The ancient pre-Columbian road system that crosses several South American countries is the Qhapaq Ñan.
The Qhapaq Ñan, or Andean Road System, was the extensive network developed and integrated by the Inca state. It connected settlements, administrative centres, storage facilities and religious sites across the Andes. The network covered roughly 30,000 kilometres at its greatest extent.
Its routes passed through modern Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Engineers adapted roads to steep mountains, deserts, wetlands and high plateaus, using stairs, paving, drainage, retaining walls and suspension bridges. Runners called chasquis carried messages along the system.
The Qhapaq Ñan is broader than the better-known Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, which is only one route within the former network. UNESCO inscribed sections in all six countries as a World Heritage Site in 2014.