Located in the Cañar province, two hours’ from Cuenca and three and a half hours’ from Riobamba, Ingapirca is one of the most important archaeological sites in Ecuador. The ruins can be dated back to the 15th century and the site was originally used by the indigenous Cañaris as an observatory. Once the Incas arrived the site became a prominent religious and administrative centre as well as a fortress, before being dismantled by the Spanish to build nearby villages. The vast complex includes a roofless fortification, courtyards, terraces, temples and a castle. There is a small museum at the site with archaeological and ethnographic displays.