Peru has closed its famous tourist site Machu Picchu indefinitely over the ongoing protests against the country’s new president.

The government said it closed the site, and the Inca trail hike leading up to it, to protect tourists and citizens.

Hundreds of people who were stuck for hours at the foot of the 15th Century Inca citadel have now been rescued.

The violent protests, which have seen dozens of people killed, began when Peru’s previous leader was ousted.

Rail services to Machu Picchu were suspended on Thursday after some train tracks were damaged, allegedly by protesters.

It left 418 people stranded at the site, tourism minister Luis Fernando Helguero said at a news conference on Saturday.

However by Saturday night, the tourism ministry announced that everyone – 148 foreigners and 270 Peruvians – had been safely evacuated on trains and buses.

[It would be the dream of my lifetime, too, but it does pay to check the news before you leave. And have GOOD travel insurance.~ Beege]