South America's biggest tourist attraction reopened

(Patria) - Machu Picchu, one of South America's biggest tourist attractions, was reopened yesterday to visitors in Peru after being closed for several weeks due to unrest.

Protests sparked by the overthrow and imprisonment of former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo in December left travelers stranded in the Andes and forced authorities to evacuate Machu Picchu and halt trains running between the site and the city of Cusco.

Although protests and road blockades concentrated in the south of Peru are still ongoing, there has been relative calm in recent days, Hina reports.

The reopening followed an agreement between tourism companies, authorities, and community leaders to guarantee security around Machu Picchu and for transportation services to the tourist attraction.

Machu Picchu was built in the 15th century, likely for the Inca emperor. It was abandoned during the Spanish conquest and rediscovered in 1911 by American explorer Hiram Bingham.