Ingapirca Ruins [1]: The Inca empire’s only remaining sun temple is the centerpiece of Ecuador’s most impressive set of pre-Columbian ruins.
Catedral Nueva [2]: Cuenca’s historic center is dominated by the massive twin-towered facade and sky-blue domes of the new cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
El Cajas National Park [3]: Only an hour from Cuenca, hike through rugged and chilly moorland, past jagged rocks and hundreds of lakes.
Podocarpus National Park [4]: Ecuador’s southernmost national park near Loja drops dramatically from Andean páramo to tropical rainforest and boasts some 600 bird species).
Vilcabamba [5]: The famous “Valley of Longevity” may or may not help you live longer, but its balmy climate, beautiful hikes, and spas are the perfect repose for weary travelers.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/ecuador-the-galapagos/southern-sierra/ingapirca-ruins
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/ecuador-the-galapagos/southern-sierra/cuenca
[3] http://www.moon.com/destinations/ecuador-the-galapagos/southern-sierra/el-cajas-national-park
[4] http://www.moon.com/destinations/ecuador-the-galapagos/southern-sierra/podocarpus-national-park
[5] http://www.moon.com/destinations/ecuador-the-galapagos/southern-sierra/vilcabamba