Llama Paths Along the Inca Trails

Llama paths along the Inca Trails have a long and intricate history. These ancient roads and paths, adopted and improved by the Inca people and extending hundreds of miles into the mountains and along the coasts, were designed and implemented with the llama in mind. These paths, some six to eight feet wide, allowed the Inca people to mobilize quickly in times of battle, and easily move food and other goods from one place to another.

The role of the llama

The llama proved essential to the success of the ancient Inca empire. Llamas were never trained to take a rider, but instead would carry all kinds of heavy goods great distances and into very high altitudes, seemingly effortlessly. In fact, the superb climbing ability of the llama greatly influenced the Inca way of building their roads and trails. In other parts of the world, in order to climb into the mountains using horses, roads and paths were constructed with a zigzag or switchback formation, to make it easier for horse and rider to climb. But llamas are excellent climbers, and so Inca paths often consisted of steep stairs leading straight up, thanks to the influence of this animal.

The Inca also used llamas for their wool and meat, making them extremely useful for the Inca empire. Llamas shaped the style of Inca paths, helping to limit the invasions of conquistadors, at least for a time. Today, llamas still play an important role in South American societies, especially for people in rural areas.