Incan Ruins at Ingapirca (Part 1)

This photo shows how close our accommodations were to the ruins at Ingapirca (our place is right in the center of the picture). We are at about 10,600 feet above sea level here.

We were there when it opened at 9 a.m. and had the place to ourselves except for one other family.

It was a beautiful sunny morning. This is a rich agricultural area and this is the height of the growing season.

Ingaprica was originally occupied by the the Canari people, but was taken over by the Incas in the 15th century who co-habitated with the Canaris.

The Incas built the impressive mortarless stonework, most notably the Temple of the Sun in the middle of the site. It's elliptical in shape and made with green-tinged stones.

When the Spanish conquered the Incas in the 16th century, many of the stones were taken away to build new towns and Ingapirca became a forgotten ruin until it was rediscovered in the early 20th century.