The chasquis : the Inca messengers

The messengers of the Inca Empire, the chasquis, are the most well-known symbol of the myth of the "way". These men would run along the trail, taking over from one another every five kilometres, thus making it possible for a message to go across half of the Empire over 2,000 kilometres at the heart of the Andes, in a few days.

These messengers were neither soldiers nor professionals, but people appointed by their communities to undertake this task at the service of the Inca over the section of the Qhapac Ñan cutting across their territory.

Remains and legacy of a major archaeological site

Every seven kilometres, a pukara (fortified post/customs) would exert control over movements on the trail. Every twenty one kilometres, a tambo, or stopover place (tambo means "rest" in Quechua), would offer re-supplying facilities to the travellers and the military. Finally, a city of higher importance would stand every fifty kilometres.

There are numerous archaeological remains of this exceptional network. The trail cuts across all the big pre-Columbian ceremonial sites (Chavin, Tiwanaku, Machu Pichu, sacred valley of the Urubamba), the big capitals of the Empire (Tomebamba and Cuzco), numerous remains of military buildings, but also an infinite variety of rural communities and ancient urban centres. We will thus get to know the main areas of pre-Columbian civilisations (Cañaris, Mochica, Chimu, Incas...) at the same time that we go along the route of the “conquistadores”. Our route will take us across numerous historical colonial cities: Ingarpica, Cuenca, Cajamarca and Tarma.