Machu Picchu plastic-free: a pioneer among sustainable tourist destinations

Machu Picchu, measuring 530 meters in length and 200 meters in width, is the world’s third most important archaeological site after Pompeii and Ostia Antica. Discovered in 1911 by the American archaeologist Hiram Bingham, it was declared a Historic Sanctuary in 1981, further boosting its fame. Unknown for a long time, it is now a highly sought-after destination for countless travelers.
Tourism brings many benefits to the local population, but it can also cause significant damage if not managed properly. In this month’s Sto Gran Magazine feature, we’ll take a closer look at poor tourism management and the environmental harm it can cause.
 

Tourist flows and waste: a problem to solve

In the 1980s, around one hundred thousand tourists visited the archaeological site of Machu Picchu each year. In the years before the Covid-19 pandemic, that number had risen to 1.6 million visitors. Far too many for an already fragile ecosystem! Three years ago, UNESCO issued a final warning: visitors were leaving behind up to 5 tons of waste per day, including a huge amount of plastic bottles. Since there was no waste collection system capable of handling such large quantities, and no efficient disposal organization in place, the bottles were thrown into the river below or abandoned on site, causing irreparable damage to the surrounding environment. Just imagine Machu Picchu literally buried in plastic! Bottles and waste scattered everywhere. Not exactly the idyllic view of the mountain, the little clouds, and the citadel at its foot that we often see in photos...
 

The solution? No more plastic!

Covered in plastic and waste, Machu Picchu was at risk of losing its place among the wonders of the world. It was essential to find a solution as quickly as possible to curb the problem and balance the local tourism-based economy with the preservation of this historical and cultural heritage. 

The authorities stepped in with a series of rules to improve waste management and support the environment. First of all, they introduced a cap on the number of visitors allowed into the site and sought to persuade local businesses to adopt plastic-free policies, while encouraging tourists to behave in more eco-friendly ways.

For this reason, in recent years it has become forbidden to bring non-recyclable plastics into this Wonder of the World, and a daily visitor limit of 2,240 people has been enforced—1,000 fewer than in the pre-pandemic period. 

These measures aim to make visitors more aware of the damage plastic waste causes to our environment, especially in places with high tourist traffic, such as Protected Areas and Peru’s major tourist attractions, including the fascinating Inca citadel. 
 

Some plastic-free tips

Sometimes, simply out of habit, we don’t think about the impact we have on the environment. If you are planning a trip to Peru and will be passing through Machu Picchu, remember that you can take a few plastic-free steps:

• Replace single-use bottles with a reusable water bottle!
• Bring a backpack: besides being more practical and more attractive than plastic bags, it can hold much more!
• If backpacks really aren’t your style, you can use a shoulder bag or a canvas tote instead.
• Use reusable containers to carry your food.

Reducing plastic use is very easy, and its positive impact on the environment is enormous.
Preserving our cultural heritage depends on each and every one of us! We can all make a small effort, can’t we?

And while you’re here, why not take a look at our GROUP TRIP TO PERU?