Why did Francisco Pizarro travel from Panama to Peru?

Francisco Pizarro’s decision to travel from Panama to Peru was primarily driven by the pursuit of wealth, imperial expansion, and the spread of Christianity.1

Following his earlier explorations along the west coast of South America in the 1520s, Pizarro and his partners became convinced of the existence of a wealthy Inca empire after encountering trading rafts carrying precious metals and embroidered fabrics. Motivated by these reports and the success of Hernán Cortés in Mexico, Pizarro sought and received authorization from Charles I of Spain to conquer and govern the region.2134

Ultimately, Pizarro was drawn by the promise of riches and the opportunity to advance his status within the Spanish Empire, leading him to launch his final expedition in 1530–1531 to incorporate the Inca realm into Spanish territory.215