Ingapirca is the largest and most significant Inca archaeological complex in Ecuador, located in the province of Cañar. The ruins represent a blend of Inca architecture and Cañari culture. It is the largest and best-preserved Inca monument in the country, built on the site of a former Cañari settlement at an altitude of over 3,100 meters. The name translates from Quechua as "Inca wall" or "Inca fortress."
The complex originally belonged to the Cañari people but was conquered by the Incas, so the architecture combines engineering techniques from both cultures. The main attraction is the elliptical "Temple of the Sun" built without mortar, as well as the remains of residential buildings, plazas, and sacred sites. A museum is located next to the ruins, displaying ceramics, jewelry, and other artifacts found there.
