Cuenca to Ingapirca, Gualaceo & Chordeleg: Day Trip with Lunch

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/16

Duration9h

GroupUp to 30

LanguagesEN · ES

PickupAt your hotel

Ingapirca ruins then artisan villages near Cuenca with local lunch

You’ll step among Ingapirca’s ancient stones with a local guide from Cuenca, then share lunch in Gualaceo before wandering Chordeleg’s jewelry stalls and visiting a weaving workshop. Expect real conversations, unexpected flavors, and small moments that linger long after you’re home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Ingapirca and artisan villages

Visit Ingapirca Inca fortress-temple
Drive 1.5 hours to Gualaceo and Chordeleg
Enjoy traditional lunch at Arhana Resort
Shop and explore Chordeleg town
Visit colonial plaza in Gualaceo
Try coffee and traditional Rosero drink
Watch shawl weaving at local workshop
Return to Cuenca

The Experience

I didn’t really know what to expect when we left Cuenca that morning—one minute you’re dodging city traffic, the next it’s all rolling green hills and misty air. Our guide, Andrés, was already telling stories before we even cleared the suburbs. He pointed out how the light hits the mountains differently here. I caught a whiff of eucalyptus as we climbed higher; it mixed with the smell of our van’s heater (which, honestly, was working overtime). The drive to Ingapirca felt long but not in a bad way—just enough time to watch the clouds shift and wonder what those old stones would feel like under my shoes.

Ingapirca itself is quieter than I imagined. Not empty—there were a few other travelers—but there’s this hush around the stones. Andrés explained how it’s Ecuador’s biggest Inca site, but also that Cañari people built parts of it first. He showed us where the temple curves in that strange oval shape (the only one like it in the Inca world, apparently). I ran my hand along one wall—cold and rough, little flecks of lichen stuck to my palm. There was this moment when a stray dog wandered by and just sat beside us while Andrés talked about sun rituals. I still think about that dog sometimes.

The road down to Gualaceo winds through valleys so green they almost hurt your eyes. We stopped for lunch at Arhana Resort—a set menu but plenty of choices (I went veggie; someone else tried trout). The soup was thick and herby; dessert was tiny but sweet enough. At some point an older woman at another table started humming quietly while she ate. It made me smile for no real reason.

Chordeleg is all about jewelry shops—silver everywhere—and people standing in doorways chatting or just watching us pass by. I tried on a ring but my Spanish failed me when I asked about resizing (the shopkeeper laughed and waved her hands, so I guess it wasn’t possible). Later in Gualaceo’s plaza we tasted Rosero—a cold drink full of fruit bits and spices; kind of odd but refreshing after all the walking. The last stop was a family workshop where they showed us how shawls are woven on these old wooden looms. The dye smelled faintly earthy, almost smoky—I can’t explain it better than that.

By the time we got back to Cuenca, the sky had gone pink behind the mountains. My feet were tired but my head felt oddly light—like I’d seen something important but wasn’t sure how to put it into words yet.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off from Cuenca, all transportation with fuel covered, guidance from a licensed bilingual guide who also drives for smaller groups, entry fees where needed, plus a set-menu lunch at Arhana Resort with soft drink and dessert before returning home in the evening.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Cuenca Bestours Tour Operator