Qhapaq Ñan, the Inca road system.

The Incas  (1438 to 1532 A.D. ) were the biggest civilization in South America , their empire, called Tahuantinsuyo, covered 6 countries, South of Colombia, Ecuador, Perú, Bolivia and the North of Argentina and Chile, the empire was controlled from the capital: Cusco (Perú).

To rule the empire the Incas built a road system called The Qhapac Ñan, it was the biggest transportation system in the continent and went from the South of Colombia to the North of Argentina. The Qhapac Ñan had 2 main roads, both going from North to South, The Royal Road from Quito to Tucuman  (north of Argentina), located along the Andes and had about 5200 Km. and the Road of the Coast with a length of 4000 Km. this was parallel to the Pacific Ocean and was linked to the Royal Road by smaller routes. From this main road there were other smaller ones  to connect with towns and villages in the coast, jungle and mountains.  The Qhapac Ñan had about 40000 Km. of roads along all the empire. This trail system allowed the Incas to control all the civilizations they conquered, It connected towns, agricultural zones, mining areas, sacred temples and administrative centers.

The main purposes of the Qaphac Ñan were: Transportation, trade of resources, military, logistical support and religious.  The Incas sent Chasquis (messengers) to all their territory, used llamas to carry supplies, get tributes from the civilizations that were part of the empire and sent workers and the army using this roads.

Along the route there were places to stop to eat and rest (Tambos), and storages (Qollqas)  with food and supplies. The Wari civilization (500/1000 years before the Incas) built a network of roads in the south and north of Perú, then, the Incas (1438/1532 A.D.) built the Qhapac Ñan to expand and control their empire. In 1532 the Spaniards arrived to Perú and used this roads to go to Cusco and then to Lima. From XIX century until now (republic period) the governments built modern highways and ports, almost all the roads of the Qhapac Ñan were abandoned.

Today only 25% of the network is still visible, the famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (Cusco) is the most popular part and connects the Sacred Valley with the sacred city. In Perú the main archaeological sites are: Pachacamac (Lima), Tambo Colorado (Pisco), Sillustani (Puno), Koricancha (Cusco) and Haycan Cieneguilla (Lima), most of them are in good conditions. In Ecuador the most important site is Ingapirca, located in the Cañar area.

The Qhapaq Ñan was declared World Heritage by Unesco on 21/06/2014 and now the governments has to make an effort to rebuilt and protect this roads so the locals can use it. This trail system could be also use for tourism and the money from the entrance fee could be used to  maintain and protect the roads, archaeological  sites and the enviroment.  The Qhapac Ñan has to be protected by the government and people has to learn the history and importance of this trail system.

The Amazon Rainforest.

The Amazon represents 54% of the total rainforest left on earth, with and area of 5500 000 square Km. it covers 8 countries : Brazil, Perú, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname and French Guyana, it produces more than 20% of the oxigen of the planet.

The Amazon rainforest has a huge biodiversity with 40 000 species of plants, 2.5 million species of insects, 2200 species of fish, 427 of mammals, 378 od reptiles and 428 species of amphibians.  The most popular animals in this area are Tucans, Jaguars, Anacondas, Macaws, Piranhas, Pink Dolphins and Caimans.

On the 1500, when the Spaniards and Portuguese arrived, there were about 6 to 9 million native people living in this area, by 1900 this number went down to 1000 000 and today there are about 250 000 native people in this area. Some of this tribes have never had contact with the outside world, they live from agriculture and fishing and have a huge knowledge about local medicinal plants and use shamans as doctors, most of the rainforest plants used by the natives have not been studied by modern science.

The main threats for the rainforest come from human activities like gold mining, wood extraction, burning the forest for agriculture, extraction of oil and building highways and settlements.

 The Amazonas River.

Amazonas river born in the peruvian andes at the Mismi mountain at 5170 meters high and flows in the Atlantic Ocean, in Brazil. It has a length: 6437 KM. and a wide of 10 Km to 40 Km in  wet season. The  Amazonas has about 1100 tributaries, the main ones are Marañon, Outumayo and Ucayali in Perú, Negro and Madeira in Brasil. The Amazonas river goes through Brasil, Peru, Colombia but the Amazon basin belongs to 9 nations: Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. The river enters the Atlantic Ocean in a broad estuary about 240 kilometres (150 mi) wide.

 The Amazon is the major South American river and the second longest river in the World with approximately 6400 kilometres (4000 miles) – only the Nile, in Africa, is longer, it carries more water than any other river in the world.

Off the beaten track: Yurimaguas, Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, Iquitos.

If you want to go off the beaten track and see the Amazon jungle you can take the route that starts in Yurimaguas town (Amazonas Region, Perú) and take the 10 hr. local boat to Lagunas village, contact some guides and explore Pacaya Samiria National Reserve by canoes, paddle  on the streams, watching the wildlife, fishing piranhas and camping in the bush. This can take 6/7 days inside Pacaya Samiria to explore it well. Then you have to come back to Lagunas village and take the 2 day local boat through Marañon and Amazonas river. You can get where the Amazonas river start and see how  amazing is this river. Arrive to Iquitoso town, spend a few free days to relax and fly back to Lima.