Peru Newsflash

There is still so much new to find out about and see in Peru. Just recently Peruvian scientists discovered a new species of lizard in the Otishi National Park, a protected natural area located in the central and southern Andes in the Cuzco and Junin regions covering 306,000 hectares (756,000 acres) of mountainous forests.

For those living and driving in Peru it comes to no surprise. A recent study by Compare the Market, an Australian car insurance company, came to the conclusion that Peru has the second-worst drivers in the world.

The Ministry of Culture of Peru decided to re-open Machu Picchu after it was closed on January 21 because of anti-government protests and social unrest. Peruvian authorities guarantee security for tourists and ensure the ancient Inka citadel and train services leading to it, which resumed already last week with a limited service, are safe.

The Peruvian government extended the “state of emergency” in 44 districts of the central departments of Huancavelica and Junín, as well as in the southern departments of Ayacucho and Cusco, “given the continuity of ‘terrorist’ activities and the commission of other crimes.”

With the civil protests in Peru, there seven cities where tourists should not travel because they would be at risk. The country has updated the status of these cities where the riots are taking place and has indicated that traveling there would not be recommendable for the time being.

The Peru Rail company reported that from this Wednesday, February 8, train operations between Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu will partially resume.

Peru has seen the worst outbreak of violence and turmoil in over 20 years, with protests since the beginning of December 2022. The violence in the Andean country between demonstrators and law enforcement has led to the deaths of already 48 people.

After over a month of unrest throughout Peru, demonstrations escalated in Lima on January 19. The spread of unrest to the capital posed an operational challenge to many private sector members, since until then Lima had been spared the violence and extensive transportation disruptions seen in the south of Peru. Private-sector organizations operat...