麻豆约拍

In Peru hundreds of tourists who were stranded at the world heritage site of Machu Picchu are finally being evacuated by the Peruvian government.聽聽

Thousands of visitors and Peruvians were stuck for days in various locations as protesters blocked roads and forced airports to close.

The main railway tracks near to the site had been blocked since last week by anti-government protests. There's been some violence, with more than 20 people killed across the country.

Most travellers stuck in the remote village of Machu Picchu hiked nearly 30 kilometres by foot,聽to reach the town of Ollantaytambo.

From there people tried to find a way to get to the main town of Cuzco.聽And from there a flight out to the capital Lima or to their final destination.

Tony and Coleen Hepburn, from Vancouver, were with one of the groups stuck in Machu Picchu. They trekked from Machu Picchu to Ollantaytambo where they could get then transport to Cuzco and eventually out of Peru.

Tony spoke to Outside Source about what they saw:

"The driver [taking us to Ollantaytambo] stopped 500m short from the blockade... there was a mass of people that started running towards us...one guy was holding a sickle, another had a knife who slashed the tyres of the van, the guy with the sickle kicked our driver, punched him in the head and then they dragged him off..."

(Photo: Stranded tourists who were visiting the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu walk along the railway track to Ollantaytambo, Peru, on December 17, 2022. Credit: Getty Images)

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