In the upscale neighborhood of Miraflores in Lima, a pretty little park is home to dozens of cats.

Built on the remains of one the Incas’ most important gathering spots, this square keeps the spirit of a fallen empire alive.

The mysterious "Candelabra of the Andes" could represent anything from a god's trident to a hallucinogenic plant.

Situated on a sacred Inca site, this 16th-century cathedral took nearly 100 years to build.

The large collection of pre-Columbian pottery might make you blush.

This geometric feat is a testament to the Incas' mesmerizing architectural abilities.

This stone complex marks the urban center of a lost civilization.

The remains of what was the most important religious complex in coastal Peru for over a millennium.

The stones of this Incan wall complex fit together so well you couldn't fit a piece of paper between some of them.

This Peruvian canyon is filled with geometric salt pools that have been being harvested since the Incan empire.

Huge stone depressions which may have acted as an Incan agricultural experiment.

An unexpected desert oasis in South America.

The intricate stonework of Machu Picchu serves as a testament to Incan engineers.

A park of winding trails and archaeological sites, offering a rare connection to Quito’s pre-Hispanic past.

Ecuador's first Catholic church was built by Spanish conquistadors in 1534.

Ecuador’s historic seat of government has been quietly looted in recent decades, and no one knows how or by whom.

An exhibition devoted to the life (and posthumous taxidermy form) of the last known representative of the Pinta Island Tortoises.

A short volcanic hill in Quito doubles as a stellar observation point of an iconic statue.

An Ecuadorian haberdashery that sets the record straight about the so-called "Panama" hat.

This huge green space packed with activities will make you forget you're in the middle of the Ecuadorian capital.

Building this tragically pointless stone barrier cost the lives of the prisoners made to build it.

This 12-inch-tall wooden sculpture of a winged Virgin Mary has inspired much devotion and countless replicas.

This historic street in Quito is known for its seven stone crosses—and one presidential assassination.

The world's tallest aluminum statue is also the world's tallest image of a winged Virgin Mary.