Quick Summary: Most disruptions on the Cusco to Machu Picchu line are short: in 2026 a forest fire stopped trains for about a day (4 to 5 August), and a train incident on 2 October cleared the same evening. The long ones are political: protests closed the site from 21 January to 15 February 2023, and a strike that began on 25 January 2024 kept trains off the Ollantaytambo line until the 31st. Neither rail operator treats a closure beyond its control as its liability, and a Machu Picchu ticket is refundable only for proven force majeure, so build in one spare day (two from January to April), buy changeable fares and keep every written notice. This guide is for travellers booking, or already holding, train and entry tickets; for the weather itself, see our rainy season guide.
Recent Disruptions, Dated
The railway is the only practical way into Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes). These are the events we could date from official notices and Peruvian news:
- January to April 2010: rain cut access in January, about 4,000 tourists were rescued by helicopter, and part of the route still ran by bus at reopening (Al Jazeera, 2 April 2010).
- December 2022 to February 2023: PeruRail suspended trains on 13 December 2022 because of protest calls after President Pedro Castillo's removal (Télam via Sitio Andino). On 21 January 2023 the Ministry of Culture's Cusco office (DDC Cusco) closed the citadel and the Inca Trail, with 417 people stranded and the track damaged (La República). It reopened on 15 February (Forbes Perú).
- 25 to 31 January 2024: a strike in Machu Picchu Pueblo against outsourced online ticket sales blocked the line until the rail concessionaire, Ferrocarril Trasandino (FTSA), allowed trains from 13:00 on 31 January (RPP).
- 26 March 2024: a debris flow at kilometre 109.7 stopped trains for an expected three hours of clearing; some passengers walked on (Andina).
- 14 to 18 September 2025: rocks and demonstrations around kilometres 83 to 87, during the dispute over the Machu Picchu bus concession, halted trains (PeruRail, 15 September 2025). Service resumed on 18 September; about 1,500 tourists were affected (Canal 26).
- 30 March to 6 April 2026: a debris flow at kilometre 115, at Mandor, cut the Machu Picchu to Hidroeléctrica line (Gestión).
- 4 to 5 August 2026: a forest fire at kilometre 107 sent rocks onto the track and FTSA stopped trains at 14:55 (Andina); PeruRail cancelled ten departures (DW via Teletica), and trains resumed the next morning (Panamericana).
- 19 August to 6 September 2026: after heavy rain, new entries to Inca Trail Routes 1 to 3 were suspended (El Peruano, 18 August 2026) until 6 September (El Peruano).
- 2 and 5 October 2026: an incident between an Inca Rail and a PeruRail train near Pampacahua stopped traffic from about 13:25 until the evening (PeruRail). On 5 October a breakdown at kilometre 88 held passengers for up to three hours (Andina).
Since 2023, natural and technical stoppages on the main line have cleared in hours or a day, though 2010 shows what a severe rainy season can do. The political ones ran 4 to 25 days, and no buffer fully covers those.
Disruption Types and What Happens to Tickets
| Disruption | Typical warning | How long it lasted | What usually happens to tickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strike, protest or track blockade | Sometimes called in advance; blockades can appear overnight | 4 days (2025) to 25 days (2023) | Train: PeruRail offered changes or refunds in 2025. Entry: DDC Cusco offered rescheduling or refunds in 2023 |
| Landslide or debris flow (huaico) | None; most likely January to April | 3 hours (main line, 2024) to a week (Hidroeléctrica line, 2026) | Train: later service or bus link; refunds depend on the operator. Entry: force majeure claim with proof |
| Forest fire or rockfall | None; a dry-season risk | About a day (2026) | Entry: DDC Cusco opened its force majeure protocol for rescheduling or refunds |
| Breakdown or train incident | None | Hours (2026) | Train: times not guaranteed. Entry: a missed slot is not automatically force majeure |
| Ministry closure of a trail or site | Same day or a day ahead | About 2.5 weeks (Inca Trail, 2026) | Rescheduling and/or refund "as appropriate" |
What PeruRail and Inca Rail Actually Promise
PeruRail's purchase terms (updated 23 October 2026) say:
- Your changes and cancellations: at least 24 hours before departure, with a 10% fee (15% on the Hiram Bingham). Its FAQ adds that promotional fares cannot be refunded.
- Missed because of strikes, protests or a delayed flight: PeruRail may offer a new date at its discretion, with no refund.
- Delays: times are not guaranteed. If a delay PeruRail caused holds your departure more than 2 hours, you may cancel for a refund of up to the ticket price.
- Force majeure: no liability, though it may refund part or all "as a commercial policy and exceptionally". If it changes your schedule or stations, you may cancel for a refund.
In practice, during the September 2025 blockade PeruRail offered "full assistance and flexibility" for changes and refunds at its sales points, with refunds through its online form.
Inca Rail's general terms (undated, read on 31 October 2026) allow a change or cancellation at least 24 hours ahead for a 10% fee, done in person at its Portal de Panes office in Cusco; promotional fares allow neither. They list strikes, natural disasters and government emergency zones as grounds to suspend service. When Inca Rail reschedules you or moves you to another service for reasons beyond its control, it "undertakes to refund the price difference, but not the value of the ticket".
Bought through an agency? Both operators send changes and refunds back through that agency.
What Happens to Your Machu Picchu Ticket
Under RM 334-2026-MC (11 September 2026), a ticket is valid only for its date, hour, circuit and holder, and an unused ticket lapses with no rescheduling or refund (Articles 15.4 and 15.5). The exception: DDC Cusco may refund when a duly proven fortuitous event or force majeure stops you physically reaching the citadel. The text does not say which documents count.
At stake is about S/163 (roughly US$47) for a foreign adult on a standard route, the S/152 fee plus the S/11 conservation charge added on 1 May 2026 (El Tiempo), or about S/211 (US$61) on a mountain route.
When access itself failed, the Ministry acted:
- January 2023: tickets unused because of blockades stayed valid for a month, with refund requests accepted until 11 January (Andina). After the 21 January closure, tickets for that day could be rescheduled up to a month after the protests ended or refunded in full (La República).
- August 2026: during the fire, DDC Cusco activated its force majeure protocol for rescheduling and/or refunds; for the Inca Trail closure it promised the same "as appropriate" if bad weather persisted.
A delay of a few hours is a weaker case. The gate allows 30 minutes' grace in low season and 45 in high season (RM 207-2024-MC), as our opening hours guide explains. Keep the rail operator's written notice and ask at the gate and at DDC Cusco.
The Rainy-Season Landslide Pattern
PeruRail's FAQ says services may vary between January and April, when part of the railway closes for safety because of landslide risk and a bus-and-train (bimodal) service replaces it. The dated events fit: the 2010 floods in January, the main-line debris flow in late March 2024, and the Mandor flow from 30 March 2026. The Inca Trail also closes every February.
The dry season lowers the risk without removing it, as the August 2026 fire and trail closure showed.
How Much Buffer to Build In
Our position: leave one full spare day between your Machu Picchu date and any flight out of Cusco, and two from January to April or whenever a strike has been called for your dates. Never put Machu Picchu on the day before an international flight home.
More rarely helps. Fires, breakdowns and main-line debris flows in the timeline cleared within a day; long closures like 2023 outlast any sensible buffer, and there changeable bookings and insurance do the work. Two habits help:
- Visit early in your Cusco stay, so spare days come after Machu Picchu, not before.
- Sleep in Aguas Calientes before an early slot. A three-hour hold like the one on 5 October 2026 can wipe out a same-day morning entry; our one day vs two days guide weighs the overnight.
Bookings and Insurance Before You Go
- Train: buy regular fares, not promotions, which neither operator lets you change or refund.
- Hotels and flights: pick free-cancellation rooms and a changeable flight out of Cusco where the price gap is small.
- Insurance: read the policy wording. Look for strike, civil unrest, natural disaster and travel disruption cover, check whether events already in the news are excluded, and buy it when you book.
- Paper trail: save every cancellation email, notice and receipt. Both a rail refund and a force majeure claim depend on proof.
If Your Train Is Cancelled: News and Next Steps
- Operators: PeruRail's news releases and call centre (01 625 4848), and Inca Rail's notices.
- iPerú: the state tourist assistance service answers 24 hours a day on (+51 1) 574-8000 and by WhatsApp on +51 944 492 314 (PromPerú, 26 August 2026).
- Your embassy: register with your government's traveller alert service before you go.
- News: the state agency Andina reports closures and reopenings quickly.
Then get the cancellation in writing, ask for the next available train, contact DDC Cusco if you will miss your entry date, and tell your hotels. If you are stuck in Aguas Calientes, stay put: during the August 2026 fire, FTSA planned emergency trains for stranded passengers once conditions allowed (DW).
The Hidroeléctrica Fallback and Its Risks
When only the Ollantaytambo line is blocked, the back road via Santa Teresa and Hidroeléctrica may still work. On the last day of the September 2025 strike about 3,000 tourists entered Machu Picchu, 80% by this route, according to Cusco's regional tourism office (La República, 18 September 2025).
It is no sure thing. It means a long day on mountain roads plus about three hours on foot beside the tracks (or a local train), rain hits it harder (the Mandor flow cut its rail link for a week in 2026), and a regional strike can block roads as easily as rails. Our Hidroeléctrica guide covers vans, times and 2026 road closures. Never walk this valley in heavy rain.
FAQ
How often are trains to Machu Picchu cancelled?
Rarely on any given day; PeruRail says its trains run 365 days a year. Still, we found main-line stoppages in every year from 2022 to 2026, most lasting hours to days.
Will PeruRail refund me if my train is cancelled?
Its terms say it is not liable for force majeure but may refund as an exception, and you may cancel for a refund if it changes your schedule or stations. In September 2025 it offered changes and refunds.
What does Inca Rail do if it cancels a train?
Its terms let it reschedule you, substitute transport or move you to another service, refunding only any price difference. Your own change or cancellation costs 10% if made at least 24 hours ahead.
Can I get a refund on my Machu Picchu ticket if I can't get there?
Only for a duly proven fortuitous event or force majeure that physically stops you reaching the citadel. In 2023 and in August 2026, DDC Cusco offered rescheduling or refunds.
How many buffer days should I leave before flying home from Cusco?
One full spare day after your Machu Picchu date, and two from January to April or if a strike has been called. Long closures outlast any buffer, so add flexible bookings too.
Which months have the most landslides on the Machu Picchu railway?
January to April, when PeruRail says part of the line may close for safety. The dated events we found fell in January and late March.
Can I still reach Machu Picchu during a strike?
Sometimes, via Hidroeléctrica, which most visitors used on the last day of the September 2025 strike. Roads can be blocked too, so check with iPerú first.
Does travel insurance cover strikes in Peru?
It depends on the wording. Look for strike, civil unrest and travel disruption cover, and check whether events already public when you bought it are excluded.
What happens if you are stranded in Aguas Calientes?
Stay in town and follow the rail operators' notices. During the August 2026 fire, the concessionaire planned emergency trains once the track was safe, and iPerú answers around the clock.
Limitations
This guide reflects sources read as of November 2026. Rail terms change (PeruRail updated its purchase terms on 23 October 2026), DDC Cusco decides force majeure case by case, and the regulation does not say which documents prove it. Work-around: before booking, read both operators' current terms for your fare type, check PeruRail's news releases and iPerú for active disruptions, and ask DDC Cusco or your operator what proof they want if access fails.