Cajas National Park offers impressive glacial landscapes of cloud forest and Andean paramo. The silent, craggy mountains invite us to explore incredible trails through an area scattered with over 200 lakes and lagoons. During our hike we can learn more about the endemic flora and fauna of this region.
This morning our private guide will pick us up from our hotel in Cuenca. We travel west from the city towards Cajas National Park.
Our first stop of the day is the area of Llaviuco, a glacial lake found at 3100m. The trail which takes us through forested areas around the circumference of the lagoon is flat and easy, and takes around 45 minutes to 1 hour in total. A perfect morning warm up hike.
We then continue onto visit the highest area in Cajas, known as Tres Cruces (Three Crosses) at 4160m. From here we get amazing panoramic views of the national park. Great photo opportunity and time for our guide to explain more about the geology and geography of the area.
Our hike today begins at the National Park’s Visitor Center, next to the dramatic Toreadora Lake. It takes place at an altitude of 3900m – 3600m.
We take part of the lake trail, walking along its banks and enjoying the lake views before venturing deeper into the national park. A short climb brings us up through areas of highland grasses to an outlook offering fantastic views of the glacial valleys, lakes and mountains below.
The trail begins its descent through a magical polylepis forest before leading us down to the paramo lakes of Totoras and Pataquinoas. From here we begin a 20-minute ascent which brings us back up to the visitor center where we began. (8km – 3 hours)