Inti Raymi.
Offerings to Pacha Mama Inti Raymi Celebration My best friends and I visited
Otavalo, an andean town located at 2,550 m. above sea
level and one hour an a half north of Quito.
Otavalo and the whole Province of Imbabura was celebrating
Inti Raymi (God Sun Celebration).
After being part of a Shaman Ritual in Cuicocha, where native people give offerings to
La Pacha Mama (Mother Earth) and give thanks to the
Taita Inti (God Sun), I went back to Otavalo to meet with my friend
Kathi (GER).
It was saturday night and our plans were to celebrate as well, so we visited a pub with live loud music, danced salsa and ecuadorian music, had a couple of beers and talked about the possibility of doing a three - day - hike the following week.
The weather in Ecuador was worsening lately in the last weeks, but we agreed to hike no matter weather conditions. So we planned ahead for bad weather on the 3 day - Inca Trail Hike.
Native People, Alausi.
Two days later we took a bus from Quito to Riobamba, spent a day and night there. Bought a tent and all the supplies for our long hike.
Kathi (GER) getting muddy. Day 1
Kathi and I went to
Alausi and got in a pick up truck designed to carry passengers in the back of it to the several andean villages up in the highlands.
We got off in
Achupallas (3,350 m) and started hiking south towards our camping site. The day was just perfect... clear blue sky, sunny and warm.
Got to
Cuchicorral camping site and set up our tent there. Total hiking time: 3 hours.
Day 2
We started hiking at 7:30 am. Good weather again! Kept hiking southwest, passed
Laguna Tres Cruces and climbed up to Cuchilla de Tres Cruces (4,400 m) and then to the knoll of
Quilloloma from where we could see one of the most active ecuadorian volcanoes... Sangay! Chimborazo and Altar looked impressive in the distance as well. The views were excellent!
Panoramic View from Quilloloma
Arriving to Ingapirca
We walked down the mountain, crossed a stream and continued hiking on the left side of rio Culebrillas and Laguna Culebrillas. Two hours later we stopped for a while in
Paredones Archaeological Site and and hour later at our next camping site. Total hiking time: 6 hours.
Day 3
Ingapirca Started at 7:30 again and with the same good weather. We followed the remmants of the old Inca road and got to the village of San Jose an hour later.
We kept walking for two more hours until we finally got to
Ingapirca Ruins. As always, we were so excited of completing the hike in three days, and in just 12 hours total hiking time.
Kathi and I went back to Riobamba to celebrate our accomplishment the same way we started, with a couple of beers and a huge plate of food, we really deserved!.
I returned back to Quito in the afternoon while my good german friend Kathi spent an extra day in Riobamba and continued on her long journey through Ecuador and Peru the next day.
Some Information
Inca Road to Ingapirca
- Duration : 3 days
- Difficulty : Easy - moderate
- Season : June to April
- Fees and Permits : None for trek, USD; 6,00 for Ingapirca Inca Site
- Transport : Pickup or bus to start, bus from finish.
Summary
- Follow Inca road remnant through mountain and lake country of Ecuador's best - preserved Inca site.
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