| The Royal Inca Trail or "Qhapaq Nan" is the name | | | | through the valley of Espindola - not usable during |
| of the most extensive and highly advanced | | | | extended rainy periods -, and the shortcut parallel |
| transportation system of the pre-Columbian South | | | | to the Espindola pathway that goes through the |
| America, a main road with several branches | | | | top of the valley. This route goes across the |
| joining the nations of Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru | | | | Cachapampa plain and the Sontzahuín torrent |
| and Ecuador. It is an impressive 23,000km | | | | before arriving to the Culebrillas valley, home of |
| (14.291mi) system of roads built by the Incas, and | | | | the mystic Culebrillas Lake. To cross the |
| it connected the northern city of Quito with the | | | | Sontzahuín torrent, there is a wooden |
| south of Chile. | | | | footbridge that seems to date back to the Incas |
| One of the most famous treks of this road is | | | | period. |
| probably the one that goes from the village of | | | | The Culebrillas (little snakes) Lake was called this |
| Achullapas to the village of Ingapirca, recently | | | | way because of the 800m (2.624 feet) zigzag |
| called "The Culebrillas Trail". It is a 50km (31mi) | | | | formation of the river that feeds the lake. Home |
| portion of the road that hasn't changed much in | | | | to a wild duck colony, the lake's clean and |
| the past five centuries, where the historical | | | | transparent waters were considered sacred by |
| characteristics are still conserved. This hike can be | | | | the Cañaris, who used to throw there |
| done in 2-3 days and follows the original royal | | | | handcrafted objects and ritual ceramics in |
| road, with altitudes ranging from 3200m to | | | | commemoration to their ancestors. |
| 4500m (10.500 to 14.800ft) above the sea level. | | | | The lake features a number of elements that |
| At the Andean high lands, perennial rain is | | | | feed its mystery such as a stone stairway that |
| expected all along this historical trail that goes | | | | enters the lake 30m (98ft) deep from the river |
| through breathtaking landscapes and archeological | | | | shore; a big stone platform; and a recently |
| discoveries. The original Inca roadways are found | | | | discovered construction made from carved stone. |
| here. Some of them got paved with stone, but | | | | At a depth of 4,000m (13.123ft), there is an Inca |
| most of them remain the natural dirt pathways, | | | | quarry or "Labrashca Rumi" full of hundreds of |
| of 1-4meters (3-13ft) wide. | | | | carved stones waiting forever to be carried to |
| From start to end, this route unveils five hundred | | | | their destination. At the opposite shore and close |
| years of history. The starting point, Achullapas, is | | | | to the lake, the old Tambo de Paredones is |
| a place that served as an Inca fortress for the | | | | located. It is an important resting place that |
| expansion of the empire to the north of the | | | | served also as a military spot with vast |
| continent. One first gets amazed by the route | | | | accommodations for the troops and warehouses |
| that goes through the fabulous valley of the | | | | for goods, arms and clothes. |
| Cadrul River, the Las Tres Cruces Lake and the | | | | Past the lake, the road leads to the village of San |
| ruins of Cuchishiana, an archeological vestige | | | | Jose. It takes about a two hour walk from there |
| whose function is still controversial. | | | | until you reach the end of the road at Ingapirca, |
| Following the road, at 4,350m (14.271ft) high, | | | | the biggest Inca complex built in the current |
| there is mountainous formation called the Nudo del | | | | Ecuadorian territory. |
| Azuay or Quimsacruz, that is the highest land | | | | Nominated by UNESCO for its World Heritage List, |
| point on Ecuador. A certain number of rectangular | | | | the Royal Trails are a meeting point for those |
| structures that belonged to a Chasquihuasi | | | | who take the chance to travel by foot through |
| (Chasqui House) or a Tambo (a resting place) are | | | | this challenging landscape. They are a place of |
| found there, as well as big rock mounts called | | | | encounter for men and women from different |
| "Apachitas" that evidence the Inca tradition of | | | | horizons, a place where man faces nature and |
| offering a rock in a propitiatory ritual to continue | | | | revives the past. What once was a means of |
| their trip. After this point, there are at least two | | | | conquest today becomes a symbol of unity |
| possible pathways to take: The one that goes | | | | between nations and their history. |