When the Trains Stopped: A Story About Responsibility on the Way to Machu Picchu
There is a story I sometimes share with travelers, not to scare them, but to remind them that adventures in the Andes can be unpredictable. In recent years, situations like this seem to happen more often, perhaps because of climate change or the El Niño phenomenon.
At the same time, this experience became one of the moments that most strengthened the reputation of Llama Path as a responsible tour operator. The reviews that came afterward on TripAdvisor and other platforms helped us grow, but more importantly, they reminded us what truly matters in tourism: taking care of people.
The Year Everything Changed
It was the year 2010.
Heavy rains caused massive landslides in different sections of the railway line connecting Machu Picchu to Cusco. Rivers overflowed, the mountains became unstable, and in some places the train tracks were practically swallowed by nature.
Suddenly, there was no way to return to Cusco by train.
Thousands of tourists became stranded in Aguas Calientes, the small town below Machu Picchu. This affected everyone — not only hikers from the Inca Trail, but also travelers who had simply visited Machu Picchu by train for the day.
Many tourists had international flights, connections, and strict schedules. Staying indefinitely was simply not an option.
The Only Way Out
For many people, the only solution was to walk.
Some travelers decided to hike all the way toward Kilometer 82, the starting point of the Classic Inca Trail, where eventually they could find transportation back to Cusco.
The walk was around 30 kilometers.
And it was not an easy walk.
The route followed the railway tracks themselves, stepping carefully over the wooden sleepers for hours. Anyone who has tried walking on railway tracks knows how exhausting it becomes. The spacing between the sleepers is never regular — one short step, one long step, over and over again.
The strongest and youngest travelers could finish the route in around six hours. Others needed eight, nine, or even ten hours.
Meanwhile, prices in town started increasing quickly. Hotels filled up. Restaurants became overcrowded. The entire town was under pressure because thousands of people were trapped.
Rescue Helicopters Arrive
Eventually, the government sent rescue helicopters.
But there was another problem.
The helicopters could only carry around 20 to 25 passengers per flight, transporting them to Ollantaytambo. The lines to board were enormous. Sometimes elderly travelers were prioritized, but in general, it became a matter of waiting and hoping.
At one point during the evacuation, one of my guides called me.
“Mr. José,” he said, “we are only about ten people away from boarding the helicopter.”
At first, I thought they were lucky.
Then I asked:
“Where are your passengers?”
The answer shocked me.
“They are somewhere behind us, boss. We don’t know exactly where.”
A Decision That Defined Us
I immediately told them something I still believe deeply today:
“A captain sinks with his ship.”
I explained very clearly that if they left their tourists behind to save themselves first, they should never return to work for my company.
The responsibility of a guide does not end when things become difficult.
I told them:
“Your passengers leave first. Only after the last tourist is safe should you think about yourselves.”
The guides understood.
And they stayed.
They spent the next day helping every single traveler from their groups board the rescue helicopters safely. Only after all their passengers had left did the guides themselves walk back.
The Reviews We Never Expected
After the situation ended, many of our travelers wrote reviews describing the professionalism and humanity of the Llama Path team.
Some mentioned that while guides from other companies left their groups behind, our guides stayed until the very end.
Those reviews brought more reservations in the future, of course. But honestly, that was never the most important part.
What mattered most was knowing we had done the right thing.
Travel in the Andes Requires Flexibility
I do not share this story to alarm anyone.
Situations this serious are very rare.
More commonly, during the rainy season, small landslides may delay trains for a few hours. Peru’s infrastructure and emergency systems have improved significantly since 2010, and authorities today are much more prepared for natural events.
Still, traveling to destinations like Machu Picchu — especially during the rainy season in January, February, or March — always requires patience, flexibility, and a spirit of adventure.
Nature in the Andes is beautiful, powerful, and sometimes unpredictable.
And perhaps that is also part of what makes these journeys unforgettable.
At Llama Path, we believe that great adventures are not only about reaching incredible places.
They are also about the people who walk beside you when things do not go according to plan.
