Violent protests erupted following the ousting and detention of President Pedro Castillo, who had sought to dissolve Parliament in a last-minute power grab.
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.