptions in the supply chain. Even if you yourself don't experience those disruptions, your comfort could come at the expense of people who need supplies more than you do.”

At the same time, the impact of canceled trips, including flights and hotel stays, have meant a loss of 500 million PEN (nearly $130 million USD) for the Peruvian tourism sector in the month of December 2022 alone, according to El Comercio. By some estimates , as many as 20 million people with jobs tied to tourism in the country are currently without work.  

While prudence is essential for travel now, Peruvians looking forward to more peaceful times ahead. As Rico says: “We are hopeful that the government will solve the situation soon for harmony to be back in Peru and all of us allowed to work and operate normally.”

Peru's tourism board suggests travelers download the Tourist Police Peru app, which can be accessed through the Play Store, and have emergency numbers on hand, including the Central POLTUR at (01) 4601060 or IPERÚ via WhatsApp +51 944492314 or phone (01) 574-8000. Travel specialists focused on the region also suggest American register in the free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and make sure to purchase travel insurance that covers civil unrest disturbances, as precautions. Americans currently in Peru who find themselves stuck or needing assistance can also contact the U.S. Embassy in Lima at +51-1-618-2000 or [email protected] .

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Protests across Peru are keeping tourists away from the country’s top travel destinations

The Peruvian city of Cuzco is usually teeming with visitors, but because of ongoing protests, only 4% of its hotel rooms were occupied last month. Many residents say the situation has become critical.

• By Manuel Rueda

The Inca temple of Sacsayhuamán gets only a handful of visitors per day now, as tourists cancel their trips to Cusco amid protests taking place in Peru.

With unique architecture dating back to the Inca empire, the city of Cuzco is one of Peru’s most popular tourist destinations.

But now, its cobblestone streets are mostly empty, as protests in the South American country have forced thousands of travelers to cancel their reservations.

The city of 500,000 is usually teeming with backpackers who admire the high ceilings of its baroque churches, and use Cuzco as a departure point for epic treks into the Andes mountains.

But last month, only 4% of its hotel rooms were occupied, according to the local chamber of commerce. And travel agencies are struggling to provide refunds to tourists. Many inhabitants of the city, known as Cuzqueños, say the situation has become critical.

“We are very worried with what’s happening and sometimes we feel overwhelmed,” said Maira Cano, the manager of a store that sells alpaca-wool sweaters and souvenirs near one of Cuzco’s archaeological sites. She said sales are just 20% of what they were before the demonstrations began.

“We need this situation to be solved quickly,” she added.

The protests were sparked by former President Pedro Castillo’s ill-fated attempt to dissolve Congress in December and rule by decree.

He was promptly impeached and arrested on rebellion charges, and replaced by his vice president, Dina Boluarte. But while his removal complied with Peruvian law, it angered many people in the nation’s Andean highlands, who were hoping that Castillo — a former rural school teacher — would reverse the years of neglect they’ve faced from the central government.

The situation quickly turned violent in some southern cities, where largely Indigenous groups of protesters tried to take over airports, and were met by police gunfire.

The protests then moved to the capital Lima, where thousands of people have been marching to demand the resignation of Boluarte — blaming her for the deaths of dozens of protesters in cities like Juliaca and Ayacucho.

“Many lives have been lost and to honor them we need to change things.” Hansel Ordoñez, protester

“We can’t tolerate so much abuse,” said Hansel Ordoñez, who showed up at a protest in Lima with a Peruvian flag draped over his shoulders. “Many lives have been lost and to honor them we need to change things.”

In many parts of southern Peru, including the area around Cuzco, protesters have also blocked rural roads with rocks and logs, in an effort to disrupt the economy.

And that also makes it impossible for tourists to get to popular destinations near Cuzco, like the Sacred Valley or the Rainbow Mountain.

In early January, protesters blocked a train track leading from Cuzco to the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu, and local villagers went on strike, prompting the government to shut down the world-famous site .

For the tourism industry, that was the nail in the coffin, according to John Gonzales, president of Cuzco’s chamber of commerce.  

“ Everyone who comes here wants to see Machu Picchu,” he explained. “So, to avoid disappointment, people are canceling their trips and choosing to go to other countries.”

Some people in Cuzco support the protests, even if they are depriving the ancient city of one of its main sources of income. 

Dionisa Condori makes tips by taking photos with tourists. Every day, she dresses up in colorful traditional clothes and takes a bus to central Cuzco with her white baby alpaca in her arms.

“We want all of Congress to resign,” she said. “They have ignored Indigenous people like us for too long and left us in the margins.” She explained that her village, located outside Cuzco, still has no gas pipes.

President Boluarte has proposed moving elections up to October to reduce the opposition to her beleaguered administration. But Congress would have to approve the proposal, and it’s currently debating the conditions in which new elections could be held.

While Condori supports the protests, she also wants a quick solution to the conflict. Basic necessities have become harder to come by. She said that the price of beef and chicken has gone up, with roadblocks making it harder to bring goods into the city. “It’s hard to make a living now,” she said.

And in Cuzco, most people are hoping for a solution to end the roadblocks, in the hopes that visitors will return to the city.

“We have no quarrels with tourists,” Condori said. “We hope that they can come back soon, so that everyone can benefit.”

Related:   Peru protests reveal ethnic and regional divides

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Machu Picchu tourists stranded as protesters block trains to site

Train services suspended due to safety concerns as people demonstrate against Peru’s consolidation of ticket sales

Protesters in Peru are blocking access to Machu Picchu , leaving some tourists stranded amid local anger over a new ticketing system halting rail transport to one of South America’s most popular heritage sites.

Train services to the ancient ruins high up in the Andes have been suspended since Saturday due to safety concerns over demonstrators blocking the railway line. Travel links were still not reopened on Monday, two tour operators told Reuters.

The protests, which began late last week, have left hundreds of tourists, who flock to Machu Picchu from all over the world, unable to reach the site.

The latest dispute has delivered a fresh blow to Peru’s tourism industry that was hit hard last year by widespread civil unrest , especially in the southern Andean region that is a key zone for the country’s huge copper industry.

Roundtable discussions entered a second day on Monday to resolve the dispute between the authorities and protesters angry at the government for consolidating ticket sales.

Peru’s minister of culture, Leslie Urteaga, traveled to the region on Sunday, but a solution to the “indefinite strike” being led by travel unions, tour operators and residents is yet to be announced.

Community representatives in Machu Picchu fear that the new electronic ticket sales platform will hurt local businesses by “privatizing” sales and directing profits to one single firm.

Agencies responsible for the care and preservation of the site have warned about overcrowding and tickets being oversold, forcing authorities to find new ways to control visitor numbers as travel rebounds in the wake of the pandemic.

The government argues the new ticketing platform available from January will strengthen the way visitor numbers are managed. From this month, entries are capped at 4,500 per day, up from 3,800 last year.

In September, Peru temporarily closed three areas of Machu Picchu, a Unesco world heritage site built in the 15th century as a religious sanctuary for the Incas, due to site deterioration brought on by heavy visitor volumes.

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Peru has closed off machu picchu due to growing anti-government protests.

The Associated Press

An anti-government protester challenges police surrounding the San Marcos University in Lima, Peru, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. Police evicted from the university grounds protesters who arrived from Andean regions seeking the resignation of President Dina Boluarte, the release from prison of ousted President Pedro Castillo and immediate elections. Martin Mejia/AP hide caption

An anti-government protester challenges police surrounding the San Marcos University in Lima, Peru, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. Police evicted from the university grounds protesters who arrived from Andean regions seeking the resignation of President Dina Boluarte, the release from prison of ousted President Pedro Castillo and immediate elections.

LIMA, Peru — Peru indefinitely shut the famed ancient ruins of Machu Picchu on Saturday in the latest sign that anti-government protests that began last month are increasingly engulfing the South American country.

The Culture Ministry said it had closed the country's most famous tourist attraction as well as the Inca Trail leading up to the site "to protect the safety of tourists and the population in general."

There were 417 visitors stuck at Machu Picchu and unable to get out, more than 300 of them foreigners, Tourism Minister Luis Fernando Helguero said at a news conference.

The closure of the Incan citadel that dates to the 15th century and is often referred to as one of the new seven wonders of the world comes as protesters have descended on Lima, many of them traveling to the capital from remote Andean regions, to demand the resignation of President Dina Boluarte.

Also Saturday, police raided Peru's most important public university in Lima to evict protesters who were being housed at the campus while participating in big demonstrations. More than 100 people were detained, Interior Minister Vicente Romero said.

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Peru is on edge as protesters converge on the capital.

Until recently, the protests had been concentrated in the country's south. They began last month after then-President Pedro Castillo, Peru's first leader with a rural Andean background, was impeached and imprisoned for trying to dissolve Congress.

Demonstrators are demanding the resignation of Boluarte, the former vice president sworn into office Dec. 7 to replace Castillo. They also want Congress dissolved and new elections held. Castillo is currently detained on charges of rebellion.

More than 55 people have died in the ensuing unrest, most recently on Friday night when a protester was killed and at least nine others injured in clashes with police in Puno. A total of 21 protesters and one police officer have died in the southern region.

On Saturday morning, police used a small tank to burst into the National University of San Marcos in the morning.

Javier Cutipa, 39, who traveled by bus from Puno, had been sleeping on the floor there since Thursday but left for breakfast right before the police arrived. He described the police action as "practically an assault," with helicopters, tear gas and small tanks.

"This outrages us. The only thing the government is doing with these detentions is worsen tensions," Cutipa said. He added that "when the population finds out about this they're going to react in a more radical fashion."

Hundreds of protesters congregated outside the law enforcement offices where the detainees were being held Saturday evening chanting "Freedom" and "We're students, not terrorists." More congregated at other points of downtown Lima.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights expressed "concern over the police incursion, eviction and massive detentions" at the university and urged the state to "guarantee the integrity and due process of all people."

The university issued a news release saying the police raid took place after protesters "assaulted" security personnel.

Cusco, where Machu Picchu is located, has been the site of some of the most intense clashes, leading to significant loss of tourism revenue. The Cusco airport was briefly shut down this week after protesters tired to storm it.

Train service to Machu Picchu has been closed since Thursday due to damage to the tracks.

Some stranded tourists have chosen to leave by walking to Piscacucho, the nearest village, Helguero said, "but that involves a walk of six, seven hours or more and only a few people are able to do it."

Tourists who had already bought tickets for Machu Picchu from Saturday until one month after whenever the protests end will be able to obtain a full refund, the Culture Ministry said.

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Protesters rally in Peru against decree classifying seven gender identities as “mental illness”

A member of the LGBTQ+ community holds up a sign with a message that reads in Spanish: “Nothing to cure”, during a protest against a decree following a decision by the Ministry of Health classifying transgenders as mentally ill, in Lima, Peru, Friday, May 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

Wearing a Transgender flag as a cape, a member of the LGBTQ+ community joins in a protest against a decree following a decision by the Ministry of Health classifying transgenders as mentally ill, in Lima, Peru, Friday, May 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

A member of the LGBTQ+ community holds up a sign with a message that reads in Spanish: “It’s my identity, not an illness”, during a protest against a decree following a decision by the Ministry of Health classifying transgenders as mentally ill, in Lima, Peru, Friday, May 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

Members of the LGBTQ+ community protest against a decree following a decision by the Ministry of Health classifying transgenders as mentally ill, in Lima, Peru, Friday, May 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

Displaying a photo of a transperson who died under suspicious circumstances, members of the LGBTQ+ community protest against a decree following a decision by the Ministry of Health classifying transgenders as mentally ill, outside the Peruvian embassy in Quito, Ecuador, Friday, May 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

Members of the LGBTQ+ community protest against a decree following a decision by Peru’s Ministry of Health that classifies transgenders as mentally ill, outside the Peruvian embassy in Quito, Ecuador, Friday, May 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

A member of the LGBTQ+ community protests against a decree following a decision by Peru’s Ministry of Health that classifies transgenders as mentally ill, outside the Peruvian embassy in Quito, Ecuador, Friday, May 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

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LIMA, Peru (AP) — Sexual diversity activists protested in Peru’s capital in front of the health ministry Friday to demand that the government repeal a decree that characterizes seven gender identities, including transgenderism, as “mental illnesses.”

Protesters also gathered outside the Peruvian Embassy in Ecuador’s capital, Quito.

The demonstrations coincided with the International Day Against Homophobia, celebrated since 2005 to mark May 17, 1990, when homosexuality — then considered a mental illness — was removed from the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases.

In Lima, hundreds protested last week’s decree by President Dina Boluarte’s administration. The Ministry of Health said the action would guarantee “comprehensive mental health care coverage” to those affiliated with public, private or mixed health plans.

Peru does not recognize same-sex marriage.

Demonstrators carried signs with a variety of messages, among them “My life is freedom, not a disorder,” “Health is not legislated in the past,” “The disease is you, transphobia kills” and “No diversity with Dina.”

Several people beat on drums and others chanted, “Trans people are love.”

“We have had conservative governments for many years. We had military governments, then right-wing governments linked to Catholic and evangelical churches, so the position regarding us they have revived again,” said Gia Cruzado, a transgender woman and writer.

“The decree is a step backwards and is a way to continue closing the doors to progress for our community,” Cruzado said.

Gahela Cari, a transgender woman who unsuccessfully ran for congress in 2021, said that “being gay, lesbian, non-binary or bisexual is not a disease, it is a human condition.”

In Ecuador, dozens of members of a collective defending the rights of the LGTBQ+ community marched to Peru’s embassy. They staged a sit-in outside while waving flags and signed declaring that “being trans is not a disease.”

Protesters rally in Peru against decree classifying seven gender identities as “mental illness”

Sexual diversity activists have protested in Peru’s capital in front of the health ministry to demand that the government repeal a decree that characterizes seven gender identities, including transgenderism, as “mental illnesses.”

LIMA, Peru — Sexual diversity activists protested in Peru’s capital in front of the health ministry Friday to demand that the government repeal a decree that characterizes seven gender identities, including transgenderism, as “mental illnesses.”

Protesters also gathered outside the Peruvian Embassy in Ecuador’s capital, Quito.

The demonstrations coincided with the International Day Against Homophobia, celebrated since 2005 to mark May 17, 1990, when homosexuality — then considered a mental illness — was removed from the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases.

Protests in Peru against classification of gender identities as ‘mental illness’

Protesters in Peru are demanding that the government repeals a decree characterising seven gender identities, including transgenderism, as “mental illnesses”.

Demonstrators gathered in front of the health ministry in Peru’s capital city, Lima, and the Peruvian Embassy in Ecuador’s capital, Quito.

The demonstrations coincided with the International Day Against Homophobia, celebrated since 2005 to mark May 17, 1990, when homosexuality – then considered a mental illness – was removed from the World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Diseases.

In Lima, hundreds protested against last week’s decree by Peruvian President Dina Boluarte’s administration. The Ministry of Health said the action would guarantee “comprehensive mental health care coverage” to those affiliated with public, private or mixed health plans.

Peru does not recognise same-sex marriage.

Demonstrators carried signs with a variety of messages including “My life is freedom, not a disorder”, “Health is not legislated in the past”, “The disease is you, transphobia kills” and “No diversity with Dina”.

Several people beat on drums and others chanted: “Trans people are love.”

“We have had conservative governments for many years. We had military governments, then right-wing governments linked to Catholic and evangelical churches, so the position regarding us they have revived again,” said Gia Cruzado, a transgender woman and writer.

“The decree is a step backwards and is a way to continue closing the doors to progress for our community,” Ms Cruzado said.

Gahela Cari, a transgender woman who unsuccessfully ran for congress in 2021, said that “being gay, lesbian, non-binary or bisexual is not a disease, it is a human condition”.

In Ecuador, dozens of members of a collective defending the rights of the LGBTQ+ community marched to Peru’s embassy. They staged a sit-in outside while waving flags and signs declaring that “being trans is not a disease”.

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Protests in Peru against classification of gender identities as ‘mental illness’

Demonstrations took place outside the health ministry in Peru’s capital city, Lima, and the Peruvian Embassy in Ecuador’s capital, Quito.

Protesters in Peru are demanding that the government repeals a decree characterising seven gender identities, including transgenderism, as “mental illnesses”.

Demonstrators gathered in front of the health ministry in Peru’s capital city, Lima, and the Peruvian Embassy in Ecuador’s capital, Quito.

The demonstrations coincided with the International Day Against Homophobia, celebrated since 2005 to mark May 17, 1990, when homosexuality – then considered a mental illness – was removed from the World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Diseases.

In Lima, hundreds protested against last week’s decree by Peruvian President Dina Boluarte’s administration. The Ministry of Health said the action would guarantee “comprehensive mental health care coverage” to those affiliated with public, private or mixed health plans.

Demonstrators carried signs with a variety of messages including “My life is freedom, not a disorder”, “Health is not legislated in the past”, “The disease is you, transphobia kills” and “No diversity with Dina”.

Several people beat on drums and others chanted: “Trans people are love.”

“We have had conservative governments for many years. We had military governments, then right-wing governments linked to Catholic and evangelical churches, so the position regarding us they have revived again,” said Gia Cruzado, a transgender woman and writer.

“The decree is a step backwards and is a way to continue closing the doors to progress for our community,” Ms Cruzado said.

In Ecuador, dozens of members of a collective defending the rights of the LGBTQ+ community marched to Peru’s embassy. They staged a sit-in outside while waving flags and signs declaring that “being trans is not a disease”.

Armed police on training exercises News | 17 hours ago

Peru protesters slam new insurance law that deems transgender people mentally ill

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Protest after Peru classifies transsexuality as mental disorder

LGBTQ groups protested Friday outside Peru's health ministry after the government issued a decree listing transsexualism as a mental disorder.

"It is a decree that takes us back three decades," said Jorge Apolaya, spokesman of the Collective Pride March, a Lima-based rights group.

"We cannot live in a country where we are considered sick," he said.

Transgender people are those who reject the sex they were assigned at birth. Some opt for surgical or medical intervention.

The government on May 10 updated its list of insurable health conditions -- which since 2021 has offered benefits for mental health treatment -- to include services for transgender people.

In the decree, the health ministry describes the condition as a "mental disorder" -- an obsolete term long officially abandoned by the World Health Organization.

More than 200 activists gathered outside the health ministry to demand the revocation of the decree on Friday -- the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.

"It is a regulation that violates us ... they are positioning us as sick people, as if we have a problem," said 25-year-old Afrika Nakamura.

With slogans like "It's not a  disease, it's diversity!" and "We are trans and we are not sick," the protesters blocked the busy avenue in front of the ministry for a few hours.

No clashes with police were reported.

"We demand the repeal of this transphobic and violent decree, which goes against our trans identities in Peru," activist Gianna Camacho of the Coordinacion Nacional LGTBIQ+ told AFP.

"We are not mentally ill and we do not suffer from any mental disorder," she added.

The government said it would not scrap the decree.

Health ministry official Carlos Alvadrado told AFP that doing so would "remove the right to care."

The ministry has previously insisted it does not consider gender diversity as an illness, and in a statement expressed "our respect for gender identities and our rejection of the stigmatization of sexual diversity."

It said the decree was meant merely to extend mental health coverage "for the full exercise of the right to health and well-being" of those who want or need it.

An article on the website of Human Rights Watch describes the decree as "profoundly regressive" in a country that does not allow same-sex marriage nor for transgender people to change their identity documents.

For Percy Mayta, a medical doctor and activist, "pathologizing" transgender people "opens the door to... conversion therapy" -- which UN bodies have equated to torture and is not illegal in Peru.

In its press statement, Peru's health ministry underlined that "the sexual orientation and gender identity of a person does not in itself constitute a physical or mental health disorder and therefore should not be subjected to medical treatment or care or so-called reconversion therapies."

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Peru controversially classifies transgender, nonbinary and intersex people as ‘mentally ill’

A nation has sparked backlash after officially classifying transgender, non-binary and intersex people as “mentally ill.”

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The Peruvian government has officially classified transgender, nonbinary and intersex people as “mentally ill.”

The highly-controversial decision was made to ensure the country’s public health services could “guarantee full coverage of medical attention for mental health” for the trans community, the Peruvian health ministry explained, according to the Telegraph.

The decree will supposedly alter the language in the Essentials Health Insurance Plan to reflect that trans and intersex people have a mental disorder, LGBTQ+ outlet Pink News reported.

Despite the change, trans and other LGBTQ+ people will not be forced to undergo conversion therapies, the health ministry insisted in a statement issued on Friday, the outlet reported.

LGBTQ+ activist groups across Peru, however, slammed the decision as a major step backward in the fight for their rights and safety.

“100 years after the decriminalisation of homosexuality, the @Minsa_Peru has nothing better to do than to include trans people in the category of mental illnesses,” Jheinser Pacaya, director of OutfestPeru, wrote on X.

“We demand and we will not rest until its repeal,” they added.

Percy Mayta-Tristán, a medical researcher at Lima’s Scientific University of the South, told the Telegraph that the decision showed a lack of awareness around the complexity of LGBTQ+ issues.

“You can’t ignore the context that this is happening in a super-conservative society, where the LGBT community has no rights and where labelling them as mentally ill opens the door to conversion therapy,” he explained.

Human Rights Watch said the nation had “chosen bigotry” following the call.

“The decree further calcifies prejudices against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Peru which have led to violence and discrimination against this population,” the organisation wrote.

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“Officially pathologising LGBT people in Peru may seriously undermine efforts to improve rights protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity.”

Peru has seen social movements demonstrate in the streets over transgender rights, with protesters demanding “Justice for Seb and Rodri” during a protest to demand justice for Rodrigo Ventosilla, a Peruvian graduate student at Harvard and activist for transgender rights who died on the island of Bali days after being detained for alleged cannabis possession along with his husband, outside Peru's foreign ministry building.

This article originally appeared in the New York Post and was reproduced with permission

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