Machu Picchu y el turismo responsable
The world's most-photographed Inca ruin — and the language to talk about sustainable travel.
Machu Picchu is at the top of almost every Spanish-speaker's dream-holiday list, and for good reason: it's one of the most spectacular places on Earth. But it's also at the centre of a huge debate about over-tourism. For your exam, talking about both the magic of dream destinations and the ethics of tourism is exactly what the highest grades require — you'll need the conditional and even si tuviera.
Throughout the article, the useful Spanish words and phrases are highlighted (with their meaning in brackets), so you can “steal” them for your speaking and writing. Tap the on any phrase to hear it.
Machu Picchu is a 15th-century una ciudad inca (an Inca city) built on a mountain ridge 2,430 metres above sea level in Peru. It was abandoned, forgotten, and rediscovered by the world only in 1911.
Machu Picchu es una ciudad inca del siglo XV, en las montañas de Perú.
Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca city in the mountains of Peru.
Está a más de dos mil metros de altura.
It's at over 2,000 metres altitude.
It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983 and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.
The Spanish-language guides will tell you it is el sitio más impresionante del mundo (the most impressive site in the world) — and most visitors agree.
You can't just drive there. Most travellers:
- Fly to Cuzco, the old Inca capital, to get used to the altitude.
- Take a train down to Aguas Calientes.
- Take a bus or walk up to the ruins.
The more adventurous walk the Camino Inca (Inca Trail) — a four-day hike through the Andes ending at the famous la Puerta del Sol (Sun Gate) at sunrise.
Mi sueño sería hacer el Camino Inca de cuatro días y llegar al amanecer.
My dream would be to do the four-day Inca Trail and arrive at sunrise.
Recorrería las montañas y dormiría bajo las estrellas.
I'd hike through the mountains and sleep under the stars.
Machu Picchu now receives over 1,5 millones de turistas al año (1.5 million tourists a year) — and this is creating real problems:
- El terreno se erosiona (the ground is being eroded) by thousands of footsteps.
- The Peruvian government has had to limit daily visitors to 4.500 personas.
- Local communities don't always benefit from the money.
El turismo masivo está dañando muchos lugares preciosos del mundo.
Mass tourism is damaging many beautiful places in the world.
Por eso es importante practicar un turismo más sostenible y responsable.
That's why it's important to practise more sustainable and responsible tourism.
Other places suffering similar problems: Venecia, Barcelona, Bali, Santorini.
El ecoturismo (ecotourism) means travelling in a way that respects nature, local culture and the climate. Some of its principles:
- Viajar en tren en lugar del avión (travel by train instead of plane).
- Apoyar la economía local (support the local economy) by eating at family-run restaurants and buying local crafts.
- Respetar la cultura y la naturaleza (respect the culture and nature) of the place you visit.
- Reducir la huella de carbono (reduce your carbon footprint).
Exam-ready phrases
Prefiero el ecoturismo al turismo masivo porque respeta la cultura local.
I prefer ecotourism to mass tourism because it respects the local culture.
En el futuro quiero viajar a destinos menos conocidos para evitar las multitudes.
In the future I want to travel to less-known places to avoid the crowds.
Hay que proteger sitios como Machu Picchu para las próximas generaciones.
We have to protect places like Machu Picchu for future generations.
Las cataratas del Iguazú (Argentina/Brasil)
Twice as wide as Niagara Falls. Una maravilla natural (a natural wonder).
Me encantaría ver las cataratas del Iguazú; son enormes.
I'd love to see the Iguazú Falls; they're enormous.
La Patagonia (Chile/Argentina)
Mountains, glaciers, penguins. The Earth at its wildest.
La Patagonia es ideal para los amantes de la naturaleza y la aventura.
Patagonia is ideal for nature and adventure lovers.
Costa Rica
One of the leaders in ecotourism worldwide. 25% of the country is protected national parks.
Costa Rica es el país más sostenible de Latinoamérica.
Costa Rica is the most sustainable country in Latin America.
Las islas Galápagos (Ecuador)
Where Darwin developed his theory of evolution — a unique ecosystem.
En las Galápagos se pueden ver animales que no existen en ningún otro lugar.
In the Galápagos you can see animals that don't exist anywhere else.
Conditional and si clauses (Higher tier gold)
Si tuviera dinero infinito y un mes libre, viajaría a Perú para ver Machu Picchu.
If I had unlimited money and a month off, I'd travel to Peru to see Machu Picchu.
Si pudiera elegir cualquier destino, sería Costa Rica por la naturaleza.
If I could choose any destination, it would be Costa Rica for its nature.
Future and aspirations
Algún día visitaré Machu Picchu — es el viaje de mi vida.
Someday I'll visit Machu Picchu — it's the trip of my life.
Me gustaría recorrer Sudamérica como mochilero con mis amigos.
I'd like to travel around South America as a backpacker with my friends.
The ethical angle
Sin embargo, intentaré viajar de forma sostenible para reducir mi impacto.
However, I'll try to travel sustainably to reduce my impact.
Prefiero los destinos menos conocidos para no contribuir al turismo masivo.
I prefer lesser-known destinations to avoid contributing to mass tourism.
A high-band Higher model answer combining culture, opinion and *si* clauses:
Mi destino soñado es Perú, sobre todo Machu Picchu. Es una ciudad inca del siglo XV en plena montaña, a más de dos mil metros de altura. Si tuviera dinero infinito y un mes libre, haría el Camino Inca de cuatro días y llegaría al amanecer a la Puerta del Sol. Sería una aventura inolvidable. Sin embargo, también me preocupa el turismo masivo: Machu Picchu recibe más de un millón y medio de turistas al año y el terreno se erosiona. Por eso, en el futuro quiero practicar un turismo más sostenible, respetar la cultura local y reducir mi huella de carbono.
This model uses si + imperfect subjunctive, the simple future, opinions about ethics and concrete cultural facts (the four-day Inca Trail, Puerta del Sol, 1.5 million visitors a year) — the language and ideas Grade 8/9 writing needs.