BBC Travel
Alexandra Marvar
09 Feb 2026
Machu Picchu has always been hard to reach, but a new airport will soon change that and bring 200% more visitors to the area – and some area residents aren't happy about it.
...thousands of travellers make the pilgrimage to Peru's Sacred Valley to see South America's best-known ancient wonder.
Now, the Peruvian government hopes to change that with the construction of Chinchero International Airport. Located on the outskirts of Chinchero – a historic Andean city known for its traditional weaving community – the airport could allow travellers to bypass Lima or the Incan capital of Cusco entirely, shaving hours – if not days – off transit time to Machu Picchu. But for the past nine years, it has been a dusty construction site, creeping towards completion in fits and starts. Befallen by delays, the airport was expected to open this year but officials are now estimating it will be completed in late 2027 – and that's not the only reason it's controversial...
