UJ #14 - Qhapac Ñan

XAUXA-PACHACAMAC,
THE ROUTE OF THE GODS
Apu Pariacaca in Yauyos (Lima) is one of the
most revered deities of the empire.
Qhapaq Ñan Project’s National Office
Between the departments of Junin and Lima lies one of the
most amazing stretches of the Qhapaq Ñan. The Xauxa-
Pachacamac stretch connects the Longitudinal Highland
Highway with the Longitudinal Coastal Highway, passing
from the arid and hot desert to the cold puna region along
its 223-km route.
This section of the road was vitally important for the
Incas, as its relevance was not only logistical but also
religious. The road connected two important places of the
Chinchaysuyo: the Hatun-Xauxa administrative center in
the central highlands and Pachacamac, the most important
administrative and ceremonial complex on the central coast.
The road was considered a pilgrimage route to Apu Pariacaca,
a snow-capped peak in the Yauyos region considered one of
the most important deities of the Tahuantinsuyo.
The wayfarers who traveled from the highlands to the
coast descended from 4,800 to 50 m.a.s.l., surrounded by
beautiful natural landscapes and fabulous architectural
constructions such as tambos and stairways that have up to
1,800 perfectly aligned stone steps.
In 2014, this stretch was included on the UNESCO World
Heritage List, due to its importance within the organization
and distribution of the Inca road system.
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