Cañar Canton

Cañar Canton is an administrative region in the Ecuadorian highlands that spreads across mountainous terrain with varied elevations. It contains twelve parishes, with Ingapirca as the largest settlement, alongside other towns and communities scattered throughout.

This territory was an important center of Inca rule before Spanish conquest, as shown by the remains of major structures built here. These ruins continue to shape the landscape and tell the story of long human settlement.

Indigenous groups here maintain ways of life rooted in the land, and you can see this in how they organize local celebrations and daily routines. Their connection to these valleys shapes how the community functions and gathers together.

Buses connect the various communities regularly, and taxis operate from the larger towns for shorter trips. The dry season offers better conditions for getting around on local roads.

Farmers here grow old varieties of potatoes and corn that have adapted to high mountain elevations over generations. These crop types are often unknown outside the region and look quite different from lowland varieties.

Location: Cañar Province

Elevation above the sea: 3,052 m

Website: https://canar.gob.ec/gadcanar

GPS coordinates: -2.48370,-78.97840

Latest update: December 10, 2025 15:52