Two Who Trek visit Ingapirca, leaving it in ruins (as it was when we got there)
Some ruins are remnants of the past and stand as a historical reminder of people who once lived here. Ecuador’s largest and best preserved archaeological site, Ingapirca, means Wall of the Inca in the Cañari language. This special place was first used for worship by the indigenous Cañari. It was called Cashaloma or Place Where Stars Pour from the Heavens.
Overall view of Ingapirca
The Museo Pumapungo is large as life! Located in Cuenca’s Banco Central complex, colorfully animated dioramas illustrate the varied cultures in Ecuador. These displays cover an entire floor and show life-sized examples from the coast, highlands and jungle. One exhibit features shrunken heads.
Other Pumapungo (“gate of the puma”) exhibits include photographs of early Cuenca life and a historical perspective on Ecuadorian currency. A special section shows this first 80 years of bank history. For a limited time, there is also an impressive exhibit called Oro y Plata. Many pieces of gold, silver and copper artifacts, created by indigenous people throughout Ecuadorian history, are showcased.
Several important Inca-era ruins are in the Cuenca area. Two Who Trek took a bus trip to see one of these, the Baños del Inca (Inca Baths) at Coyoctor. The Baños del Inca is a smaller but no less historically significant archeological site, compared to others in this part of Ecuador.
The name is a bit misleading. The site was actually created by the Cañari people, who settled in the area over one thousand years ago. In the early 15th century, the Incas conquered the Cañaris and absorbed them and their way of life into the Incan culture. The Incas then modified the Coyoctor site to meet the Inca ritual of water purification. Collectively, the site includes worship of the moon deity of the Cañari and the sun deity of the Inca. Continue reading
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