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 Pablo, an IFMGA certified guide.

Private

Andes

3 Days

Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Fit

Intermediate

Highlights

Discover the remains of the Ican 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.

About the guide

Pablo

Mountain Guide

UIAGM/IFMGA Mountain Guide from Ecuador.

I fell in love with the mountains at a young age while climbing Ecuador’s volcanoes with my father. I guided in the Andes for 8 years and have been guiding for the past four years in the Northwest United States. In 1997 I expanded his adventure skills by taking on rock climbing. I represented Chimborazo province three times as the Ecuadorian National Rock Climbing Champion.

I completed his UIAGM certification with the Bolivian Mountain & Trekking Guide Association, accredited by the National School of Ski and Alpinism of Chamonix (ENSA), and completed Advanced Alpine and Rock Guides Courses with American Mountain Guide Association (AMGA).

I usually spend some months every year in Ecuador (from October to January, but it varies every year). The rest of the year I am based and guide in Europe.

Languages

English

Certificates

ASEGUIM

What people are saying about Explore-Share

Kumari Selvakumar

5.00

Sept 14, 2022

I’m extremely happy with the ease with which I could book via your site reliable and experienced guide. Thank you so very much, and I’ve started to recommend your site to my friends. Dimitris is not only an awesome guide, but a wonderful person who was always looking out to give me the best experience I can have when he found out how much I love climbing! He is the Best!

Niklas Warren

5.00

Sept 6, 2022

I am very pleased with Explore-Share! This was my first international climb, and the communication and response time were great. Herbie is a very skilled guide and very efficient. The entire booking process & payment was smooth. I will definitely use Explore-Share again. Thank you.

Greg

5.00

Aug 23, 2022

I was looking for a local guide for a hike I was planning and came across Explore-Share. They seemed to have good reviews and so decided to give them a try. The experience was very positive and completely happy with their service. I will be using them again for next trip.

Colin Finnegan

5.00

Aug 17, 2022

Easy to set up and find the perfect trip. Informative site that is easy to use. Guides are all great to work with and communicate all arrangements needed. As simple as can be!

Lesley Weber

4.00

July 16th, 2022

Thank you explore-share for a wonderful via feratta experience. We have been wanting to learn for a long time but don't have the facilities in Scotland. The guide Mitja was extremely helpful and knowledgeable, answering all my many questions and providing advice. On the day head to take another group but he quickly arranged another guide Borut, who was brilliant. We had a fantastic morning learning via ferrata at Hvadnik in the gorge. It gave us the confidence to later hire our own equipment and go out in Mojstrana. Altogether a five star + experience. Thank you.

Richard Scrivener

5.00

July 20, 2022

Hello! I have been thoroughly impressed by the service and assistance that explore-share have provided the past couple years in helping to plan my trip to the High Tatras in Poland. I really appreciated the flexibility that they provided in allowing me to rearrange my trip twice owing to covid. They were responsive and communicative throughout. This trip was part of my Stag weekend celebrations and explore-share connected me with an outstanding guide in the form of Marcel - he was an excellent recommendation and we really enjoyed our guided hike in the High Tatras with him. Marcel was an outstanding professional, placed a high focus on preparing well and staying safe, and was also a great guy! Highly recommend. Many thanks and best wishes - Richard

Yvonne Morrison

4.00

May 8, 2022

Our first time with Explore-Share. An absolutely fantastic experience from start to finish. Extremely good value, very well organised with attention to detail. We travel widely and this has by far been the best of experiences. Well done to all concerned. We are already looking at booking another trip!

Mark Stone

5.00

April 14, 2022

Great service by explore share. Our guide, Fred, gave us a fantastic day. Totally wild adventure that would be impossible on our own. I’m really impressed. Thank you very much.

James Dempster

5.00

March 9, 2022

I can’t recommend this enough. Great service, great price and the on the ground team was top notch. Top marks all round.

Leonardo Rodriguez

5.00

March 4, 2022

Everything went very well! Above our expectations! Thanks Explore-Share and Thanks Kiliholidays! Great support from all you! Thanks for the hard work and excellent level of commitment.

Daniel Martinez

5.00

Feb 2, 2022

Excellent job making your platform available to all mountain lovers. Our guide Gabrielle was an excellent companion