A West Australian tourist trapped in Peru says her group has been abandoned by their tour guide as stocks of fresh food and water in town dwindle.

An estimated 2,000 tourists were trapped when mudslides blocked roads and rail lines to the tourist town of Aguas Calientes, which is close to the famous Inca ruins of Machu Picchu.

Victoria MacMillan, 23, was trekking with three friends when the landslides swept away roads and train lines, trapping them in the town.

She says communication is difficult as their Spanish translator and tour guide left the group yesterday and escaped through the mountains.

"Most of them have taken off, either yesterday or this morning," she said.

"They just don't want to stay here any longer and because they know the mountains, they've gone off and we don't know where they are."

She also says the mood is deteriorating as stocks of fresh food and water dwindle.

She says fresh food is scarce and bottled water is getting increasingly expensive. She estimates they have supplies for several more days before the situation becomes dire.

"It was okay for the first couple of days but now, things are getting really tense," she said.

"There are rumours that it might take us seven days to get out of here and we're just worried that with no money and food running out, that things are going to get really tense and we're going to end up in the square, fighting over a packet of rice with people."

Ms MacMillan says the paths leading out of the town have been cordoned off as authorities try to prevent tourists attempting to travel through the mountains without guides.

'No contact'

A Canberra man whose son is trapped by the Peruvian mudslides says the Australian consulate in Lima is proving difficult to contact.

Habibur Rahmun says his 25-year-old son is stranded at a train station at Aguas Calientes.

He says both he and his son have tried to contact the consulate only to be met with a a recorded message.

Mr Rahmun says he has not heard from his son for four days.

"They said that there is no contact, they cannot contact anyone from the Australian consulate office, or that they don't know exactly what is going on," he said.

He says American officials have sent helicopters to evacuate their citizens and he has called on Australia to do the same.

With roads and train lines closed due to flooding, the painstaking evacuation effort is being carried out by helicopters.

Rescuers are reportedly prioritising those over 60 years old and women with children.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has yet to determine the number of stranded Australian citizens but it is believed to be as high as 200.

With rains expected to continue through the weekend, the rescue effort is likely to proceed slowly.