On December 30, 2025, the tranquil valleys of Peru’s Sacred Valley were shaken by a tragic event that sent shockwaves through the international travel community. Two trains—one operated by PeruRail, the other by Inca Rail—collided head-on on the single track linking Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes, the gateway town to the famed Machu Picchu. The impact left one railroad worker, the conductor of one of the trains, dead and at least 40 people injured, many of them seriously and including foreign tourists, according to statements from Peruvian authorities and international news outlets such as BBC, Reuters, and The Associated Press.
The crash occurred around lunchtime on a rail line that is not just a vital artery for local residents, but also the primary route for thousands of tourists making their way to Machu Picchu each day. Images and videos rapidly circulated on social media and news channels, showing the two battered locomotives facing off on the tracks, shards of glass scattered about, and passengers being treated by responders on the rocky ground beside the rails. According to CNN, eyewitness video verified by Reuters captured the chaos as passengers evacuated the train after the collision, some visibly shaken and others in need of urgent medical attention.
Rescue operations were complicated by the challenging geography of the region. The crash site is nestled in a remote Andean area without direct road access, making it difficult for emergency personnel to reach those in need. Still, a dozen ambulances and teams of medical workers rushed to the scene, with police officers carrying injured passengers on stretchers to makeshift triage areas by the tracks, as reported by Le Monde and local Peruvian outlets. The local government said that 20 ambulances attended to the victims, and those most seriously injured were transferred to hospitals in the nearby city of Cusco. "There are U.S. citizens among the injured in the crash," the U.S. Embassy in Peru confirmed, urging those in need of assistance to contact iPeru for support.
The collision left hundreds of tourists stranded at the scene, many awaiting evacuation amid the steep terrain and limited transportation options. Peru21, a local media outlet, described how the evacuation efforts were "hampered" by the difficult landscape surrounding the crash site. The rail line between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes is the lifeline for Machu Picchu’s visitors, as the ancient site is accessible primarily by train or foot. The journey between the two stations typically takes about 90 minutes, winding through breathtaking mountain scenery, but on that day, it became the scene of a disaster that disrupted travel plans and cast a shadow over one of the world’s most iconic destinations.
Authorities quickly suspended all rail service along the route following the crash, leaving travelers with upcoming plans in limbo. The U.S. Embassy advised those affected to contact their rail service providers for updates and potential reimbursement options. As of the day of the accident, it was not immediately clear when regular service would resume or how many passengers would ultimately be impacted by the suspension.
As the investigation into the cause of the collision began, both PeruRail and Inca Rail expressed their condolences and promised to cooperate fully with authorities. In a statement, PeruRail said, "We deeply regret what has happened," adding that staff had "immediately" provided first aid to the train driver, the conductor, and passengers involved in the incident. The cause of the accident was not immediately clear, and as of press time, officials had not released further information regarding what led the two trains to be on a collision course on a single track.
The tragedy comes at a time of ongoing tension and debate over transportation to Machu Picchu. The rail and bus services that ferry tourists to the ancient citadel are highly lucrative, given the site’s limited accessibility and daily cap on visitors, which was implemented in 2011 to help protect the fragile archaeological treasure from overtourism. Local communities have long expressed frustration with the bidding process for transport providers, demanding greater transparency and fairness. Just a few months prior, in September 2025, protests erupted in Aguas Calientes, resulting in around 1,400 tourists being evacuated and 900 others left stranded after demonstrators blocked railway tracks with logs and rocks. The protestors were calling for a new bus company to be chosen through a more open and equitable process.
Machu Picchu itself, perched at an altitude of about 2,500 meters (roughly 8,200 feet), stands as a marvel of 15th-century Incan engineering and architecture. Built by order of the Inca ruler Pachacutec, the site has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. According to Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism, it welcomes approximately 4,500 visitors each day, the vast majority of them foreigners eager to experience its perfectly fitted stone walls and breathtaking vistas. Most visitors rely on the train and bus system to reach the citadel high in the Andes, making the railway’s safety and reliability a matter of international concern.
The identities of the injured were still being confirmed in the days following the accident, with officials noting that many were foreign visitors. The U.S. Embassy’s involvement underscored the global reach of the incident, as Machu Picchu draws tourists from every corner of the world. Videos sent by passengers to Peruvian television channels like RPP showed the immediate aftermath: injured travelers lying beside the tracks, responders treating wounds, and the two locomotives motionless in the mountain landscape.
As the dust settles, questions remain about the future of transport to Machu Picchu and the steps needed to prevent another such tragedy. The ongoing disputes over access, the high demand for tickets, and the region’s reliance on tourism all contribute to a complex situation with no easy answers. For now, the focus remains on caring for the injured, supporting those affected, and ensuring that the memory of the conductor who lost his life is honored by efforts to make travel to this wonder of the world safer for all.
In the wake of the collision, Peru’s tourism industry faces a reckoning on how best to balance the demands of preservation, access, and safety in a place that holds such significance for Peruvians and the world alike.
