10:59 | Cusco (Cusco region), Jun. 19.
Divisions and units of the Peruvian National Police (PNP) are intensifying the air and ground search for U.S. tourist Ian Thomas Treger, 29, who was reported missing on May 13 in Cusco region, southeastern Peru.
PNP Colonel Carlos Guizado, chief of the Public Order and Security Division of Cusco Police Region, confirmed that rescue teams are searching for the missing tourist by helicopter.
Meanwhile, personnel from the High Mountain Rescue Units of Arequipa and Cusco, together with Kallpas rescue teams, are carrying out ground operations.
The police officer said the search is challenging due to the lack of precise information about where and how the tourist disappeared.
Nevertheless, search teams have continued operations over the past three days despite the risks posed by the area's geography and seasonal weather conditions.
According to the officer, police personnel have been deployed to Vinicunca—also known as Rainbow Mountain, located between Canchis and Quispicanchi provinces—and are attempting to access the Choquequirao Archaeological Park by helicopter.
The archaeological site is located between Anta and La Convencion provinces.
"We are coordinating with the Cusco Directorate of Culture, with Director Maritza Rosa Candia, to obtain permission to land the helicopter on the archaeological park's esplanade. We understand that the site is protected, but we hope authorization will be granted so that we can deploy High Mountain Rescue personnel in that area," the colonel indicated.
"We do not have reliable information about where the tourist may have gone, which is making the search more difficult," Guizado reiterated, noting that authorities do not have Treger's geolocation data or the last signal from his cellphone.
"The phone may be turned off, making it even more difficult to determine his location," he added.
According to a search notice, the foreign citizen has been missing since May 13, 2026.
Preliminary information indicates that he was in Wanchaq district, Cusco city, and may have traveled to Vinicunca. There is also the possibility that he headed to Choquequirao.
Thomas Treger is of average build, fair-skinned, with blue eyes, thick eyebrows, a medium-sized mouth, a straight nose, and blond hair.
He is 1.78 meters tall and has two small fish tattoos on his right calf.
Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to call (+51) 903-450-981, dial 105 (from Peru), or notify the nearest police station.
(END) PHS/TMC/MVB
Publicado: 19/6/2026