There have been various reports online and on social channels about flooding and landslides across Peru, notably in Lima, Arequipa and on the Inca Trail, which has been reported as being closed until Saturday. Reuters has reported THIS.
We have contacted LATA members in Peru and these are the updates we have received. We will continue to update here as further responses come from members.
PeruRail
yes, there have been some events in Arequipa and Cusco mainly, due to Fenómeno de El Niño. Inca trail has been closed since Aug 18th until further notice.
Trains are running regularly, according to schedules, and the citadel is opened as normal.
Rainforest Expeditions
Indeed, Peru is experiencing an El Niño event this year. We have had some rainfall in Lima, mainly affecting districts in the southern part of the city. It is worth clarifying that many of these areas were developed informally and therefore do not have infrastructure designed to cope with significant rainfall.
Regarding the rain itself, Lima, like most of Peru’s coastline, has a desert climate, so even relatively limited rainfall can feel quite intense and have a noticeable impact. The Inca Trail has indeed been temporarily closed as a precautionary measure, allowing the authorities to reinforce and prepare the trails ahead of the potential heavy rainfall associated with DANA Aníbal.
Mountain Lodges of Peru
I think we’ll be preparing general communication guidelines for the Peruvian adventure community to inform the trade.
In general terms, we will say how forecasters have announced this is the strongest Niño in 100 years, and there’s speculation and fanfare about it, we don’t think it should trigger a major alarm for the industry
We (as an industry) have been operating in remote places for more than 5 decades. Our (MLP) staff is properly trained, our equipment is top notch and we’re doubling down on procedures for this coming season. Chances are we will be adding a few weeks to the rainy season pause, and alternative routes have already been designed for all destinations.
Ecotone / CREES Manu
The Reuters report is accurate. El Niño is hitting this part of the continent hard, but the damage is concentrated on the coast: Lima, Arequipa, Moquegua and the Andean slopes down to the coast (that’s where the Inca Trail closure and highway closures are).On the Amazon side, where Manu and our Camanti-Soqtapata corridor operate, forecasts point to some unusually heavy rain for this time of year, but nothing near coastal levels. We’re monitoring routes and streams closely as a precaution, no disruption to tourist services at this stage.
PROMPERU
Regarding the recent rainfall in Lima, it was mainly associated with the influence of DANA Aníbal, whose impact lasted through August 19. This atmospheric system led to unusual rainfall along Peru’s central coast, including Lima. The DANA ended yesterday, so the conditions that caused these unusually heavy rains have now diminished.
At the same time, El Niño Costero remains under alert across the Asia-Pacific. However, the Ministry of Transports and Communications (MTC) reports refer to preventive measures in anticipation of potential rainfall and rising water levels, and do not report any impact on operations at Jorge Chávez International Airport. In fact, the MTC inspected the airport’s drainage and access routes to ensure the continuity and safety of airport operations.
Both the Minister and the Ministry have reassured the public that the necessary safety measures are in place to address this situation. You can read the original sources in Spanish here:
View South America
Thank you for asking about the situation in Peru now. Regarding the recent reports, the Ministry of Culture has indeed closed the Inca Trail. It is expected to reopen around August 23rd, but this remains unconfirmed as they are still assessing the damage on the route. Additionally, the Panamericana Sur highway in Arequipa has been affected, impacting overland travel. However, flight itineraries connecting Lima, Arequipa, and other cities are operating normally. Visits to Machu Picchu also continue as usual by train and alternative trekking routes.
No new rains are expected for now, as this situation was caused by a DANA (isolated depression at high levels), a natural phenomenon that affected the southern highlands of Peru for three days. Tourism operations are generally running normally, except for specific itineraries that involved the Inca Trail or the currently blocked overland routes.
Hotel Country Club Lima
Thank you for reaching out. Regarding the reports you have seen, I would like to provide some additional context, as the images are real, but some of the accompanying descriptions can give the impression that the situation is more widespread than it actually is. The image from Lima is indeed real and corresponds to Villa El Salvador, a district located well outside Lima’s main tourist areas. While the rainfall was unusually heavy for Lima and lasted for several hours, the extent of the flooding was caused by a combination of factors rather than by torrential rain alone.
Because Lima is a city where significant rainfall is uncommon, drainage infrastructure is limited in many areas. In Villa El Salvador, the sewer and drainage system became overwhelmed, causing water to accumulate in the streets and, in some areas, overflow from the sewage network. This significantly worsened the situation. Importantly, Villa El Salvador is far from the main tourist districts of Lima, and the principal tourism areas, hotels, attractions and services have not been affected by this incident.
Regarding the second image, this is also real and relates to the current situation on the Pan-American Highway in the Arequipa region. Heavy rainfall triggered mudslides and rockfalls along sections of the road, which resulted in traffic restrictions and significant delays. At this stage, the impact is mainly on travellers moving overland through southern Peru, particularly on the coastal road towards Arequipa. This does not mean that Arequipa itself is closed or that tourism services in the city have been suspended.
For international travellers flying between Lima and Arequipa, the impact is considerably more limited, as the disruption is affecting the highway rather than the city itself. Arequipa’s main tourist attractions, including the Historic Centre, monasteries, restaurants and hotels, are not located in the affected area and continue to operate.
We are continuing to monitor the situation closely and will keep you informed should there be any significant changes affecting tourist services.
Gaston-Sacaze DMC
The impacts are localised and being carefully monitored.
Inca Trail: Temporarily closed as a precautionary measure since August 18th to allow authorities to reinforce trails ahead of expected heavy rainfall. This is the main tourism impact.
Machu Picchu Citadel:Operating as normal – there is no official closure reported.
Wider context: El Niño is affecting the coast (Lima, Arequipa, southern districts) with localized flooding in informally developed areas that lack adequate drainage infrastructure. Amazon regions where most jungle tourism operates (Manu, etc.) are experiencing heavy rain but no disruption to tourist services.
Key point for members: This is not a general closure of Peru as a destination. Our major operators (PeruRail, Mountain Lodges of Peru, Rainforest Expeditions) report trains running on schedule, guides are trained for these conditions, and alternative trekking routes have already been designed. The industry has safely operated in these conditions for decades.