Last Stops in Ecuador: Ingapirca and Cuenca

After we left Linda, Chiquis, Jab, and Remedios in Baños, we drove to Riobamba.  We stopped for just a day in this city.

 

We were eager to be heading on to the southern part of Ecuador.  From Riobamba, we drove toward Cuenca, but first we stopped at our first ruins since Colombia (San Agustin), ruins called Ingapirca, the largest archaeological site in Ecuador.

 

Ingapirca (whose name means “Inca wall”) is billed as Incan ruins, but they were actually first built by Indians called the Cañaris.  It is not know exactly how long the Cañaris inhabited the complex, but when the Incas arrived in the 1500s, they took over the site peacefully.

Cañari tomb - the guide looks like she’s frozen!

The Incas modified the site for their use, incorporating an aquaduct and a temple (temple of the sun).  The larger constructions definitely show Incan influence, with large rectangular rocks fitting together just so, with no mortar holding them together.

After our tour of the ruins, we took a walk around the area to see some other items of interest…

 

 

turtle rock

 

 

"La cara del Inca"

 

From Ingapirca, we went to the city of Cuenca.  Cuenca was a beautiful city. We found Cubby a nice spot by the park.  The park was a busy place.  They had free "zumba"-type classes every morning - fun! 

We really enjoyed visiting the city as well.  Cuenca is now one of our favorite "city stops" so far on the trip. 

 

We got to go up in one of the church towers to the roof and look over the city rooftops.  Reminded me of Mary Poppins - "Step in Time"!

 

 

Cuenca is a lively city with always a lot going on. 

 

 

Plus, you can eat lunch at the market for only $1.25!  Including juice, soup, and a main dish, I think this takes the prize as the cheapest lunch so far on the trip.

 

 

There are ruins right in the middle of the city you can go see.  These were originally Incan mills that the Spanish took over and used when they arrived.

 

 



The Saturday we were there happened to be "International Museum Day" (I didn't even know this existed) but it turned out to be an excellent opportunity to check out the city's museums, since most of them had free or reduced price for the weekend.  Many museums were also having special music or dance performances...so we took advantage!  Check out a few pictures from our Cuenca "museum tour weekend":

 

Museum of Aboriginal Culture - lots of pottery

 

Museum of Medicine - they had some weird stuff in here!

 

Military Band - I like the xylophone

"Panama Hat" Museum.  Apparantly Panama Hats are actually from Ecuador.

 

Traditional dance exhibition in the parking lot!

 

The rare smile.

 

Modern dance performance.

 

The old church - opened to the public only for Museum weekend.  Don't touch jesus!

Shrunken head on display in the Museo del Banco Central.



Folk music and dance concert.

Exhausted after our weekend of running all over Cuenca to attend these special events, we packed up Cubby on Monday morning and headed out of town.  Ecuador turned out to be another amazing country.  Incredibly nice people, beautiful sights from jungle to mountains, paramo to volcanoes to colonial cities, the crazy culinary experiences (chicha, cuy and worms), the cheap gas, the friends we met along the way...we will never forget this country!

 

And next, on to Peru, our 14th country of the trip...