The Oldest Roads: The Inca Trails
They are among the oldest roads in the world and, considering the times in which they were built, they were very sophisticated: The Inca Trails. An extensive road network of about 25.000 miles.
There were two main roads. The first main road ran from Cuzco to Quito through the Andes at an altitude of about 9800 to 14100 feet. This road was about 3250 miles long. The second main road was a parallel road along the coast with a length of about 2500 miles. Its extension led to southern Colombia. These two roads were connected by numerous cross roads in east-west direction.
The roads were between 1 m and 16 m wide. Sometimes they were simply well-trodden paths, but more often they were properly constructed roads. As far as possible, these roads were laid out in a straight line and also overcame considerable slopes. The larger inclines were overcome with steps. Tunnels also bored through the mountains. Smaller streams were overcome with logs or boulders, while suspension bridges led over larger rivers. Many of the roads date back to pre-Incan times.
Along the roads, tambos served as shelters and storage rooms. Only couriers, called chasqui (the runners), porters for the nobles, the long caravans of merchants and, of course, the army were allowed to use these roads. The system of the chasqui was organized militarily. They waited in small huts or shelters made of branches, each 3 km away from the other, for the message delivered by another runner. This system was quite efficient. It is reported that a message made it from Quito to Cuzco in five days. These two cities are about 2000 km apart. Horses and mules were unknown throughout the Americas before the arrival of the Europeans, and thus naturally could not serve as pack animals. The Incas used the llama for transporting goods. Since there were no large draft animals, wagons and similar means of transportation were also unknown. Contrary to rumors, they knew the wheel but had no use for it.
Hike your own Inca Trail
The Inca Trail is not very suitable for driving. However, you can hike many parts of the ancient network. You can hike the traditional Inca Trail ending in Machu Picchu, or you can hike the Salkantay Trail. The hike would fit in the category “Climbing Kilimanjaro” but if you are somewhat fit, you can definitely do it. The Salkantay trek from Mollepata is a less traveled alternative to the Inca Trail. The trail leads over the almost 15000 feet high El Paso pass down into the warm cloud forest regions; the snow-capped Nevado Salkantay always in view. On the often stony, winding Inca paths, which run so numerous through Peru's Andean high mountains, the couriers and warriors of the ancient tribe were already on the move.
The Salkantay trek is not subject to access restrictions like the Machu Picchu and is also one of the 25 best trekking tours in the world, chosen by the National Geographic Adventure Travel Magazine. Therefore, tourists do not need to apply for a permit months in advance. The entire trail goes over varied terrain to Aguas Calientes, a small mountain village at the foot of Machu Picchu. The warm and humid climate is one of the reasons that makes this area so unique. Instead of the mountain massif, which was just rugged, numerous bromeliads, orchids and giant ferns line the trail next to the ruins and in the cracks of the walls - a true paradise for butterflies, hummingbirds and parrots. The starting base for basically all treks in the region. In 1533, Cusco was conquered and looted by the Spanish. In 1535, Manco Cápac II marched against the Inca capital, completely destroying Cusco. As a consequence, the current capital Lima was founded on the coast and Cuzco lost its importance. Only when the hidden city of Machu Picchu was discovered in 1911 did Cuzco regain its importance and become the largest tourist center in Peru. In 1950, Cuzco suffered a new downfall when, as a result of an earthquake, almost 90% of the houses and churches that had just been rebuilt were completely destroyed. In 1983, the restored center with its colonial buildings was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The combination of visiting Cusco and hiking the Salkantay Trail is absolutely amazing.