How to Visit Ingapirca Ruins as an Easy Day Trip from Cuenca

The Ingapirca Archeological Complex is filled with history and the compact site can be visited with ease as a day trip from Cuenca Ecuador. Nestled in the mountains of the Cañar Province in Ecuador at close to 10,335 ft (3,150 m) the Ingapirca ruins are worth the trip.

While Ingapirca’s biggest claim to fame is housing the largest Inca ruins in Ecuador, there is so much more to this fascinating place. Long before the arrival of the Incas, this was a sacred space for the Cañari Indigenous people and was known as Hatun Cañar by the native Kichwa language.

Admission into the Ingapirca Archaeological Complex includes a visit through the small informative museum, a guided tour of the site with an extra focus on the Cañari culture, and access to a self-guided hike to the famed Face of the Inca, or “Cara del Inca.”

This definitive guide explains in detail how to reach Ingapirca from Cuenca, a little about what to expect at the archaeological complex, and tips to explore more Cañari and Inca ruins in Ecuador.

Here’s all you need to know to make the most of trip to Ingapirca Ecuador.

Table of Contents

• How to Visit Ingapirca Ruins
• Visit Ingapirca | Ecuador’s Largest Incan Ruins
• The Great Inca Trail | Hike to Ingapirca
• How to Return to Cuenca Ecuador
• Other Notable Inca Ruins in Ecuador
• More Inspiration for Cuenca Ecuador Day Trips
• The Complete Guide | How to Visit Ingapirca Ruins from Cuenca

How to Visit Ingapirca Ruins

There are multiple ways to get to the Ingapirca ruins from Cuenca Ecuador. There is a direct bus that departs to Ingapirca from Cuenca. For those who want to take a guided tour from Cuenca, there are multiple agencies that depart daily. However, since the admission ticket includes a guided tour, it’s fairly easy to visit independently.

Direct Bus

The direct Cuenca Ingapirca bus only departs on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The bus departs from Terminal 1 at 9:00. The return leaves the Ingapirca ruins promptly at 13:30, so it only allows less than 2 hours to explore the complex.

As this bus time changes frequently, it’s best to stop in at the Cuenca bus terminal to verify the departure time the day before you plan to visit.

🚌 Cuenca Ingapirca Bus Direct | Find them near terminal 1 in the Terminal Terrestre Cuenca | Buses Depart: Friday, Saturday, Sunday at 9:00 | One way bus ticket cost: $4, round trip $8 | Duration: 2.5 hours each way

Alternative Ways to Reach Ingapirca from Cuenca

If you want to visit the Ingapirca ruins on your own schedule, simply hop on any bus to the city of Cañar or El Tambo in the Cañar Province. Most buses departing from Cuenca to Quito will follow this route. The average bus fare from Cuenca to Cañar is $3 – $4, but fluctuates between bus companies.

Cañar and El Tambo are less than 5 miles apart and there is a direct bus that drops in the village of Ingapirca. This bus depart frequently and runs between Cañar, El Tambo, and Ingapirca village.

🚌 Direct Ingapirca Bus | Blue and White bus that connects Cañar, El Tambo, & Ingapirca village | Buses Depart: every 30 minutes or less | Bus ticket cost: Cañar to El Tambo: 50¢, 15 minutes / El Tambo to Ingapirca village: 75¢, 25 minutes | Tip: In El Tambo, the bus departs right in front of the main local market

Tour Cuenca Ingapirca

There are daily tours from Cuenca to the Ingapirca ruins; however, with all the things to see and do around the village, I think it’s best to visit independently!

Visit Ingapirca | Ecuador’s Largest Incan Ruins

Welcome to Inngapirca. The buses drop less than a 10 minute casual walk to the main entrance of the Ingapirca Archaeological Complex.

A common mistake when visiting Ingapirca is that people focus on the phrase “largest Inca ruins in Ecuador.” Yes, there are remnants of the Inca Empire, but this site is more about the history, fusion, and building techniques of the Cañari and Incan cultures. So, don’t go in with the expectations that this place is similar or even in comparison to the most well known Inca site of South America, Machu Picchu. Rather, go in with the mindset to learn more and appreciate the fascinating Cañari culture.

Ingapirca Archaeological Complex | Wed – Sun: 8:30 – 16:15, closed Dec 25th & Jan 1 | Entrance Ticket: $2, includes the museum, nearby paths, and a guided tour (English & Spanish Available) | Guided Tours take 1 hour | Always verify information on the official website

Ingapirca Museum

Make sure to visit the small museum before your scheduled entrance time to the Ingapirca Complex. The museum has Spanish plaques, but now offers translated laminated guides in English and French explaining the many items. The museum showcases artifacts found nearby, and informative maps about Cañari cities and sites.

The artifacts are worth a quick glance. The most fascinating thing here was the small bits of original textiles that have somehow survived the test of time! How are my everyday T-shirts destroyed within a month?

Don’t worry too much about the signboards, the guide will cover many of these main talking points during the tour.

Guided Ingapirca Tour

The name “Ingapirca” comes from the Incas, which literally translates to mean “Inca Wall.” Before the Incas arrived in the mid 1400’s, this place was called Hatun Cañar by the Indigenous Cañari people.

The Cañari worshipped the moon, or Killa, in Kichwa. Out of respect, they would not look at her directly, rather in reflections that shimmered in pools of water seen in holes carved in stones. They had a 28 day calendar, which resulted in 13 moons a year. Women were respected and oftentimes leaders and high priestesses while the men worked with cultivating crops and building.

The tour begins with a glimpse at the qullqas, or a place to store seeds and other foods in a natural refrigeration system. Next, a stop by a significant tomb where a woman of importance, possibly a Priestess was buried along with 10 others. It is believed that this burial tomb was the Cañari’s Temple of the Moon after the Inca conquest. Wander past a peculiar example of the calendar with 28 days. Stroll on the actual Inca Road system of Qhapaq Ñan. There are a few small examples of Inca baths.

The Incas arrived and could not conquer Ingapirca. Instead, they married into and merged with the Cañari. After their acquisition of Hatun Cañar, they built a Temple of the Sun on top of the original Moon Temple. The Inca building techniques are distinct, as you can see there is no mortar in the building process. The two building methods between the Incas and Cañari can be seen today.

Before the main Sun Temple of Ingapirca, find the acllahuasi, which housed sacred virgins. These women were picked at a young age and lived together in this area. They were protected by eunuchs and taught procedures from cooking, to sewing, and other essential life skills.

Path of Intihuaycho Sun Valley

After the guided tour, take the self-guided hiking tour of the Sun Valley. The scenic path literally begins across the street and can take as little as 25 minutes to an hour, depending if you do the whole loop or simply visit the “Face of the Inca.”

The trail is picturesque, so I suggest starting from the beginning and relish in the tranquility and beauty!

The first site is a view of the Inca Game. Continue on the path past a stone that is shaped like a turtle, or “la tortuga.” There is another stone fragment a little further up the trail, but I think the natural pattern on a rock that looks like a Sun Face is transfixing. After that, the main attraction of the hiking trail is the Face of the Inca. Can you see her there? To me, she is soft and delicate, more of the feminine Cañari moon than the Inca’s masculine sun.

⁉️ Another Inca Face? Did you know in the village of Ollantaytambo it is rumored that the Inca Creator God of Wiracocha is on the mountainside in Peru’s Sacred Valley. However, most people debunk this theory and say it is a natural rock face, like this one inn the Sun Valley. If you’ve been to both, I’d love your thoughts?

The Sun Valley hiking path is lovely and worth the exploration, and is just another reason to visit Ingapirca without a guided tour.

The Great Inca Trail | Hike to Ingapirca

Want to hike more in the untouched Cañar Province? One of the best ways is to hike the Qhapaq Ñan Ecuador to the Ingapirca ruins. The three day trek starts in the tiny hamlet of Achupallas. It’s best to sleep in adorable Alausí Ecuador the night before departing for this adventure trek.

The Qhapaq Ñan, or complex and massive Inca road system starts in Colombia and travels almost all the way to Santiago Chile. This ancient Inca road system is oftentimes compared to the extensiveness and greatness of the Roman Empire Roads.

The Ecuador Inca Trail is starting to get a buzz and more adventurous trekkers are hiking the three day trail in the Andes Mountains from Achupallas to Ingapirca Ecuador. This daring trek includes a section through Sangay National Park, traverses the towering Tres Cruces, the highest point of the trek (close to 14,625 ft), and passes by the shores of the sacred Laguna de Culebrillas.

The 3 day hike ends at the Ingapirca Visitor’s Center where it’s possible to store your bags in large lockers before joining in a guided tour.

Although the roads reach as far north as Quito, “The Great Inca Trail” officially starts in Achupallas and ends at the Imperial City of Cusco, the once heart of the mighty Inca Empire.

✈ Travel Planning | Heading to Peru Next? Don’t miss these 35+ Inca Site in Peru You Have to Visit

While it would take 3- 4 months to walk the trail in its entirety, the section from Achupallas to the Ingapirca ruins takes three days. Intrepid hikers can take the extended trail that continues to the colonial city of Cuenca. This route takes 5 days in total.

How To Return to Cuenca Ecuador

After a few hours enjoying the Ingapirca ruins, begin the journey back to Cuenca. However, if you want to enjoy the solitude and explore more of the surrounding sites, there are a few locally-owned guesthouses to spend the night at! Posada Ingapirca is a popular place to soak in all the tranquility.

➜ Travel deeper and sleep in Ingapirca Ecuador

Remember, if you visit independently take the blue Inga Pirca bus to Cañar where frequent buses depart for Cuenca Ecuador.

Other Notable Inca Ruins in Ecuador

While the ruins of Ingapirca are the most famous, there are other notable Inca ruins in Ecuador, many of them are nearby in the Cañari Province Remember, many of these sites originally belonged to the Cañari people are were incorporated into the Inca Empire.

In fact, if you are visiting Ingapirca without a tour, I highly suggest stopping on the way back to El Tambo the Coyoctor Archaeological Complex.

Coyoctor Archaeological Park

If coming from Ingapirca Ecuador, tell the driver you wish to exit at Coyoctor. This small hamlet is home to the Coyoctor Archaeological Site of the “Baños del Inca.”

Exit the bus and take the downhill walk that’s close to 3/4 of a mile to the Baños. Honestly, they were shut the day I tried to visit, but still loved them and they are worth the trip! Even from a distance, I could appreciate the structures.

What makes this stop worthwhile, even if the Coyoctor ruins are shut is the scenic path to the Plaza del Arte in El Tambo Canton.

The Path from Coyoctor to El Tambo

The Baños del Inca in Coyoctor are next to the trailhead that leads to the El Tambo Plaza del Arte.

Exit the Baños, there is a signboard, but in more straightforward of terms, simply follow along with the abandoned railroad tracks.

The trail is lovely and runs parallel to small authentic communities. Be prepared to see farmers planting crops without modern equipment, shepherds collecting food for their animals, and those pigs and goats looking at you curiously. The flat and stunning path ends at the Plaza de Arte in El Tambo where there are usually children playing soccer and lovers embracing in a stranded railcar. There is a tourist information center in the abandoned train station and a few small restaurants and artisan shops.

🥾 Hiking Guide | Exit the bus here for the Coyoctor Archaeological Site | If the Baños de Inca are open pay $1 and explore the small site here | Continue to the Plaza de Arte in El Tambo | Distance: less than 3 miles | Duration: +/- 45 minutes

This plaza is less than a 5 minute walk to the main El Tambo Plaza, which boasts a beautiful church and those buses that stop in Cañar that lead to Cuenca.

Cojitambo Archaeological Park

Another spot to visit ancient ruins in Ecuador is from the small village of Cojitambo, found near Azogues in the Cañar Province. The town itself is tiny, but climb to the hilltop ruins that were again originally built by the Cañari and integrated into the sprawling Inca empire. The Cojitambo Archaeological site is less than 20 miles from Ingapirca, and sits at an altitude just over 10,100 ft.

Take the scenic hiking path through the Sangay National Park, which is again part of the old Inca road system of Qhapaq Ñan. The road leads to the Cojitambo ruins. What makes this place unique is the use of volcanic rocks that followed the building technique of “picado.” The picado method was implemented by placing stones on top of surfaces to create flat walls.

After wandering the terraces climb up to the nearby mirador. The jagged rocks offer incredible views of Cojitambo village down below, and in the far off distance, the larger city of Azogues. The valley is picturesque and the views from the mirador do not disappoint. These rocks are steep and makes Cojitambo a popular destination for rock climbers.

The best way to visit the Cojitambo Archaeological Site is as a day trip from Cuenca. Hop on a bus to the city of Azogus and continue to Cojitambo from there.

 🚌 Cuenca to Azogues Buses | Find them in the Terminal Terrestre Cuenca | Average one-way bus ticket cost: $1.00 | Duration: 30 minutes | Panamericano Buses depart from Azogues Terminal Segundo Serrano every 30 minutes from 6:30 – 18:30 | Cost: 60¢ | Duration: 30 minutes

Chobshi Ruins Near SigSig

A little outside the artisan village of SigSig is an area known as Chobshi. Here, find tranquil nature along the Rio Cuchipampa and stop by the hidden Cañari ruins. Nearby is the Cueva Negra where some peculiar remnants and artifacts have been discovered, even animal bones. The name literally translate to black cave and archaeologists question if this cave was used well before the the ancient Cañari civilization.

Within a short walking distance from the cave, find the stone ruins of Chobshi. This site is free to explore. If you have time, wander past the stone walls to find a distinct rock with a scooped out center. This is believed to be another spot to observe their God, the Moon, in the reflection of water.

There is a small museum next to the ruins, but it’s only open on the weekends.

Cañari sites are free to explore | Museo De Chobshi only open Sat & Sun 9:00 – 17:00, or by appointment

There are frequent bus departures to the village of SigSig from Cuenca’s main bus terminal.

Museo Pumapungo in Cuenca

Finally, the free and centrally located Museo Pumapungo in Cuenca houses the Archaeological Site of Pumapungo. The museum offers interesting artifacts and an overview of the colonial history of Cuenca. Don’t miss the exhibits that focus on the many diverse Indigenous cultures that still practice and recognize their heritage in Ecuador.

Find it here: Calle Larga | Hours: Tuesday- Saturday: 10:00-16:00 | Admission: Free

More Inspiration for Cuenca Ecuador Day Trips

While Ingapirca makes a spectacular day trip from Cuenca, there are still loads of fascinating places to visit near Cuenca.

Relax in one of the curative healing termales in the Baños de Cuenca. There are everything from local baths to high end spas. All of these hot springs can be accessed easily by public bus or a quick taxi ride.

Nature lovers should not miss the otherworldly páramo landscape of Cajas National Park. This free national park boasts over 700 alpine lakes and unique “paper tree” forests. For a tranquil day, spend the afternoon walking around the lovely Laguna Llaviucu loop trail.

The El Chorro Waterfall in nearby Giron is a lovely day trip from Cuenca. Make sure to save time to hike to the second tier of the waterfall and be rewarded with spectacular views of the Yunguilla Valley.

For a rich cultural experience, make sure to tour the nearby artisan villages of Gualaceo, Chordeleg, and SigSig.

The Complete Guide | How to Visit Ingapirca Ruins from Cuenca

This is the complete guide on how to visit the Ingapirca ruins without a tour. It’s a breeze to visit this special place by public transportation, either the direct bus, a series of buses. If you don’t want to deal with the logistics, simply opt to visit with a tour.

While the Ingapirca ruins are often referred to as the largest Inca ruins in Ecuaudor, this archaeological complex is more about the history of the Cañari culture and the fusion into Inca rule. The site houses a museum, includes a guided tour, and boasts a lovely hiking path to the Face of the Inca rock formation. The ruins of Ingapirca make an enjoyable day trip from Cuenca Ecuador.

Ingapirca may be the most famous Inca site in Ecuador, but there are lots of places to explore to visit Cañari and Inca ruins. If already visiting Ingapirca, an additional side trip is to the Baños del Inca in Coyoctor. From here, follow the old railroad tracks to the village of El Tambo. A few more places to visit Cañari sites are in the villages of Cojitambo, SigSig, and the bustling city of Cuenca!

Ingapirca gives us a glimpse into the lives of the intriguing Cañari, who worshipped the moon, had calendar systems, and lived harmoniously in nature at great heights of the Andes Mountains.

Have you visited the ruins of Ingapirca? What did you think of this site? Did you visit any of the other Inca ruins in Ecuador? Let me know in the comments below!

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