Ingapirca Ruins, Ecuador. 3rd stop Saga South America

Ingapirca Ruins, Ecuador. 3rd stop | Saga South America

One day after going to Cajas National Park (2nd stop), I went to the Inca Cañari ruins of Ingapirca. From Cuenca it is a trip of almost 3 hours by bus. In addition, the bus stopped every 10 meters to pick up people. This is where a couple from the Netherlands told me that they were starting their 9-month trip through South America, and when I told them that I was going to travel for 2 to 3 months, they told me “why so little time?”

BY FRANCISCO J GORDILLO

Many people say that the Ingapirca Ruins are not worth visiting, that they are tiny, that there is nothing of great interest there, but I believe the opposite, just leaving aside their dimension. It is true that it is a small site, even more so if you compare it with the Ruins of Machu Picchu, but it is imposing in many ways. The most important is the historical significance and the fight that took place in Ingapirca.

The guide said that, before the arrival of the Incas, the territory was dominated by the Great Hatun Cañar, leader of the Cañaris, a population of warriors and faithful believers in the philosophy of a life of reciprocity, without servitude and without slavery. But the expansion of the Incas brought conflicts, war was inevitable. The Cañaris, firm, brave and fighters until the end, were finally defeated and subdued; but they found a way to survive by joining the Inca Empire. Thus, Huayna Cápac, the penultimate ruler of the Inca Empire, ordered the construction of what is now known as the largest Archaeological Complex in Ecuador, the Ingapirca Fortress. Read more about the history of the Ingapirca Ruins here.

We toured the entire site while we were listening to the explanation of the guide who gave an idea of how everything was before. For example, the activities, the way of life and the constructions raised, since now only the foundations of the old structures remain.

We tried chicha too, I don’t quite remember what it tasted like but I think I liked it. She also showed us a floripondio tree and told us that it was not crazy to think that the Cañaris, and later the Incas, got high out of this plant. The site is really nice, well worth visiting.

At the Cuenca bus station, I bought tickets to my next stop, Máncora, Peru (I’m writing this). The bus left at 9pm so I went before to the hostel for a while. Luckily, part of the group with whom I went to Cajas National Park also planned to go to Máncora, so we all went together.

TIPS

If you go by bus, go early, the trip can be long. And if you can go by car, better
Always travel from north to south, you will find more people on that direction which allows you to travel accompanied and make groups
Bring a windbreaker or raincoat and a warm jacket underneath
Always carry a bottle of water, not a plastic bottle
Taste chicha and buy some crafts from the people of the community