He The Rich Wayalso known as the Andean Road System, is an engineering masterpiece that crosses six South American countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
This vast network of roads, spanning more than 30,000 kilometers, not only allowed for the unification of the Inca Empire, but remains a vital artery for Andean communities today. The road network reached its maximum expansion in the 15th century and extends throughout the Andean mountain range. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 2014 for its exceptional universal value.
The Qhapaq Ñan originated centuries ago as a key infrastructure to facilitate communication, trade and defense within the Inca Empire. In Ecuador, It extends from Rumichaca, in the province of Carchi, to Loja, in the extreme southconnecting the country with Colombia in the north.
This network “allowed the controlled circulation of people, herds of llamas and alpacas, merchandise and raw materials, and was the best expression that demonstrated the territorial and population control that was experienced during the Tahuantinsuyo era,” according to the Ministry of Tourism. The old system, according to the Ministry of the Environment, still preserves valuable elements of the Andean worldview, reflecting a cultural heritage that has withstood the passage of time and continues to live in current communities.
For its recognition as World Heritage in 2014, Ecuador highlighted 108.87 kilometers of this network that include 49 archaeological sites and pass through 31 communitiesorganized into 22 main sections and 2 subsections. The selected sections cover various provinces: Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha, Chimborazo, Cañar, Azuay, Guayas and Loja, each one contributing a fragment of this network that unites past and present.
In addition to the archaeological and ceremonial sites of Inca heritage, there is great biodiversity in the road network. According to official information, the Qhapaq Ñan protects 326 species of vascular plants, 56 mammals, 124 birds, eight species of amphibians and reptiles, three species of fish and eight groups of invertebrates.
According to the Ministry of the Environment of Ecuador: “The implementation of integrated management of the natural and cultural wealth of the Road Network of Andean Ancestral Paths constitutes a strategic element at a cross-border level for strengthening the conservation of biodiversity, given the high biological and ecosystem value that compose it.”
Along the Ecuadorian sections, the The Rich Way It connects indigenous, Afro-Ecuadorian and mestizo communities that continue to use these roads for daily activities. These communities not only preserve the infrastructure, but also keep the associated cultural traditions alive.
These spaces not only ensured material survival through agricultural and commercial control, but were also centers for astronomical observation and propitiatory ceremonies, strengthening the relationship between communities and the cosmos. That is why for Andean communities, the Qhapaq Ñan is much more than a historical legacy.
Although it is an ancient work, the Qhapaq Ñan has not lost relevance and, in recent decades, it has reemerged as a symbol of resistance and sustainability. Communities see it as a tool for local development, attracting tourism and promoting environmental conservation.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the Qhapaq Ñan is its ability to traverse different ecosystems. In Ecuador, the roads pass through moors, dry inter-Andean valleys and mountain ranges, demonstrating the ability of the Incas to adapt to various geographical conditions.
On the tour, the Ministry of Tourism highlights that sites such as the Solar Temple of Hatun Cañar, known as Ingapirca, are observed; the fortress of Cojitambo, the Lunar Temple of Coyoctor, the Wamanin of Molleturo, Paredones de Culebrillas or Yacuviñay.
In these buildings there are “paved roads, bridge bases, sewers, walls and facings, (which) are the eternal witnesses of two Andean peoples, the Cañaris and the Incas, who have left us a legacy of astronomical knowledge, agricultural calendars and high crops. Andean, of great value for current civilization,” reads the State portfolio website.
Despite its importance, the Qhapaq Ñan faces significant challenges, such as urban expansion and the lack of resources for its conservation. Additionally, climate change poses new threats, as erosion and landslides can damage key stretches of the system.
He The Rich Way It was not only built as a path of physical connection, but also a spiritual and symbolic path for the indigenous peoples who traveled it. Along its routes, such as Culebrillas, Ingapirca and Fasayñan, there are sites considered sacred, where rituals of connection with nature and the Andean gods were carried out.
The Culebrillas Lagoonfor example, was venerated by the Cañaris – an indigenous people who inhabited the Andean region of present-day Ecuador – as the origin of their culture, being the scene of ritual offerings that included metalwork and ceramic objects.
Furthermore, the dairy farms and sanctuaries distributed along these routes reflect a deep connection with the agricultural cycle and the indigenous worldview. Sites like Ingapirca and Paredones functioned as political and religious centers where buildings were aligned with astronomical events, marking sowing and harvest times.
The presence of apachetas or mounds of stones in high mountain passes, such as in Tres Cruces, evidence the ancestral practice of leaving offerings during travel, requesting protection and success on their journeys.
Local and foreign travelers can travel eight Qhapaq Ñam routes in Ecuador that are promoted by the Ministry of Tourism. The Tomebamba Imperial Routewhich begins in Cuenca and passes through Paredones, Ingapirca and Cojitambo, offers to show viewers the cultural mix between the Cañaris and Incas.
Another option is the Culebrillas Routewhich crosses Andean moors, with stops at Laguna de Culebrillas and the administrative center of Paredones. Both routes offer a tour of architectural remains and impressive landscapes, combining history and nature.
The Route Mamamag and the Route Wamanin Molleturo They explore the connection between the Andes and the coast, passing through tambos and ceremonial centers such as Ingawasi and Paredones de Molleturo. The routes offer a diversity of ecosystems, from moors to tropical forests.
Instead, the Chobshi Route and the Dumapara Route They take the traveler to sites such as the Black Cave of Chobshi and the archaeological complex of Dumapara, where remains of the first human occupations and strategic dairy farms used by the Incas are found.
There are also routes Fasayñan y Yacubiñaywhich complete this extensive road system, showing important archaeological complexes and sacred landscapes. Fasayñan stands out for its lagoons and the Sacred Mountain, while Yacubiñay, in Zaruma, preserves administrative and ceremonial structures that show the Inca influence in the region.
