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Cajas National Park Day-Tour: Explore Andean Vegetation & Glacial Lakes from Cuenca
4.9
14 Ratings
Cuenca
Experience the magic of Cajas National Park on a full-day tour from Cuenca. Explore Andean vegetation, glacial lakes, and encounter beautiful birds, llamas, and alpacas.
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- El Cajas National Park - Be picked up from your accommodation in the morning and drive for approximately 1 hour to Cajas National Park, located 30 km west of Cuenca. During this tour you’ll visit two altitude levels within the park. In the middle part (3960 masl), you will walk about 3 hours more or less in the Toreadora area. The trek will give you the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery, including the Polylepis Forest and moor-like Paramo, whilst the guide provides information about the flora and fauna of the area. After lunch at a nearby restaurant, you’ll visit Llaviuco (3150masl). Located in the lower part of the park, this area is part of a different ecosystem know as montano primary forest. Here you’ll and have a walk around the lake for about 1 1/2 hour.
What's Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Professional guide
- Lunch included (alternative option without lunch available)
- Access to all activities
- Transport via private vehicle
What's Not Included
- beverages
- Tips
Additional Information
Discover the magic of Cajas National Park, one of the most beautiful places in South America, on a full day tour of approximately 8 hours. Explore and learn about the Andean vegetation. In this spectacular place you can enjoy a lake system that has more than 200 lakes of glacial origin. In addition to the beautiful landscape, you can enjoy the presence of beautiful birds, llamas and alpacas.
The park is located 30km west of the city of Cuenca, between 3150 and 4450masl, the surface area of the park is 28544 hectares and the ecosystem known as paramo predominates. Experience the authentic!
- A minimum of 1 people per booking is required
- Minimum age is 11 years
- Subject to favorable weather conditions. If canceled due to poor weather, no refund will be given
Location
El Cajas National Park
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(14 Ratings)
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Jessica_a
Mar 7, 2024
Don’t miss Cajas National Park - The scenery at Cajas is extraordinary. The first guided hike at the higher altitude level includes views of the lakes, mountains, abundant grasses and flowering plants. In between hikes we had a delicious traditional lunch at a small restaurant. The second hike around a larger lake was on a flatter trail in a cloud forest zone. We stopped to get photos of the llamas grazing in a pasture. Our guide Diego identified many of the plants with information about their uses in natural medicine. A most enjoyable and educational trip.
Review provided by Viator
O6806yojohnr
Jun 15, 2023
Fabulous day at Cajas National Park - Edison was fabulous! A day that we will not forget. A great hike, plants, birds and a wonderful guide. Polyepsis earned their 5 stars. We would use them again!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
David
Nov 2, 2022
A+ your from Wilson - Wilson is an outstanding guide who is kind, patient, and extremely knowledgeable about natural history. Cajas is gorgeous and fascinating.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Companion18766424991
Nov 19, 2021
You’ve made a great choice! - We were lucky enough to have a guided tour of Cajas National Park with Edison. Not only did we have a fantastic time seeing all the natural beauty Cajas had to offer, but Edison made our tour more enjoyable by sharing the history of the park. Edison was a fountain of knowledge when it came to Cajas, he taught us all about the parks flora & fauna. It is safe to say that we will be using this tour agency in the future.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Chamaitaliana
Oct 30, 2021
Visit to the Cajas National Park - My husband and I went today to the Cajas National Park in Cuenca. Our guide was Edison from Polylepis Tours. He picked us up from our hotel and drove us to the park. During our drive to the park he gave us some history about the Incas/Cañaris, told us about Pumapungo and the founding of Cuenca. While in the park he told us about the flora and the fauna. He is knowledgeable in the Andean history, botany and ornithology and much more.
Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
P130eaamandam
Oct 26, 2021
Such a beautiful park - Absolutely loved this tour. I have been to many places in Ecuador before but had never seen something like Cajas. I felt like I was in a lord of the rings scene, the park is so beautiful. Edison is a fantastic guide, very friendly and extremely knowledgeable on all flora and fauna (no matter my question, he had an answer!). The hike was moderately challenging at times but never too difficult. Make sure to bring appropriate clothes. I sincerely hope tourism will go back to pre Covid levels and more tourists will visit Cajas, it’s an amazing place to visit and Edison/Polylepis Tours is the one to go with!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
B5825gagregn
Oct 18, 2021
View from the Clouds - Wonderful trip to Cajas National Park. Edison was an excellent tour guide- very friendly knowledgeable and spoke good english. I would rank this as one of the best places I have ever traveled too. The natural beauty of Cajas was unbelieveable and defintely a must do if you visit Cuenca.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
L7277yjrogerg
Feb 22, 2020
El Cajas National Park - The hikes through the park with a very knowledgeable naturalist was an experience we will never forget. After 2 invigorating hikes we has a casual and delicious lunch
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Maps279002
Dec 14, 2023
Gorgeous hike - Very knowledgeable guide! Loved learning the history, plants and geology.
I live at sea level so had to stop to catch my breath more than expected.
I was surprised that we were within view of the highway so much. Would love to get more into wilderness.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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