Skip to main content

Pumapungo Museum - Archaeological Park, Cuenca, Ecuador

Nestled in the heart of Cuenca, Ecuador, the archaeological site of Pumapungo—meaning “Door of the Puma”—was once a vital center of the Inca Empire.

Built in the late 15th century by Emperor Huayna Capac, the site was part of the ancient city of Tomebamba, which some historians believe may have rivaled Cusco in importance. Pumapungo served religious and political functions, with structures that included temples, palaces, and ceremonial spaces. The Incas constructed these buildings primarily from volcanic stone, showcasing their architectural prowess and reverence for natural materials.

The ruins today reveal the remnants of a sophisticated urban layout. Visitors can explore the foundations of key buildings such as the palace, barracks, and ritual baths, as well as a 30-meter tunnel believed to have served as a mausoleum. The site also features terraced gardens with over 10,000 native plants used for food and medicine, along with a network of irrigation canals that highlight the Incas’ advanced agricultural techniques. Although much of Tomebamba was destroyed before the Spanish arrived, many of its stones were repurposed for colonial buildings, leaving behind a fragmented but evocative landscape.

In the 1980s, Ecuador’s Central Bank initiated restoration efforts to preserve and interpret Pumapungo’s legacy. Today, the site is part of a larger cultural complex that includes the Pumapungo Museum and Ancestral Park. The museum houses ethnographic exhibits, archaeological artifacts, and even a collection of shrunken heads, while the park features an aviary and an ethnobotanical garden with over 230 native species. Together, these elements offer a rich, immersive experience that connects visitors to the spiritual and cultural heritage of the Inca and Cañari civilizations.

Monument to Max Uhle
Max Uhle’s work in Cuenca between 1919 and 1923 was pivotal in reshaping the historical understanding of the Inca presence in southern Ecuador.

  • Through meticulous excavation and mapping of the Pumapungo site, Uhle provided compelling archaeological evidence that the ruins corresponded to the ancient city of Tomebamba—believed to be the second capital of the Tawantinsuyo, the Inca Empire. His findings challenged prevailing local theories, which placed the city elsewhere, and instead confirmed that this southeastern sector of Cuenca held the remains of a major Inca administrative and ceremonial center.
  • Uhle’s topographic surveys and stratigraphic analyses were groundbreaking for their time. He documented architectural features such as terraces, ceremonial platforms, and irrigation systems that aligned with Inca construction techniques found in other imperial centers like Cusco. His work not only validated the historical accounts of Huayna Cápac’s birth and reign in the region but also elevated the status of Pumapungo within the broader narrative of Andean civilization. By establishing the site’s significance, Uhle laid the foundation for future archaeological and historical research in Ecuador.
  • The impact of Uhle’s research extended beyond academia. His confirmation of Tomebamba’s location at Pumapungo helped foster a sense of cultural pride and historical identity among Cuencanos. It also influenced the development of heritage preservation efforts, culminating in the creation of the Pumapungo Museum and Ancestral Park decades later. Today, Uhle is remembered not just as a foreign archaeologist, but as a key figure in Ecuador’s historical awakening—someone who helped bridge indigenous legacy with modern scholarship and gave enduring voice to the stones of a forgotten city.

Panorama of the northern group of ruins

Panorama of the space between the northern group and the southern group of ruins


Panorama of the southern group of ruins
Archaeologists have reconstructed a house at the site.


Two circular wells
The two circular wells at Pumapungo remain something of a mystery, as their exact function has not been definitively confirmed by archaeologists.

  • However, based on their structure and location within the ceremonial and residential sectors of the site, several theories have emerged. One possibility is that they were used for ritual purposes, perhaps linked to water worship or purification ceremonies, which were common in Inca religious practices. Their proximity to other ceremonial structures supports this interpretation.
  • Another theory suggests that the wells may have served practical functions related to water storage or distribution. The Incas were masterful engineers, known for their sophisticated irrigation systems and hydraulic architecture. These circular features could have been part of a broader network designed to manage water for agricultural terraces or domestic use. The depth and stone lining of the wells indicate they were built with durability and purpose, though whether that purpose was sacred or utilitarian—or both—remains open to interpretation.
  • Despite ongoing research, no inscriptions or artifacts have been found within the wells to clarify their role. Their enigmatic presence adds to the allure of Pumapungo, inviting visitors and scholars alike to imagine the daily and spiritual life of the Inca elite who once inhabited the city. As excavation and conservation efforts continue, future discoveries may yet shed light on these intriguing structures.

Foundations of a circular building

Southern end of the ruins seen from the northwest

Southern end of the ruins seen from the southeast

Panorama of the Ethnobotanical Park
The Ethnobotanical Park at Pumapungo, is a living tribute to the deep ecological wisdom of pre-Hispanic Andean cultures.

  • Spread across the lush grounds of the Pumapungo archaeological complex, the park showcases approximately 300 native plant species from the Andes Mountains, cultivated in their natural settings. These plants—ranging from medicinal herbs and edible crops to ceremonial flora—offer visitors a sensory journey into the ancestral relationship between humans and nature. The layout of the park reflects the Andean worldview, where the land is not merely a resource but a sacred entity intertwined with daily life, spirituality, and survival.
  • Designed as a microcosm of Andean biodiversity, the park serves both educational and conservation purposes. It recreates traditional agricultural terraces and irrigation systems, echoing the ingenuity of Inca and Cañari farming techniques. Interpretive signage and guided tours help visitors understand how each plant was used—for healing, nourishment, textiles, or rituals—revealing a sophisticated knowledge system passed down through generations. The park also functions as a refuge for native bird species, with over 30 types regularly visiting the area, further enriching the ecological tapestry and reinforcing the interconnectedness of flora and fauna in Andean cosmology.
  • Beyond its botanical richness, the Ethnobotanical Park is a cultural sanctuary that bridges ancient traditions with contemporary awareness. It invites reflection on sustainable living and the importance of preserving indigenous knowledge in the face of modern environmental challenges. Managed by Ecuador’s Ministry of Culture and Heritage, and supported by UNESCO, the park is part of a broader initiative to honor and revitalize ancestral wisdom. Whether you're a botanist, a history enthusiast, or simply a curious traveler, walking through Pumapungo’s gardens feels like stepping into a living museum—one where every leaf and root tells a story of resilience, reverence, and harmony with the Earth.

Sacred Geography

«The geography chosen for Tumipampa had to united relevant mythic-religious elements. The Inkas created a heliocentric system -the Sun as the center of their vision of the universe-. From the Qurikancha the sacred geography was linked by means of the design of ceques, or imaginary lines that communicated places of worship on the periphery, productive areas and principal cities. The ceques represented well-identified stars and constellations.»

«The size of Tawantinsuyu obliged the Inkas to look for substitute mechanisms, beyond the military and administrative, to reproduce the great geographic and environmental variety of the Andes in the Orchards and Gardens in the sacred microcosms, that included purification rites of water, sacred crops, complemented by the presence of animals.»

  • Sacred geography at Pumapungo, Cuenca, reflects the Inka civilization’s profound integration of cosmology, landscape, and spiritual practice. The site of Tumipampa—later known as Tomebamba—was deliberately chosen for its alignment with mythic-religious elements, embodying the Inka heliocentric worldview in which the Sun (Inti) was the axis of cosmic order. From the temple of Qurikancha, sacred geography was mapped through ceques: symbolic lines radiating outward to connect wakas (sacred sites), agricultural zones, and urban centers. These ceques mirrored constellations and celestial movements, transforming the empire’s geography into a living map of the heavens.
  • At Pumapungo, this sacred design was not merely symbolic—it was enacted through architecture, agriculture, and ritual. The Inkas recreated the ecological diversity of the Andes in microcosmic gardens and orchards, cultivating sacred crops like maize and coca alongside ceremonial water channels and ritual baths. These spaces were more than utilitarian; they were sanctified environments where purification rites and seasonal ceremonies reinforced harmony between humans, nature, and the divine. The presence of animals, such as llamas and birds, further enriched the spiritual landscape, representing messengers and companions in Andean cosmology.
  • Faced with the vastness of Tawantinsuyu, the Inkas relied on these sacred mechanisms to unify their empire beyond military and administrative control. Pumapungo became a spiritual and symbolic node, echoing the celestial order and sustaining cultural cohesion across diverse regions. Even today, the ruins and reconstructed gardens of Pumapungo offer a glimpse into this sacred geography—a worldview where every stone, plant, and pathway was part of a cosmic dialogue between earth and sky, past and present.

See Also

Source

Location

Location: 32V3+35P, Cuenca 010101, Ecuador