I don’t often write blog posts about places to stay. Normally, I review our accomadations on Trip Advisor but I think the Posada Ingapirca is a little different. It’s really one of the only places to stay near the Cañari-Incan archealogy site, Ingapirca. If you would like pictures of ruins in early morning or late evening light, this is the place to stay. Of course, you may want to time to a less cloudy time of the year (generally August) than ourselves as neither dawn nor dusk provided any great photo opportunities this time around!

The hotel is an old estancia (or ranch) that has been renovated to provide bedrooms, shared community space, and a dining room for breakfast (included with your stay), lunch (often tour groups visiting Ingapirca), and dinner (extra but very convenient for overnight guests).

Cozy, The Posada Ingapirca, Cañar Province, Ecuador
The Hallway, The Posada Ingapirca, Cañar Province, Ecuador
The Posada, The Posada Ingapirca, Cañar Province, Ecuador
Early Morning Fog, The Posada Ingapirca, Cañar Province, Ecuador
Clearing Fog, The Posada Ingapirca, Cañar Province, Ecuador
Early Morning Light, The Posada Ingapirca, Cañar Province, Ecuador

We loved our stay – the staff was friendly and helpful. In the evenings, they provided us with hot water bottles for the base of our beds to help keep our toes toasty warm throughout the cold night. Rooms also had portable heaters. It is not common to find central heating in any location in Ecuador so providing ways to keep rooms warm is a plus for any hostel or hotel. The food was delicious and provided insight to local specialities.

Dinner is a three course meal and you have choices for your starter, your main, and your dessert. The grounds were well manicured and attracted a wide variety of birds. And they had a pool table in the living room. It was probably the first and last time we will ever play pool while standing on a cobblestone floor! The decor reflected the area that we were visiting with locally woven hats and carved wooden masks. Overall, the entire experience was pleasant. These aren’t the cheapest accommodations in Ecuador but nor were they the most expensive. For a special night in a special place, we think the cost was well worth it.

The Pool Table, The Posada Ingapirca, Cañar Province, Ecuador
Over the Fireplace, The Posada Ingapirca, Cañar Province, Ecuador
Carved Masks, The Posada Ingapirca, Cañar Province, Ecuador

Ingapirca Trail Head

Information For Your Trip

Most people plan day trips from Cuenca to visit Ingapirca. 

  • Direction by Car, use WAZE and look for Ingapirca, Provincia de Cañar.
  • Direction by Public Transportation Purchase a ticket to Ingapirca from the main bus terminal in Cuenca. You can use this Horario de Buses to find times of buses leaving in the next day or two.