PERU: Machu Picchu Re-opens For Tourists.

BBC/   The reopening of Machu Picchu on April 1 is being celebrated by Peruvians because it should end revenue losses totalling some $185m USD after a two-month closure because of  torrential rains. "This disaster has been more disruptive to our industry than the financial crisis and swine flu combined", said tour executive Richard Leon.

PERU: Heavy Rains Kill 7; 1,000 Tourists Near Machu Picchu Still Stranded

CNN / UPDATED: PM 28-01/

A helicopter airlift is slowly underway after 7 people died, 10,000 families affected, 2,000 homes ruined and some 1,000 tourists still stranded near Cuzco's famous Machu Picchu after heavy rains. “The rain keeps coming down as it has done continuously for 18 hours. Floods from overflowing rivers are imminent, homes have collapsed and their inhabitants have to be relocated,” reported the Cuzco Mayor Luis Florez. Of the 2,000 tourists stranded near the citadel, government and private helicopters managed to fly only 475 to safety by Tuesday.