Machu Picchu reopens for a single tourist who's been stranded in Peru for seven months

Like many travelers around the world, Jesse Katayama found his dream trip thwarted by the spread of Covid-19.

Release time : 2020-10-19 11:14:10

source : CNN

Jose Bastante, the site's chief.

In a celebratory Instagram post, Katayama wrote, "I thought I never make it (to Machu Picchu) but everyone asked the government and the town and they game me super special permission." He added: "Peruvians are soooo kind. Thank you soooo much!"

He tells CNN that he will leave Peru for Japan on October 16. As he prepares to head home, he is saying goodbye to the townspeople who have become his friends over the past months. Several local children have drawn Katayama pictures and created a doll for him out of toilet paper rolls.

"I will definitely cry," he says about his farewell to Aguas Calientes. "These seven months have been very special to me. I have discovered a new part of me."

"The Japanese citizen has entered together with our head of the park so that he can do this before returning to his country," Peru's Minister of Culture Alejandro Neyra confirmed to reporters.

Neyra added that there are plans to reopen Machu Picchu to visitors at 30% capacity, but did not specify an exact date.

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