Machu Picchu to reopen to tourists amid ongoing pandemic

The world-renowned Incan ruins of Machu Picchu are planning on reopening for tourists on July 1. The high-altitude, UNESCO World Heritage Site citadel nestled in the Andes mountains is on the bucket list of many tourists, but the site has been closed and Peru's borders shut for months due to the lockdown imposed to stop the spread of the virus.

Local Peruvian authorities say strict social distancing measures will be in place when the site reopens and visitors will be limited to less than 700 per day. Peru topped 240,000 total cases of coronavirus on Wednesday, surpassing hard-hit Italy, government data showed.