Peru has confirmed the opening of a new international airport designed to significantly simplify travel to Machu Picchu – one of the world’s most iconic heritage sites.

Currently, Cusco is widely considered the main gateway to Machu Picchu. From there, visitors typically continue by train or bus, with journeys often taking several hours depending on connections, traffic and weather. For travellers choosing the classic Inca Trail, the route can take several days on foot.

That travel reality is expected to change with the launch of a new international airport in the village of Chinchero. The Chinchero International Airport project is being developed approximately 18 miles (around 30 kilometres) from Machu Picchu, offering a much shorter route compared to the current travel corridor via Cusco.

The airport is intended to improve accessibility to the Sacred Valley and the wider Cusco region, supporting tourism growth while reducing the logistical burden for travellers who currently rely on a multi-stage journey to reach Machu Picchu.

However, travellers are being advised not to search for flights yet. Authorities have not confirmed which airlines will operate routes once the airport opens, nor which international markets will be served in the initial phase. The project has also faced ongoing internal bureaucratic debate, adding uncertainty around the final operational model.

According to preliminary information, the airport is scheduled to begin operations by the end of 2027.