It's worth the walk east along Calle Larga to one of Ecuador's most significant museums. Whilst there's some great modern art downstairs, the highlight is on the second floor. Here begins a comprehensive voyage through Ecuador's diverse indigenous cultures, with colorfully animated dioramas and reconstructions of typical houses, including Afro-Ecuadorians from Esmeraldas province, the cowboy-like montubios (coastal farmers) of the western lowlands, several rainforest groups and all major highland groups.
The finale features rare and eerie tzantzas (shrunken heads) from the Shuar culture of the southern Oriente! Included in your visit is the Archaeological Park out back, where you can walk through the extensive ruins of buildings believed to be part the old Incan city of Tomebamba. Thanks to the Spanish conquistadors who carted off most of the stone to build Cuenca, there’s not much left – but the park is good for a gander and a stroll with perhaps a stop at the snack bar at the bottom.
