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Peru government tells Machu Picchu Tourists: 'stop getting naked'

Two Canadians and two Australians have all been caught in separate incidents of high altitude nudity.

Jack Pitt-Brooke
Friday 21 March 2014 11:53 EDT
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According to the Peruvian Times, four Americans, two Canadians and two Australians have all been caught in separate incidents of high altitude nudity.
According to the Peruvian Times, four Americans, two Canadians and two Australians have all been caught in separate incidents of high altitude nudity. (GETTY IMAGES)

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The Peruvian government has issued a warning to tourists wishing to enjoy the ancient city in the buff. The crackdown comes after a spate of naked incidents in recent months.

According to the Peruvian Times, four Americans, two Canadians and two Australians have all been caught in separate incidents of high altitude nudity.

The fad was apparently popularised in late 2013 when an adventurous couple bounded across the UNESCO World Heritage site to the shock of onlookers.

Videos of the streakers began circulating on social media, starting something of a trend amongst bohemian travellers.

The website My Naked Trip features images of an Israeli man posing shamelessly next to sites across South America, including Machu Picchu.

Government officials in Cusco, where Machu Picchu is located, have promised to take firm action on the nude-photo taking.

Among a series of rule changes that the government plans to implement for visitors of Machu Picchu, is the prohibition of stripping down.

The government told the Peruvian Times "practicing nudity and obscene acts contrary to morals and good customs."

But despite these ardent warnings, naturalists still proliferate, with four American tourists detained just last week.

The recent events add extra weight to government plans to curb overcrowding that is said to be deteriorating parts of the site.

Peruvian Times reports: "All foreign visitors to Machu Picchu will soon have to hire an official guide to enter the Inca Citadel, follow one of three predetermined routes through the complex and face time limits at specific points to keep the traffic flowing, under new rules promulgated by the Ministry of Culture in Cusco."

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