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(by Juan Carlos Rufasto Garrido, APREC)

The Guide to Ancient Paths is one of a series of collectible guides designed within the context of the “El Capac Ñan en Cajamarca” project by the 'Civil Association for the Rescue of the Eco-System in Cajamarco (APREC).

One of APREC’s objectives is to promote and develop a new set of tourist destinations, by designing hiking circuits, training the local population and improving the infrastructure that currently exists.  In this way, the intention is to bring about a new understanding of the historical value of the paths that Peru's ancestors walked--paths that have survived to the present day, but that are in constant danger of being lost and forgotten forever as more and more new roads and highways are built.

This guide hopes to demonstrate the immense historical importance that the ancient paths have for the development of Cajamarca, and to lead the way to a rediscovery of this region that is rich in culture, history and natural beauty of this region.

The Qhapaq Ñan

The complex network of trails known as the ‘Capac Ñan,’ which means ‘Great Path’ in Quechua, was a monumental project undertaken by the Incas.  In some parts of Peru the network was known as the ‘Inca Ñan’ or Inca Trail.  Later, Spanish chroniclers referred to it as “The Royal Roads of the Incas.”

At the peak of its expansion, this most important of all Pre-Columbian transportation systems in the New World consisted of more than 30,000 kilometers of perfectly constructed trails, the majority of which were paved in stone.  Part of the ingeniousness of its design resides in the fact that rather than use a single model throughout, the paths adapted to the topography of each zone.  The quality of its construction demonstrates the extent to which its architects and engineers meant it to last quite literally forever.

The width of the trails varies, in some cases reaching more than fifteen meters across, in others reduced to a width of a meter and a half as the paths skirt ravines and cliff sides.  At strategic points along the trail are buildings known as ‘tampus’ or lodges;  often they occur at intervals of approximately twenty kilometers, though at times they are more widely or more closely spaced, as required by the level of difficulty of a given stretch of trail.  The lodges served both as shelter for travelers and as storage facilities for food and clothing.

The Capac Ñan was the perhaps the element most responsible for the rapid expansion of Tawantinsuyo, and for the subsequent development of the Inca empire, which at its height comprised northern Argentina, northern Chile, all of present-day Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador, and the southern part of Colombia.

The Qhapaq Ñan in Cajamarca

The Capac Ñan of the northern sector of the Incan Empire, known as Chinchaysuyo, passes through the department of Cajamarca longitudinally, with secondary trails crossing transversally. These ancient trails provided access to nearly all of present-day Cajamarca. The Great Path runs from the town of Huamachuco in the south towards Cajabamba, passes through Cauday, drops down to the Crisnejas River, pushes back up along the Inca Rise to Chancay, and from there runs through Ichocán, San Marcos, and Namora; it then borders Lake Sulluscocha, passing through the region of Shaullo and finally reaching the historic Inca Baths. From there, the trail runs directly to the city of Cajamarca, continues on to Rumichaca in the district of Porcón, and from there heads toward Ingatambo in San Pablo, pushes to the northeast in the direction of Chancay Baños in Santa Cruz, then passes through the Pucará region before crossing the Huancabamba River valley several times, at last reaching Caxas and Ayabaca in the department of Piura.

Remains of Inca trails can also be found between Cajamarca and Hualgayoc, and between Bambamarca to Celendín, heading in the direction of Chachapoyas. In addition, there is a transverse trail that begins in Huancabamba in the department of Piura, and passes through San Ignacio and Jaén in Cajamarca, continuing in the direction of Kuelap in Chachapoyas. Still other trails unite Cajamarca with the coast in two directions: first, down the Chicama Valley in the department of La Libertad; and second, down the Jequetepeque Valley towards Lambayeque.

GUIDE TO ANCIENT PATHS, DESCRIPTION OF CONTENT AND MAPS

For tourists who come to Cajamarca, APREC has designed four main hiking loops along the main trails of the Capac Ñan and the secondary paths that cross it. Along the way, hikers will have the opportunity to see and appreciate a wide variety of the region's most valuable cultural and natural resources.

In addition to a map of the department of Cajamarca, drawn to scale, the Guide to Ancient Paths offers highly detailed maps for the four hiking loops, each with its corresponding legend containing general information about the trail’s level of difficulty, places to camp, research areas, paved and unpaved roads, local villages, and interesting details about the ancient paths themselves.

Moreover, each route is carefully described in terms of the most interesting places to stop along the way, scenic outlooks of interest to photographers, the time required for each hike, the distances covered, and altitudes reached. UTM coordinates are also indicated where relevant. Thus, the guide provides all the information necessary to give the reader a clear understanding of the different regions involved and the basic services available each step of the way.

for more information please contact:

Lic. Juan Carlos Rufasto Garrido
Asesor de Prensa y Comunicaciones
Asociación Civil para el Rescate del Ecosistema de Cajamarca - APREC
Hotel Spa Laguna Seca
Av. Manco Cápac Nª 1098 , Baños del Inca - Cajamarca
076 - 594600 (anexo 318 - 360)
076 - 9780290
RPM 51217
www.aprec.org
www.lagunaseca.com.pe

tags : Peru travel tourism Cajamarca QhapaqNan Inca trails hiking APREC

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3 Comments

# Katty Chirinos says :
16 July, 2006 [ 12:49 ]

Hi: I would like to know where can I get ."the Guide to Ancient Paths"...Is is any place here in Peru i can order it or go get it? I really apreciatte any help... Thanks Katty

# Wolfy says :
16 July, 2006 [ 04:33 ]

Hi Katty, this is the information we have: If you want to get this guide contact APREC at Av. Manco Cápac 1098, Baños del Inca - Cajamarca, Perú. Tel.: +51-76-894600 Fax: +51-76-894646 or write to oper@aprec.org saludos

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14 May, 2009 [ 08:21 ]

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