AI travel tool reportedly generated nonexistent "Sacred Canyon of Humantay" in Peru
A popular AI chatbot reportedly generated a travel itinerary for Peru that described a nonexistent "Sacred Canyon of Humantay" with fictional details about campsites and natural features. A local tour guide verified the location does not exist and warned that such AI-generated misinformation poses safety risks to tourists in high-altitude mountain regions.
What happened
A popular AI tool generated a travel itinerary describing a 'Sacred Canyon of Humantay' in Peru, with a hidden route past Humantay Lake, mystical turquoise pools, and an overnight campsite reportedly unknown to local guides.
A German couple presented this AI-generated itinerary to Miguel Ángel Góngora Meza, founder of Evolution Treks Perú, who verified against actual maps and local knowledge that no such canyon, permitted campsite, or turquoise pool paradise exists.
Góngora Meza also reported that an AI tool generated false local legends about the region that a group of anthropologists believed were authentic cultural history.
Reported impact
Tourists were misled into seeking a nonexistent location, requiring route re-planning by local guides to ensure the itinerary was safe and legal.
According to Góngora Meza, AI-generated misinformation about travel routes in Peru poses health and safety risks given the altitude, climate changes, and trail accessibility in the Andes.
Index analysis
According to a survey, 30% of international travelers use generative AI tools or specialized AI travel websites to plan trips, indicating widespread reliance on such systems for travel information.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.