The entrance was free. The explanation in the museum was in Spanish most of the time, so we had to use a lot of google translate. But at some part they add explaining in English. The park outside was really beautiful and fun. You can see animals and the inka remains. In general a really nice experience

Although a bit out of the way, Pumapungo should be high on your list of things to do in Cuenca. Entry is free - just sign in at the entrance. This is one of the most extensive historical/cultural museums in Cuenca. Make sure you explore the different floors, which include exhibits on art, money, culture and clothing of the indigenous tribes, and even shrunken heads. Although you may not need to spend a ton of time there, the museum is definitely worth a walk through. But that's not all. Between the museum and the orchestra building, you can pass to the back side of Pumapungo to visit the hillside Cañari ruins and park. This was apparently a sacred site for this powerful tribe. Although no full structures have been preserved, you can see the outline of their buildings and terraced agriculture, an underground cave, and water system. As you continue down the hill, you'll find a large display garden of the many local crops and native plants. There is also a small outdoor aviary with stunning birds from the region as well as a few llamas on the hillside. (The lower gate to the riverwalk is no longer open so you will need to hike a short hill to enter and exit.) For more recommendations on what to do in and around Cuenca, find our blog posts by searching: "Intentional Travelers Cuenca"

Very nice museum. Lots of history of different areas of Ecuador. The botanical gardens were lovely as were the bird enclosure. Entrance is free.

A lovely free museum. Although the building is huge, there were not a lot of items on display. However, those that are give a great cultural perspective on the people of Ecuador. In addition, the grounds include Incan ruins, a bird menagerie, and paths for walking. I highly recommend for anyone who enjoys any of these activities.

UPDATE: Three years after first visiting Pumapungo, one week after visiting the ruins at Ingapirca, I returned to Pumapungo. The site is bigger and better than I had remembered, more developed with respect to the avians, and without question far superior to Ingapirca. If you are in the market for ruinas y más, enjoy Pumapungo free and at your leisure. Only go to Ingapirca if you are in the market for a really long bus ride to and from a tourist trap which takes your money and expressly FORBIDS you from enjoying the ruins at your leisure. God dang you, Ingapirca people; God bless you, Pumapungo peeps. ORIGINAL: The indoor museum is pretty small but pretty cool. There is an excellent mural on the wall, a variety of ancient artifacts displayed on the other walls, and a super cute exhibit of the region's history told through miniatures or diorama type setups replete with terrain, structures, and little figurines going about daily life in different historical periods. As a budding miniaturist architect myself (take me down to Tiny Town), I sure enjoyed this playful little representations of the past. But the best part of the museum is the outdoor area. There are ancient ruins, llamas you can walk right up to, big birds (sadly) trapped in small cages, beautiful garden areas, little sitting places, a little pond with some ducks in it, good views of the city. It's a really lovely place to spend a couple hours. There's no entrance fee, either, so there's no reason not to go to Pumapungo! It's good, dog.

Downstairs exhibition is very nice, with a nice photo collection. However the part of the garden that consists of neglected and depressed large birds in small cages was very sad to see. The birds have no room to fly, and their cages are dirty and sharp tools were left on the ground for them to walk on. Clearly the museum doesn’t have the right means to take care of animals, especially large eagles and macaws. You’re a museum, not a zoo. Do better.

History, anthropology and archaeology museum. Very interesting if in Cuenca.

Awesome mix of open air and indoor museum. You have the best of both words there, great explanations about the several indigenous groups in Ecuador, their history, culture and the changes that happened throughout the years. There is a group of llamas outside of the museum. The only thing I didn't like about this museum is the caged birds.

Loved this museum. It has three levels with artifacts on the main floor and ethnographic museum on the second. And of course, there are the Inca ruins, which are pretty cool. But we loved the garden, the bird rehabilitation center, and the garden. Lovely. You should check it out.

Free museum with incredible pieces — including the real small heads. Nice external area but couldn’t understand the point of the birds in such smalls cages.

(Translated by Google) If it's nice, a nice experience (Original) Si esta bonito una Bonita Experiencia

(Translated by Google) I give it five stars for being a very complete, tidy and clean museum, it is also free, a good sample of itinerant art and very well detailed, you cannot take pictures inside, from the outside we find well preserved ruins foundations and a large park with green space with a small zoo of birds of the country, ideal for the whole family and tourists. (Original) Le doy cinco estrellas por ser un museo muy completo, ordenado y limpio, ademas es gratis, buena muestra de arte itinerante y muy bien detallado, no se pueden tomar fotografías adentro, del lado de afuera encontramos cimientos de ruinas bien conservado y un gran parque con espacio verde con un pequeño zoológico de aves del país, ideal para toda la familia y turistas.

(Translated by Google) It is beautiful the only thing we could not visit was the zoo that is inside a shame ... (Original) Es precioso lo único que no pudimos visitar fue el zoo que hay dentro una pena...

This is a unique museum because it has indoors space, outdoors space that you can explore, garden and semi zoo because there is a space where you will see colorful birds (not a big fan of the small cages though) and some ducks and fishes by the small lake. Best of all, entrance is free. The museum is walkable if you are staying in the city center.

Amazing museum! Excellent installations with great quality and super interesting items and history. I was so surprised it was free. The outside grounds are wonderful as well - the birds on site are amazing

Really nice. Free admission. Really informative

such a neat and expansive museum. several different exhibits with different themes. many of them are interactive, so you can draw or make art - i really love museums that invite you into the experience like this. i have been twice and easily spent 3+ hours each time. so awesome that it's free!!

The building undersells the museum. It's an ugly concrete structure with a state run vibe. But once you get inside, you'll find vibrant exhibits with lots of archeological pieces dated as back as 12,000 years BC! The ground floor has ceramic pottery, sculptures and instruments as well as metal pieces from different cultures and ages. There is a broken rock statue that you're encouraged to help restore. Fantastic puzzle for the kids. The upper floor is where the ethnic exhibits are located. Make sure you get to the tzantsas or shrinken heads. The backyard is a gem: actual Incan stone structures right in the middle of the city without having to drive almost 2 hours to the Ingapirca site. You'll also walk through beautiful gardens and visit several bird species.

A truly amazing experience. A large collection of relics, a chance to walk through the ruins with almost no one in sight, a collection of plants from the entire region under the same garden, mixed with a sense of timelessness, and nostalgia. Take your time, walk slow, and take it all in. 10/10

Very nice clean and well-maintained. Definitely worth a visit.

A great place to experience the history and culture of Ecuador. It covers the cultures from the Amazon, the Andes, as well as the coast. There are Inca ruins located behind the museum.

Sorry, not impressed. Very austere and drab interior. Elevators seem broken. Maintenance in progress. Had to use my phone for translation since they have nothing in English, and a guard thought I was taking pictures and asked me to put it away. Worth the entrance fee (free).

No pics allowed. All displays in Spanish. Interesting

Great- though most of it is in special. The shrunken heads and old coins were fascinating

Walking through de ruins behind the museum is a blast! A lot of things to see in there too but no text in English, only Spanish... So, hard to understand interesting stories about the Incas!

Great place! Make sure you go out to the back of the museum to enjoy the ruins, grass, birds, different vegetation as well. Free admission.

Nice museum but could use a lot more English translation.

Beautiful expositions in- and outdoor. Presentations of each region of Ecuador, culture and habits. The life-sized figures. It's free!

The ruins and flowers are great. Aviary was closed, also no llamas out and about, so slightly disappointed.

(Translated by Google) Area full of culture, art representations without equal. (Original) Area llena de cultura, representaciones del arte sin igual.

(Translated by Google) ugly horrible (Original) feo horrible

(Translated by Google) Great the ethnographic part (Original) Genial la parte etnografica

(Translated by Google) Rich in history of Ecuador and part of the world (Original) Rica en historia del Ecuador y parte del mundo

(Translated by Google) Very interesting (Original) Muy interesante

(Translated by Google) Beautiful (Original) Hermoso

(Translated by Google) Magic place (Original) Lugar mágico

(Translated by Google) GENIAAAAL ... The super organized rooms, with a very nice concept to see first-hand the cultural heritage of Ecuador. They do not allow taking pictures 😥 (Original) GENIAAAAL... Las salas super organizadas, con un concepto muy lindo para conocer de primera mano el acervo cultural del Ecuador. No permiten tomar fotografías 😥

(Translated by Google) Cuenca is the best in every sense of the word. The museum is just a sample of it. Beautiful views, enriching culture, architecture and gastronomy. All in one. (Original) Cuenca es lo mejor en todo el sentido de la palabra. El museo es solo una muestra de ello. Vistas hermosas, cultura enriquecedora, arquitectura y gastronomía. Todo en uno.

Shrunken heads!!

(Translated by Google) Good place (Original) Buen lugar

(Translated by Google) Beautiful museum (Original) Hermoso Museo

(Translated by Google) Nice place to go with the family. It should take about 3 to 4 hours. Bring water and if it is sunny sunscreen. The ruins of the place take you back in time. (Original) Lindo sitio para recorrer en familia. Debe disponerse de unas 3 a 4 horas. Llevar agua y si está soleado bloqueador solar. Las ruinas del lugar te llevan al pasado.

(Translated by Google) Excellent place to learn about the history of Ecuador (IT'S FREE) there is a small bird zoo .. Very quiet .. ideal to go with the family .. the Museum has three levels to get to know internally ... Quite safe. HAVE A GOOD THERE. (Original) Excelente lugar para conocer la historia del Ecuador( ES GRATIS ) hay un pequeño zoo de aves .. Muy tranquilo .. ideal para ir con la familia .. el Museo tiene tres niveles para conocer interno... Bastante seguro .EN GENERAL SE LA PASA BIEN ALLI.

(Translated by Google) Unmissable in Cuenca. A lot of history. Tidy and free that is the best (Original) Imperdible en Cuenca. Mucha historia. Ordenado y gratis que es lo mejor

(Translated by Google) A very interesting museum, the grounds are particularly beautiful. Unfortunately, the information is only available in Spanish and if there is an English translation, it is very short. (Original) Ein sehr interessantes Museum, besonders schön ist die Außenanlagen. Leider gibt es die Informationen quasi nur auf Spanisch und wenn es mal eine Englische Übersetzung gibt fallen diese sehr kurz aus.

(Translated by Google) A credible collection of historical objects that teach you little about the city of Cuenca and the country (Original) Una colección í creíble de objetos históricos que te enseñan en poco todo sobre la ciudad de Cuenca y el país

(Translated by Google) Very nice but they don't even let you take pictures that's the bad thing (Original) Muy bonito pero ni dejan tomar fotos eso es lo malo

(Translated by Google) Nothing from the other world ... 🤔 (Original) Nada del otro mundo... 🤔

(Translated by Google) Excellent place ♥ ️ (Original) Excelente lugar ♥️

(Translated by Google) The internal facilities are well maintained and quite didactic. The archeological zone is somewhat neglected and signaling is missing. There should be guides that help the tourist more than anything outside. (Original) Las instalaciones internas están bien mantenidas y bastante didácticas. La zona arqueológica está algo descuidada y falta señalización. Debería haber guías que ayuden más al turista más que todo en los exteriores.

Lots of history of indigenous people of Ecuador

(Translated by Google) Unfortunately, almost only Spanish explanations. Many rooms were closed or under renovation. (Original) Leider fast nur spanische Erklärungen. Viele Räume waren geschlossen oder gerade im Umbau.

(Translated by Google) Excellent place but they should implement new things (Original) Excelente lugar pero deberían implementar nuevas cosas

(Translated by Google) Nice place (Original) Lindo lugar

(Translated by Google) Missing signage, a guide booklet (Original) Le falta señalización, un folleto de guía

(Translated by Google) Nice place for ebentos (Original) Lindo lugar para ebentos

(Translated by Google) An amazing place to visit if you are in Cuenca (Original) Un lugar increíble para visitar si estás en cuenca

(Translated by Google) It is a museum to be tired for a while. Very interesting with very well done exhibitions and lots of text to read. It has a very beautiful outdoor exhibition. To have a good time there. Admission is free. (Original) Es un museo para estar harto rato. Muy interesante con exposiciones muy bien hechas y mucho texto para leer. Cuenta con una exposición al aire libre muy bella. Para pasar un buen rato ahí. La entrada es gratuita.

(Translated by Google) Place to go with family or alone (Original) Lugar para ir en familia o solo

(Translated by Google) Very interesting (Original) Muy interesante

It has 2 museums one inside and one outside. It's free. Outside you walk at your own pace , it has some ruin a little poo ark llamas you can feed and a small garden that shows what was grown now and back then a small botanical garden and a small birds refuge. The whole place is very picturesque.

Interesting place to discover more about the culture of Ecuador and explore some important archeological Canari and Inka sites , here is where the last Inka king Huayna Capac is believed was born.

Really cool place to start your adventure in Cuenca Ecuador because it gives you an idea of the whole culture of Ecuador not just Cuenca. The garden and birds that they keep here are really nice, it's small but worthwhile. They also keep a few llamas and you can get up close to them.

Well done exhibits of the width and spand of culture and development of Ecuador. A delightful visit.

Always important to take in culture wherever you go!!!

So annoying that it advertises its open and it’s not.

I like this museum because of all the detailed information about the maps and the history of the different cultures. I can't remember all the different types of names of the different tribes that were along the coast and in the country but I can definitely say it was an interesting. unfortunately the reason I gave it one star less was because majority of the sections didn't have any English and to tell you the truth my Spanish wasn't the best. so I have to warn you if you cannot read Spanish very well this might not be the best museum for you but that being said I still did love the displays and love the imagery

Very interesting museum, especially etnologia at first floor.

Amazing museum. Also, it has some animals outside.

(Translated by Google) Brilliant (Original) Genial

(Translated by Google) A large place, which concentrates a large part of our history, therefore very useful for education issues. (Original) Un lugar amplio, que concentra gran parte de nuestra historia, por lo tanto muy útil para temas de educación.

(Translated by Google) Repellent to know of our culture (Original) Repelente saber de nuestra cultura

(Translated by Google) Spectacular the student tourist guide, very cute and very interesting, her explanations ... the place is very beautiful. (Original) Espectacular la estudiante de guía de turismo muy linda y muy interesante sus explicaciones..el lugar muy bonito.

(Translated by Google) It is excellent, very nice museum (Original) Es excelente muy lindo museo

(Translated by Google) Magnificent history of the aboriginal ancestors of the city of Cuenca (Original) Magnífica la historia de los antepasados aborígenes de la ciudad de Cuenca

(Translated by Google) A good place (Original) Un buen lugar

(Translated by Google) Closed until January 18 (Original) Cerrado hasta enero 18

(Translated by Google) Interesting exhibits, very well cared for. We were unable to visit the ruins due to unannounced maintenance work. (Original) Interesantes exposiciones, muy bien cuidado. No pudimos realizar la visita a las ruinas por un trabajo de mantenimiento no anunciado.

(Translated by Google) Perfect (Original) Perfecto

(Translated by Google) It looks beautiful, it has culture, landscape and fauna at the same time (Original) Se ve hermoso, tiene cultura, paisaje y fauna a la vez

(Translated by Google) Nice place (Original) Lindo lugar

(Translated by Google) It is the best place you can go in Cuenca (Original) Es el mejor lugar al que puedas ir en Cuenca

(Translated by Google) Gorgeous (Original) Lindo

(Translated by Google) It is the largest museum in the city of Cuenca where many pieces of infinite archaeological value are collected, it also has an archive room and an additional library to this we have the Pumapungo theater which is a space dedicated to the performing arts. Musicals and most important academic meetings in the city (Original) Es el museo más grande de la ciudad de Cuenca donde se recopilan muchas piezas de infinito valor Arqueológico también cuenta con una sala de archivo y una biblioteca adicional a esto tenemos el teatro pumapungo que es un espacio dedicado para las artes escénicas. Musicales y encuentros académicos más importantes de la ciudad

(Translated by Google) Pumapungo is one of the best museums located in the Historic Center of the city of Cuenca. It represents an excellent opportunity to learn about the Ecuadorian culture. Pumapungo is one of the best museums located in the Historic Center of Cuenca city. It represents an excellent opportunity to learn about the Ecuadorian culture. (Original) Pumapungo es uno de los mejores museos ubicado en el Centro Histórico de la ciudad de Cuenca. Representa una xcelente oportunidad para conocer acerca de la cultura ecuatoriana. Pumapungo is one of the best museums located in the Historic Center of Cuenca city. It represents an excellent opportunity to learn about the Ecuadorian culture.

(Translated by Google) the bad they did not let me take more than a photo (Original) lo malo no me dejaron tomar más que sea una foto

(Translated by Google) One of the largest and most important museums in the city. With biosecurity protocols, you can visit the ethnographic room, the numismatic museum, the archaeological part and the ruins of Pumapungo. (Original) Uno de los museos más grandes e importantes de la ciudad. Con protocolos de bioseguridad, se puede visitar la sala etnográfica, el museo numismático, la parte arqueológica y las ruinas de Pumapungo.

(Translated by Google) Free entrance Very interesting (Original) Entrada gratuita Muy interesante

(Translated by Google) On google it says it opens at 8am, we arrived at 9:30 and it was closed. The lady told us it would open at 10 so we waited until 10:30 am and it was still unopened. They told us they would open in approx. one hour. We basically lost an hour because the schedules were wrong. We left Cuenca without being able to visit the museum (Original) En google dice que abre a las 8 am, llegamos a las 9:30 y estaba cerrado. La señora nos dijo que abriría a las 10 entonces esperamos hasta las 10:30 am y seguía sin abrir. Nos dijeron que abrirían en aprox. una hora. Básicamente perdimos una hora porque los horarios estaban mal. Nos fuimos de Cuenca sin poder conocer el museo

(Translated by Google) The limit is 25min of being adrento (Original) El limite es 25min de estar adrento

(Translated by Google) Nice museum (Original) Lindo museo

(Translated by Google) A very nice, cool and windy place 🤣 You have to go ready to walk, go up and down a lot (Original) Un lugar muy bonito, fresco y con mucho viento 🤣 Hay que ir listo para caminar, subir y bajar mucho

(Translated by Google) Good place to get to know a little about the culture, they do not allow taking photos inside the museum, but in the Archaeological Zone, very spacious facilities. (Original) Buen lugar para conocer un poco de la cultura, no dejan tomar fotos adentro del museo, pero si en ña Zona Arqueologica, instalaciones muy amplias.

(Translated by Google) There are very incredible things about each culture of Ecuador (Original) Hay cosas muy increíbles sobre cada cultura del Ecuador

(Translated by Google) Nice place (Original) Bonito lugar

(Translated by Google) It offers many museum pieces with great historical heat. Very entertaining the tour (Original) Ofrece muchas piezas de museo con gran calor histórico. Muy entretenido el recorrido

(Translated by Google) Inca ruins in the middle of the city (Original) Ruinas incas en medio de la ciudad

(Translated by Google) It lacks details to attract youth. (Original) Le falta detalles para atraer a la juventud.

(Translated by Google) It seems to me a place that you have to visit for being distracted but there is not a very good deal (Original) Me parece un sitio al que hay como visitar por distraerse pero no hay un muy bien trato

(Translated by Google) Very interesting and admission is free. (Original) Bardzo ciekawe a wstęp gratis.

(Translated by Google) The museum has a very nice boutique at the entrance! (Original) El museo cuenta con un boutique muy linda en la entrada!

(Translated by Google) Beautiful place ... full of ancient culture and well preserved. It is definitely a place where if or if you have to visit while in Cuenca, the ruins of pumapungo, the models where they represent the indigenous habitats, the museum of the Ecuadorian currency. It's a wonderful place (Original) Hermoso lugar... lleno de cultura ancestral milenaria y bien conservada. Definitivamente es un lugar donde si o si hay que visitar mientras se este en cuenca, las ruinas de pumapungo, las maquetas donde representan los habitas indigenas, el.museo de la moneda ecuatoriana. Es un lugar maravilloso

(Translated by Google) An interesting museum with great history. (Original) Un museo interesante con gran historia.

Incredible! I only had two hours. Had gone through the ethnography exhibit upstairs on a previous visit. Spent too much time looking at the money exhibit on the ground floor. Had no idea how much there was outside, so just raced through less than a quarter of the rest before closing. Besides the ruins there are an extensive ethnobotanical garden and an aviary. Signing included barcodes for your phone to read for more info. If you have bad knees like me it wouldn't hurt to bring your walking sticks. I had the luck of visiting on a gorgeous day! And all this for FREE.

This is a must see if you come to Cuenca. Very nice Museum. The gardens and outside are awesome. Very nice display and variety of Birds. You then climb a winding path and then inside for 3 stories of culture exibits.

Nice museum nice ruins in the city

Beautiful museum. Allot at least 3 hours to walk around the museum and the ruins. Also remember to bring a mask as it is currently necessary in order for entry.

Great spot that is open and free to the public! Definitely great to check out if you're looking to do something local

Very nice experience. Ideal to take your kids. Wear comfortable shoes and a cap. The photos were taken outside at the archeological field.

Excellent museum totally recommended amazing service and breathtaking views

It was interesting, but it was a bit sad, that it wasn't explained in englisch and some exhibits weren't explained at all.

Free and worth every penny! So great to have these Inca ruins right in the middle of the city of Cuenca. The exhibits are fascinating. A real feather in Cuenca’s cap.

Was a great insight into their history and culture. The gardens were really nice and a good place to relax and gather your thoughts.

Interesting museum, it is better to spend a little more than 2 hours here to fully understand and see each part of it.

Great musuem about inca civilization. Certainly worth the visit

Interesting and informative, if a bit limited in scope. The displays of local antiquity and culture are detailed, but the collection is not vast and can be viewed entirely in less than two hours. Some English translations are available. The upstairs displays of local culture are truly immersive and should not be missed. The Inca gardens outside are beautiful and very photo friendly.

Very nice museum, specially outside, in the inca gardens. A lot of important information. unfortunately there was a light shortage and we missed some exhibitions. I recommend spending more time walking outside. Could have a souvenir shop.