Many unique kinds of tourists are attracted to Peru's most famous destination, Machu Picchu: those looking for culture, those who come for the natural beauty, history and archaeology buffs, and bird-watchers, among others.

Currently, the only two ways into Machu Picchu are by train or Inca trail. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons) It would be ideal—according to Cusco’s regional chamber of tourism—if, for each kind of visitor, there were a special route of entry into the sanctuary, a path that would cater to their interests and tastes directly upon arriving. But this is a far-off dream from the current reality, in which there are only two ways into the Incan citadel: by train or the multi-day Inca Trail hike.

Roger Valencia, vice president of Cusco’s business guild, says more ways into Machu Picchu should be constructed, above all for the safety of visitors.

“There can’t be only one entrance-exit for the citadel; it would be very dangerous not to have more evacuation routes if a natural disaster were to occur,” Valencia told El Comercio.

The recent heavy rains and overflowing of the Vilcanota river, which shut down train tracks for a couple of days in recent months—as it always seems to do this time of year—lend importance and urgency to Valencia’s point.

According to Armando Rivera, general manager of train operator Inca Rail, whether it’s due to river overflowing or mudslides in the area, train transportation during the months of January and February is always dependent on the variable behavior of the river. When service must be suspended, not only the train operator but also hotels and tour agencies in Machu Picchu Pueblo lose up to 90 percent of their clients, with no way to recoup them.

How to avoid a village empty of tourists? The Cusco chamber of tourism has recently updated a plan it originally proposed to the regional government in 2009: a project outlining the construction of four alternative access routes to the world wonder, three of which would be feasible to implement before the centennial this July.

The plan estimates that these new paths would cost around $78 million overall, but an initial investment of $5 million would be enough for tourists who arrive during the upcoming high season, which begins in June, to be able to use at least three.

One proposed route is the road along Cusco-Limatambo-Mollepata-Santa Teresa-Hidroeléctrica de Machu Picchu. According to Valencia, the road is paved up to Limatambo. To habilitate it would require leveling the piece between Mollepata and Machu Picchu. “An investment of about $3 million,” he said.

In order to pave the entire road, the cost would rise to approximately $70 million. This option would reduce the arrival time to Machu Picchu to two and a half hours from Cusco, since it would be a distance of only 150 kilometers.

Another alternative would be to follow the route Cusco-Ollantaytambo-Abra de Málaga-Santa Teresa-Hidroeléctrica de Machu Picchu, a route already used in the dry season. The new proposal is to construct a lift to allow travelers to cross over the hydroelectric power station, which would cost about $3 million.

Perhaps the most feasible new route would be to take advantage of the network of Inca trails and pave certain segments that branch off from the main road at kilometers 113.5, 115, 117 and 119. This would require an investment of only $2 million, according to the report.