Starting in December, bringing plastic to Machu Picchu will be prohibited

The Peruvian government approves a law to reduce plastic usage in various protected areas and government-run facilities

Garbage in Machu Picchu

No more plastic

We all know that plastic is one of the most environmentally harmful materials. A plastic bag can remain for 150 years contaminating our nature and a plastic bottle only disappears after more than 1000 years. 30% of plastic products are used just once and then thrown out. We have used this material so carelessly that 5 giant islands of plastic trash have been formed in our oceans. The largest is situated near the United States coast and is bigger than Spain.

These islands are composed mostly of what we know as microplastic which are very small pieces of plastic which can be visually undetectable. Microplastic is considered, by many specialists, to be the main environmental problem we face. Besides this, it’s a lethal poison to the ocean’s flora and fauna.

In its challenge to minimize this serious global problem, the Peruvian government, through the Environmental Ministry, has approved a supreme law to reduce one-time-use plastic and promote responsible plastic use in government-run facilities.

Urgent measures

Machu Picchu

This law will prohibit, in 30 days, entrance with and use of plastic bags and straws as well as styrofoam cups in natural, protected areas declared to be part of the cultural and natural heritage of the world, as well as in museums run by the government.

Within 180 days, acquisition and use of plastic bags and straws as well as styrofoam will be prohibited in government-run facilities.

To comply with this rule, the National Service of National State-Protected Areas (SERNANP) announced that using one-time-use plastic products will be prohibited in the Historical Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, as well as in the National Park of Manu and the National Reservation of Paracas, among others.

All of this means that if you plan to visit Machu Picchu this December, you should remember that you can’t get in with plastic bags or straws, nor with styrofoam cups.

It depends on every one of us to confront the problem that we, ourselves, have caused. From Salkantay Trekking, we want to invite you to stop using one-time-use plastic products and to foster a responsible, caring attitude toward our mother earth. Remember: we have just one opportunity to save our planet. Don’t let it get to the point of no return.

Ministry of the Environment