Advertisement

Canadians arrested over naked pics at Machu Picchu

Tourists walk among the ruins of the Machu Picchu citadel, 130 km northwest of Cusco, Peru on July 6, 2011. The Inca compound is being prepared for the centennial commemoration of its discovery by American adventurer and archaeologist Hiram Bingham in 1911. Machu Picchu recognized as a World Wonder in 2007 sits at 2,350 meters above sea level in the heart of the Urubamba valley in southern Peru, 510 kilometers south of Lima. AFP PHOTO/Cris BOURONCLE .

CUSCO, Peru – Just days after Peru’s Ministry of Culture called the practice “disrespectful,” two Canadian tourists have been arrested for taking nude photos at the historic Machu Picchu site.

Peruvian media reports say the 20-year-old Canadians were arrested on Wednesday for taking photos of each other at the archaeological monument.

The reports identify the Canadians as Marc Antoine Daudelin and Patrice Mathieu and say they were taken away by police and their cellphone photographs erased.

The arrest of the Canadians came a few hours after a pair of Australian tourists were arrested — also for taking nude photos at Machu Picchu.

Nude photos or videos taken at Machu Picchu have recently become common on social media and Peruvian officials have called the practice obscene or profane to the sacred site.

Story continues below advertisement

Earlier in the week, Peruvian authorities announced they were stepping up security at Machu Picchu to prevent tourists “from committing this type of behaviour.”

Sponsored content

AdChoices