Ingapirca

Location:
Ecuador

Ruin

By Christopher Minster

Ingapirca is a ruined Inca city, and probably the most important set of Inca ruins in Ecuador. That being said, the ruins at Ingapirca are not very impressive, especially when compared to Macchu Picchu or other pre-Columbian ruin complexes in Peru. Ingapirca was once an important Inca military and religious center, but over the centuries, the site was cannibalized by the Spanish who used the finely chiseled stones to build their own homes and churches. Before the arrival of the Incas, the site had been an important Cañari observatory. Today, the best-preserved structure is an oval-shaped platform known as the Temple of the Sun. Efforts are underway to restore the site.

Travel Skills: beginner/easy.

Traveler Reviews of Ingapirca

Protests at Ingapirca

Rating: 50%

When I visited, I liked the llamas grazing around the ruins. It was much colder than I anticipated, don´t wear shorts! I have also heard from friends that since I have visited there has been some kind of protest going on with the protesters not letting tourists visit Ingapirca and in some instances behaving fairly aggressively towards tourists.

By V!VA User from London, Oct 19, 2005

Very nice

Rating: 75%

The ruins were cool but not impressive. But the scenery, the calmness, the llamas, those are the things which I will remember the most.

By V!VA User from Canada, Jan 11, 2008

Most interesting

Rating: 75%

With a good guide the visit to Ingapirca is a must.

By V!VA User from Finland, Apr 11, 2008