Pumapungo Museum

In Cuenca, there is a great, free of charge, museum that features extensive and impressive artistic, historical, and cultural exhibits on three floors in a large wing of the Central Bank.  On the outside of the museum is the Archaeological Park that contains Inca ruins. The ruins were built in the late fifteenth century.  In addition to the ruins there are more than 10,000 species of plants and many native birds of Ecuador.  The purpose of today's blog is to post pictures for your enjoyment.

At this site was the Temple of the Sun and the Convent of the Virgins of the Sun.  Also, there were buildings dedicated to political use, administrative and religious.  This area was called the city of Tomebamba.  

The views of Cuenca from atop the hill are amazing.

At the base of the ruins are more than 10,000 species of plants.

Mike enjoying the day!

Below is a ritual bath that was used for the purification of the body and a large irrigation canal.

This is the entrance to a tunnel more than a hundred feet long and served as a mausoleum to symbolize the underworld, home of the wacas and the spirits of the ancestors.

There is also a small pond on the property with ducks and really fat fish.

The aviary houses the birds of Ecuador.

At the back gate there is a very popular Belgian Waffle snack bar.  I enjoyed a waffle with chocolate syrup and powdered sugar.

And here are a few pics taken on our walk home.

It was a beautiful day with temps in the low 70's.  A special thanks to our good friends Jaci and Micki for inviting us to enjoy the day with them!