The Colonial city of Cuenca, in the south of Ecuador, is considered Ecuador’s hidden treasure. The city is located in a wide valley, crossed by four rivers, and surrounded by fertile and colorful landscapes. Cuenca was named by UNESCO AS a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1999, for its well preserved architecture, traditions, handicrafts and folklore in general.

Day one of Marvelous Cuenca allows guests to fully enjoy this city, its people and gastronomy, the traditions and history guarded in amazing museums and inside convents and monasteries not usually open to the public, like El Carmen de la Asunción and the Immaculate Conception. Guests will have first hand experiences in a traditional bakery and various handcrafts shops. Dinner and accommodations at Mansión Alcázar.

After breakfast the next morning, depart by motorcoach to Ingapirca, the most northern fortress-temple remaining from Inca times. Sun-worshippers built this stone center on a promontory high above the Cañar valley, about 96 Km (60 miles) northeast of Cuenca and at an altitude of 10,595 feet (3,230 meters) above sea level. Ride through fascinating highlands, passing through the towns of Azogues and Cañar. Visit the mountain-bound sanctuary of Our Lady of Rocio in Biblian built on steep rock and a small hat workshop. Upon arrival at Ingapirca stop at the on-site museum, and admire the stone fortress with several trapezoidal doorways and stone walls perfectly fit together, without mortar, of the Inca construction. There is an elliptical platform, known as the Temple of the Sun used for religious and ceremonial purposes, the barracks, the stone Inca Face and the zoomorphic carvings. Lunch at a pleasant inn of the area before the return to Cuenca. End of tour.