Camino del Inca · Cañar · near Cuenca
Inca Trail to the Ingapirca Ruins, Ecuador
Walk the original Camino del Inca to Ingapirca, Ecuador's greatest Inca site, on a 3-day trek through highland páramo and Cañari villages. You need no permit, and you'll meet few other hikers.
The Inca Trail in Ecuador, from Achupallas to Ingapirca
A stretch of the original Camino del Inca, the royal road that once ran the length of the Andes, survives in southern Ecuador. It leads to the Ingapirca ruins, the country's most important Inca site, and you can still walk it: a 3-day, ~40 km trek from the village of Achupallas through high páramo and Cañari farmland to the ruins.
There are no permits, no booking lotteries and no crowds. Most days you'll have the trail to yourself. Mules carry the camping gear, local guides tell the Cañari and Inca history, and the walk ends at the elliptical Temple of the Sun at Ingapirca.
Ecuador vs Peru's Inca Trail
Peru's Inca Trail is more famous, more dramatic at the finish (Machu Picchu), and far more regulated: permits sell out months ahead and the trail is busy. Ecuador's is quieter, cheaper, permit-free and ends at Inca ruins you'll often have to yourself. If you want the crowds-and-Machu-Picchu experience, go to Peru. If you want solitude and the original road, this is the one.
Your itinerary
The 3-day Camino del Inca to Ingapirca
Drive to the village of Achupallas and set off on the old Inca road, climbing gently through farmland and into the páramo to camp near the Tres Cruces lakes.
The longest day. Cross the highest section (~4,200 m) on well-preserved stretches of Inca paving, past lakes and llamas, to a second camp deeper along the route.
Descend through Cañari country to Ingapirca itself for a guided tour of the Temple of the Sun and the ruins, before the drive on to Cuenca or back north.
Inca Trail altitude
The trek climbs to about 4,200 m on day two, so a night or two at altitude (Cuenca or Riobamba) beforehand makes it far more comfortable:
- Achupallas: 3,320 m
- Tres Cruces: 3,800 m
- High pass: 4,200 m
- Ingapirca: 3,180 m
What's included
Included
- Local trekking guide + Ingapirca site tour
- All camping gear, tents & camp kitchen
- Pack mules for the gear
- Ingapirca entrance & private transport
- All meals on the trek
Not included
- Cuenca / Riobamba hotels and flights
- Travel insurance (recommended)
- Personal sleeping bag and hiking gear
- Guide gratuities
Gear
We provide
- Tents & full camp kit
- Pack mules for the gear
- Camp meals & kitchen
- Guide & Ingapirca tour
You bring
- Waterproof boots & gaiters
- Warm sleeping bag (or rent)
- Full layering & rain shell
- Daypack & water
- Headlamp, gloves & sun protection
Safety on the mountain
- Local Cañar-region trekking guides
- Inca & Cañari cultural knowledge
- Mule-supported, small groups
- Weather-flexible camp logistics
Inca Trail Ecuador FAQ
Is there really an Inca Trail in Ecuador?
Yes. A well-preserved stretch of the original Camino del Inca, the royal road that linked the Inca empire, survives in southern Ecuador and leads to the ruins of Ingapirca. The 3-day Achupallas-to-Ingapirca trek follows it through high páramo.
How is Ecuador's Inca Trail different from Peru's?
Ecuador's is quieter, cheaper and permit-free, and you'll often have the trail to yourself; it ends at the Ingapirca ruins rather than Machu Picchu. Peru's is more famous and more dramatic at the finish, but heavily regulated and crowded. Choose Ecuador for solitude and the original road.
Do you need a permit for the Ingapirca Inca Trail?
No. Unlike Peru's Inca Trail, Ecuador's Camino del Inca to Ingapirca requires no special permit or advance lottery. That makes it easy to arrange and far less crowded.
How hard is the trek to Ingapirca?
Moderate to challenging. It's about 40 km over three days, climbing to roughly 4,200 m, with camping and changeable páramo weather. No technical skills are needed, but good fitness and some acclimatization help a lot.
What is Ingapirca?
Ingapirca, in Cañar province, is Ecuador's largest and most important Inca site. The Inca built it over an earlier Cañari settlement, and its best-known building is the elliptical Temple of the Sun. It's the end point of the trek and worth a full guided visit.
Walk the Camino del Inca to Ingapirca
Tell us your dates and fitness and we'll arrange the guide, the mules and the camps for a 3-day trek along the Camino del Inca to Ingapirca.