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Inca Trail to Ingapirca hiking tour in Ecuador

Inca Trail to Ingapirca hiking tour in Ecuador
Inca Trail to Ingapirca hiking tour in Ecuador
Inca Trail to Ingapirca hiking tour in Ecuador

Join this 3 or 4-day trek and explore the ancient Inca ruins by following the Inca Trail in Ecuador to Ingapirca, along E-S Latam Adventure Guides.

Private

Andes

3 Days

Jun - Sep

High

Intermediate


Highlights

  • Discover the remains of the Incan Empire.
  • Explore small rural villages in Ecuador.
  • Contemplate Ingapirca, a sample of an Inca construction.
  • Hike along an ancient comerce route.
  • Admire the natural jewels of the Andes.

Description

The almighty Inca Empire was at its height a vast land extension from what is now the north of Ecuador to Central Chile. Today I invite you to join me in a 3 or 4-day trek and discover the remains of this outstanding native culture. We will hike from the village of Achupallas to Ingapirca (Inca Walls). It's the most popular Inca ruin in Ecuador.

We will hike along the ancient Inca road network and ruins. I will be happy to guide you along these days! At the end of the third day, you can choose to extend the program. And on the fourth day, we can explore the city of Cuenca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

During 3 days, we will have the opportunity to explore small rural villages. So, we will be able to contrast the remains of the Incan culture with the nowadays lifestyle of the farmers.

Besides, we will hike through the páramo grasslands, while we enjoy the views of the majestic peaks and valleys below

Ingapirca, or Inca Walls, was built about 500 years ago. The Incas built it on top of the site where the priests used to adore the moon. What we find today is one of the finest samples of imperial Inca construction in Ecuador.

The buildings were constructed with trapezoidal window and niches and close fitting mortarless stonework, characteristic of the Incan architecture.

Also, at Ingapirca, we will visit The Temple of the Sun. It's the most prominent structure at the complex, an elliptical building. Then, we will see another and revered natural rock formation, called the Cara del Inca (Inca's Face), with a carved throne and small channels. This may have been used for spiritual and offering ceremonies.

We will cross through grasslands, surrounding the Sanasuin Lake to the Tres Cuchillas Point. Then, we will visit the Paredones ruins. This was the Diorite mine that provided the stone for the constructions at Ingapirca.

Besides, we will visit Tambo Cajón, a small village, and finally we will get to the ruins at Ingapirca!

We will hike from 4 to 6 hours each day. Most importantly, I will take you along the trace of a commerce route used by Inca and pre-Inca cultures.

Also, the trail will take us through many hidden alpine lakes in the Andes. We will enjoy the view of the mountain range and a beautiful cultivated valley below.

So, if you want to join me in this interesting trek to Ingapirca, contact me! We will have a great time exploring the Inca culture, surrounded by amazing scenery!  You can also check my Chimborazo Fauna Reserve trek and discover the amazing biodiversity of Ecuador.

Price includes

  • Guiding fee

Itinerary

Day 1: Riobamba-Achupallas-Las Tres Cruces Lagoon

We will meet at Riobamba at 6.30 am and drive to Achupallas (3400 m). We will get there at 9.00 am and start our 6 hour hike to Las Tres Cruces Lagoon. Later we will have dinner and enjoy the night under the start at our campsite.

Day 2: Paredones ruins

We will  hike 5 hours to Paredones ruins, where we will explore the ancient site. Then we will relax and have dinner, while camp is pitched.

Day 3: Tambo Cajon-Ingapirca

Today we will hike to Ingapirca! We will stop for lunch at the small village of Tambo Cajón. From there, we will be able to see the distant Inca Walls. At 2.00 pm we will arrive there. We will enjoy a guided tour of the site and explore the cultural museum. Then we will drive back to Cuenca or Riobamba.

Day 4: Cuenca Extension

Today we will enjoy a city tour in Cuenca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also home to thriving, vibrant craft markets!

 

Details

More info

Contact me for information about the price and equipment.

Meeting point


About the guide

Guide profile image

E-S Latam Adventure Guides

5.0

(9)

Mountain Guide

Tomás and his team of IFMGA/UIMLA-certified mountain guides, leaders and rock climbing instructors (Alvaro, Juliana, Merlin, Rodrigo, Armin, Alfredo, and Camila) are some of the top outdoor adventure professionals in Latin America.

Whether you wish to climb some of the most stunning mountains in the Andes or discover the vibrant peaks of Central America, among other amazing options, you will find yourself in good hands with this lively team of professional local guides that will not only show you the top spots in Latin America for outdoor adventures but also, bring you closer to the colorful local cultures of the places that you visit with them.

Tomás will be your main point of contact during the booking process and will help you with all the questions you have in order to make sure you receive the best possible guiding service.

Pick one of the E-S Latam Adventure Guides' programs and start planning an unforgettable experience in the beautiful mountains of Latin America!

Languages

French | English

Certificates

AAGM | IFMGA

Request more information

What people are saying about E-S Latam Adventure Guides

Christopher

We wish we could have Simon as our guide on every trek we do. His mountaineering experience and extensive knowledge of the area was impressive and definitely enhanced the trek for us. On top of this, we got along great with Simon and appreciate his easy going personality and sense of humor. We will definitely request Simon as our guide for the next hike we do from El Chalten!

Jim

Thoroughly recommended. Daniel is an excellent guide and we had a great day out.

Chase

This was a fantastic mountaineering trip to Ecuador. The altitude was a bit of a challenge, but Ramiro did a great job with the acclimatization schedule leading up to the taller mountains. Overall, this was a challenging experience given the altitude of the climbs as well as the back-to-back climbing of four mountains. I would highly recommend this excursion for anyone who wants to experience a fantastic country/culture as well as someone who wants to gain some nice experience mountaineering!

Kally

Fredy Tipan is like a superhero of the outdoor world. He knows absolutely everyone, has climbed and guided in the most epic of locations all around the world, knows the mountains like old friends, and really loves what he does and who he does it for. Our trip was completely messed up after an issue with our airline tickets. We weren't going to be able to leave until a week after our planned departure which jeopardized our entire trek with Fredy. We didn't expect him to take any sort of responsibility in replanning as it was our mistake that caused the airline issue but he absolutely did. Within days he rearranged the entire trek so that we would be able to summit all our desired peaks without cutting the days down and without changing the cost. He is a class act and an incredible guide and I'd say my husband and I both consider him a friend as well. We will definitely be booking another trip with Fredy Tipan and recommend him to anyone looking for the real deal in outdoor Guides. Thank you, Fredy!

Amazing short but exciting climb to a summit with outstanding views. Perfect acclimatization peak for the bigger Ecuadorian volcanoes, with a cozy hut and a nice approach walk. Fredy was fantastic, thank you so much for this unforgettable experience!


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