Private tour: Daily

Small-Group tour: Tuesday to Sunday 

 

Highlights:

 

• Explore a primary cloud forest and enjoy the beautiful views and dense flora. 

• The hike to see many lakes is a moderate level of difficulty at an elevation of 12,795 feet.

• Enter the magical San Luis Polylepis forest. 

• Enjoy the scenic landscape while you stand at the continental divide between the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans.

 

Description:

 

Cajas National Park is located a short 40-minute drive from Cuenca. The park includes approximately 768 lakes in an area of 70,533 acres. It is one of the most important water sources in Cuenca and Ecuador.  It has gained international prominence in several categories:  Wetland of International Importance in 2002 by RAMSAR, Area of International Importance for the Conservation of Birds by IBA in 2003, and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2013.

 

We start the tour with a hike through the ecosystem of primary montane forest or cloud forest.  Afterward, we will visit the dividing inland waterway, and, finally, we will take an amazing walk in the highlands through the moorland ecosystem of wetlands and lakes to get to the unique forest of polylepis trees.  These are the highest growing trees in the world and are native to South America.

 

Before returning to Cuenca, we will have lunch at a traditional restaurant in the area, where the specialty is trout.

Map

Important Info

 

Departure point: Hotels or Airbnb pick-ups

Departure time: 8:30 am

Duration: 7 - 8 hours 

Included: 

• Hotel pick-up and drop off

• Licensed tour guide English/Spanish

• Transportation

• Lunch

Not included: Drinks, tips, extras.

Please Note

For 1 to 5 passengers, a bilingual guide will also be the driver.  For more than 5 passengers, a driver and a bilingual guide will be provided.