The Amazon Access Route, also known as the Inca Jungle Trek Trail, provides an exciting and adventurous alternative to traditional hiking trails leading up to Machu Picchu. Enjoy outdoor activities like mountain biking, hiking and sometimes zip lining or rafting while discovering rich biodiversity of Amazon rainforest and visiting Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.
The Inca Empire, commonly referred to as Tawantinsuyu, had an extremely centralized political and social structure. Sapa Inca served as emperor and oversaw an administrative control system across their entire territory. Furthermore, Qhapaq Nan roads enabled communication and trade among different regions within Tawantinsuyu.
In the Amazon, Incas made contact with numerous indigenous groups and gradually integrated some into their empire through either conquest or diplomacy. By conquering territories for conquest or diplomacy purposes alone, as well as controlling valuable resources and trade routes that they could control effectively for expansion purposes and trade purposes (wood, gold, exotic feathers ceramics and agricultural products were sought in Amazonia by Incas), territories could be expanded further and controlled more effectively for trade routes or resource control purposes.
Archaeological evidence points to Inca presence in the Amazon region, such as Paititi - also known as "the lost city of the Incas" and believed to be located somewhere within Peru's Amazon rainforest - being present. Although its exact location remains unknown, archaeological finds in both Peru and Bolivia indicate their existence within this region.
As is well-documented, the Incas constructed numerous fortifications and settlements throughout the Amazon jungle, such as Vilcabamba city in present-day Peru - this was their last stronghold during Spanish conquest but was abandoned after Tupac Amaru was captured and executed in 1572.