Ingapirca

Located in Cañar, the Ingapirca Ruins are the largest in Ecuador. They are from the 16th century, the Inca had conquered the Cañari, but eventually they lived together peacefully. Remnants from both can be seen here. The Cañari built temples in round and moon like shapes, the Incas had rectangular buildings. Both used lunar calendars and studied astrology. It was a great day trip; the drive was very scenic, but the roads were congested. It is supposedly an hour's drive, but it took us over two because of slow vehicles and construction.

Near Ingapirca, Cañar.



An underground aqueduct system was used provide water to Ingapirca; terraces were used for agriculture.



The round structures were used to store grain.





The holes in the rocks held water and were used to view the stars





Construction was done the Incan way without mortar, instead the rocks were chiseled with precision.



The Temple of the Sun was built in such a way that the sun would shine at each window during the various solstices.



On either side of the temple were huge elliptical terraces. These were used for worship, spotting the enemy and communicating with tribes as far as Cuenca.



There are doorways at opposite ends of the temple, you can communicate while standing in them with only a whisper.



One the way back from the ruins we stopped for lunch at one of the many roadside restaurants with roasted pig or Hornado





The pork was perfectly rendered and dripped with deliciousness. This here was our favorite meal in Ecuador.