On 16 September, hundreds of tourists were stranded near Machu Picchu after residents blocked train tracks with rocks. The protest began last week after the concession for Consettur, the bus company that transports visitors from Aguas Calientes to the historic sanctuary, expired. Protesters claim the replacement process lacked transparency and fairness and are calling for a new operator that better represents local interests. While 1,400 tourists were evacuated overnight, about 900 remained stuck in Aguas Calientes, underscoring the vulnerability of tourism infrastructure to local socio-economic disputes.