Ingapirca, located in the southern Andes of Ecuador, specifically in the province of Cañar, is an archaeological complex of Inca origin. It is located at 3,160 metres above sea level and is 26 miles away from Azogues, capital of the province of Cañar. It is also 55 miles at the north of the city of Cuenca.
Ingapirca is the sacred place of the Inca occupation in Ecuador. It is considered the most important pre-Columbian archaeological site in the country and the best preserved Inca architectural complex in Ecuador.
Ingapirca is a Kichwa word that means “Wall of the Inca”. This construction is a magnificent example of how the Cañari-Inca culture was like. It has an area of four hectares and was an important religious, political, scientific, military, and administrative center during the Inca conquest.
Best Trip Ecuador invites you to visit the largest and best preserved archaeological complex in Ecuador. Through our Ingapirca Full Day tour you will enjoy a unique experience in the province of El Cañar.
Photo by: Wikimedia Commons, By Bernard Gagnon – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
The ruins of Ingapirca are composed by a cemetery, solar observatories, roads, warehouses, priests’ apartments and an indigenous plaza. In Ingapirca the buildings are made of stones perfectly carved and joined with natural mortar.
In the archaeological complex, the Temple of the Sun or Castle is considered as the main nucleus of the place. In addition, this temple has an oval platform unlike the rest of settlements that are arranged in circular shapes.
Ingapirca is a place that has to be seen because it is part of the Qhapaq Ñan – Andean Road System. Moreover, Ingapirca concentrated the Cañari culture (500 A.D.) and united diverse cultures through the Tahuantinsuyo. Ingapirca as well as Machu Picchu in Cusco (Peru), symbolises the power of the Inca civilization.
Ingapirca offers us a view of the past and allows us to know the Cañari and Inca cultures. Surprise yourself with the different construction techniques of the temples, as well as the precision of the solar calculations and the aqueduct system.
We invite you to read this post were you can find 5 interesting things about Ingapirca.
Photo by: Wikimedia Commons, By Cayambe – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
This fantastic archaeological complex can be visited from Monday to Sunday from 09:00 to 17:30. The estimated time of the complete tour is one hour. A simple, safe and fun way to get to know this wonderful place is through Ingapirca Full Day tour which departs from the city of Cuenca. You will visit not only the ruins of Ingapirca, but also the Cañari Indigenous Market (Sundays) and Biblián Church (located in the Zhalao’s hill, sanctuary of the Virgin of Rocío).
