Ingapirca Ruins Tour from Cuenca: Elliptical Sun Temple

The elliptical Sun Temple stands alone in Ecuador's highlands, built with stones so precisely carved they fit without mortar.

A full-day small-group tour from Cuenca to Ingapirca, Ecuador's largest Inca archaeological site, with a licensed guide, lunch and hotel pickup. The route starts at Rocio Virgin Church in Biblian, passes through an indigenous family's Panama hat workshop, then climbs to the 10,500-foot ruins where you explore the elliptical Sun Temple, terraces and courtyards, and hike to the Inca's Face stone outcropping. On Sundays, the itinerary includes a stop at the Cañar Market to see local indigenous traditions. The tour runs eight hours and returns you to your hotel in Cuenca.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Ingapirca ruins and local crafts

• Visit Rocio Virgin Church in Biblian
• Observe Panama hat weaving with indigenous family
• Drive through Ecuadorian highlands
• Explore Ingapirca Sun’s Temple and ruins
• Hike to see Inca’s Face stone outcropping
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Return to Cuenca

The experience

The day begins at Rocio Virgin Church in Biblian, a late-19th-century gothic structure that sets the tone for what follows. From there you visit an indigenous family's workshop to watch Panama hat weaving: one of Southern Ecuador's most authentic crafts and a cornerstone of the local economy. The drive into the highlands gives you the landscape itself: fertile ranchland and Andean views that frame the journey before you reach the ruins.

Ingapirca sits 60 miles northeast of Cuenca at 10,500 feet above sea level. The centerpiece is the Sun Temple, an elliptical platform and the only one of its kind in the entire Inca empire, built from stones so precisely carved they require no mortar. You explore the courtyards, terraces and surrounding structures, then take a short hike to the Inca's Face: a large stone outcropping carved into the mountainside. Lunch at a local restaurant breaks the day before the return to Cuenca. On Sundays, the route includes the Cañar Market, where you can observe the traditions and daily life of the local indigenous tribes firsthand.

The tour runs eight hours total and includes a licensed guide who speaks English or Spanish, all taxes and fuel surcharges, and hotel or Airbnb pickup and drop-off. Lunch is included if you select that option at checkout. Vegetarian meals are available if you request one when booking. The small-group format keeps numbers manageable, though you can also book a private tour or a group tour without lunch if either suits your schedule better.

What’s included

• Licensed guide in English or Spanish.
• hotel or Airbnb pickup and drop-off in Cuenca.
• lunch at a local restaurant (on the small-group and private tour options).
• all taxes, fees and fuel surcharges.

Options for this experience

3 options

Group tour, lunch not includedGuide in English or Spanish · 08:30Lasts 8 hours. This small-group option is for those who prefer to bring their own meal or buy one directly at the restaurant. Pickup is included.

Private TourGuide in English or Spanish · 08:30, 09:00 and 10:00Includes lunch, entrance fee, and pickup

Small-group tour that includes lunchGuide in English or Spanish · 08:30Lasts 8 hours. This option comes with a two-course lunch at a local restaurant. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesWednesday to SundayDepartures at 08:30, 09:00 and 10:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 to 95 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 2

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Physically demandingWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Cuenca Bestours Tour Operator

Is this one for you?Choose the small-group tour if you want the full experience (guide, lunch and the Sunday market when available) at a shared rate. The private tour gives you the same itinerary with just your party, while the group tour without lunch cuts the cost if you'd rather eat on your own schedule.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5).

What exactly is the elliptical Sun Temple and why is it significant?

The Sun Temple at Ingapirca is an elliptical platform: the only one of its kind in the entire Inca empire. It was built from perfectly carved stones fitted together without mortar, and it stands as one of the most important Inca structures in Ecuador.

Do I get to see how Panama hats are actually made?

Yes. You visit an indigenous family's workshop where you watch the weaving process firsthand. Panama hat weaving is one of Southern Ecuador's most authentic traditional crafts and plays a major role in the local economy.

What happens on Sundays that's different from other days?

On Sundays the tour includes a visit to the Cañar Market, where you can immerse yourself in the traditions and daily life of the local indigenous tribes. Other days the market is not part of the itinerary.

How long is the hike to the Inca's Face?

It's a short hike from the main ruins to the Inca's Face, a large stone outcropping carved into the mountainside. The full tour runs eight hours from pickup to drop-off, with the hike as one component of the Ingapirca portion.

Does the tour include lunch, and can I request vegetarian food?

Lunch at a local restaurant is included if you select the small-group or private tour options at checkout. Vegetarian meals are available. Let the operator know your preference when you book.