A 56-year-old Australian woman has died after falling into a ravine while hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Peruvian authorities confirmed on Tuesday. The incident occurred near the Wiñay Wayna archaeological site, approximately 15 kilometres from the citadel. The woman, whose name has not been released pending family notification, slipped on a wet section of the trail and fell an estimated 100 metres.
Rescue teams recovered her body several hours later. Local officials said the area had experienced heavy rain in the preceding days, making the path treacherous. The Inca Trail is closed each February for maintenance but remains subject to weather-related hazards.
This is the second such death on the route this year. Peruvian tourism authorities have reiterated safety warnings for hikers, advising them to use licensed guides and to check weather conditions before departure.
