Visit the Otherworldly Cajas National Park | Spectacular Hiking in Ecuador

The otherworldly protected area of El Cajas National Park is around 20 miles from Cuenca Ecuador. With its close vicinity to Cuenca, hiking Cajas National Park makes for an adventurous yet easy Cuenca day trip. This unique paramó landscape is a must visit while exploring Ecuador.

Cajas National Park, or Parque Nacional El Cajas, boasts over 70,000 protected acres and nearly 786 bodies of waters, including beautiful alpine lakes usually covered with mystic fog. Besides the numerous breathtaking alpine lakes, gawk at waterfalls, wander through peculiar Polylepis forests, discover caves, all that are encircled by the high-altitude mountains. With the towering elevation, it is important to be prepared and properly acclimated. The Cajas lowest elevation point is 10,365 feet.

There are many Cajas National Park hiking trails to choose from including options for day hikes and multi-day treks. Included in this Cajas hiking guides are three of the most popular Cajas hiking routes.

Before heading back to Cuenca, make sure to stop at a restaurant and have a warm drink and a typical plate of food!

Here’s how to spend a day, or two, or more exploring and hiking Cajas National Park Ecuador.

Table of Contents

Disclosure: This is part of my Hikes & Adventures series, which means these treks can be strenuous and challenging. These are my experiences and I am not an expert. Please have all the proper equipment, verify the weather conditions, use professional resources, do your own research, be mindful of constantly changing trail conditions, and take into consideration your own physical abilities and/or limitations. These guides are for entertainment purposes only. Please see my full disclosure for more information here.

• How to Visit El Cajas National Park
• How to Get to Cajas National Park from Cuenca Ecuador
• Popular Cajas National Park Trails
• Cajas National Park Restaurants & Hotels
• How to Return to Cuenca After Hiking Cajas National Park
• More Cuenca Day Trip Ideas
• Ecuador Hiking Inspiration
• Overview for Hiking Cajas National Park

How to Visit El Cajas National Park

There are multiple ways to visit Cajas National Park, either independently or with an organized tour. The most popular entrance is at Laguna Toreadora, but there is another visitor center at Laguna Llaviucu that has a loop trail around the lake.

Cajas National Park Entrance Fee: free | Visitor’s Center at Laguna Toreadora: Dos Cuevas | While you have to sign-in at El Refugio, it’s not necessary to sign-out | Park Hours: Daily, 8:00 – 16:30

Visit Independently

To visit the Cajas, a guide is not required. However, make sure to register at one of the Visitor Centers. At this altitude, the climate can change quickly and sadly, visitors have gone missing while exploring the National Park. All of the the Cajas hiking routes are well documented at the Visitor Center, but guides are available for an additional fee. If visiting independently, make sure to be properly acclimated, have the proper gear, including an offline map, and verify your route at the Visitor Center.

Cajas National Park Tours

From Cuenca, there are many companies that run organized tours. These tours include transportation, a hiking guide, and oftentimes lunch.

Cajas National Park Camping Options

There is camping allowed in Cajas National Park, however, it is highly recommenced to overnight in the Cajas with a guide since it is in a cloud forest and the weather can change fast. For foreigners, Cajas National Park Camping fee is $4.

How to Get to Cajas National Park from Cuenca Ecuador

The best way to get to Cajas National Park as a day trip from Cuenca Ecuador is to take one of the frequent buses en-route to Guayaquil. There are two roads to reach Guayaquil, so just verify that the bus will pass by El Cajas. Two primary companies that depart from Cuenca’s Terminal Terrestre are Atrain Alianza and Super Semeria.

💬 Real Talk | Be mindful that this area is no stranger to rockslides and road closures. Make sure to check the weather before visiting. The route between Cuenca and Guayaquil via Cajas National Park can oftentimes be closed due to heavy rains and rockslides. Always check in the terminal before planning a visit.

Atrain Alianaza Buses offers the most frequent departures from Cuenca’s Main Terminal Terrestre to El Cajas National Park. During the ride, the conductor will ask where you wish to exit. There are three exit point for the Cajas National Park. First is Laguna Llaviucu, the most popular exit is Laguna Toreadora, and lastly the Tres Cruces Viewpoint.

 🚌 Cuenca to Cajas National Park by Atrain Alianza Buses | Find them near terminal 1 in the Terminal Terrestre Cuenca, main entrance way | Buses run: frequently all day from 1:30 – 23:59 | Cajas National Park opens at 8 a.m. | One way bus ticket cost: $3 | Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes | Facebook Page

Alternative Buses to Cajas National Park | Terminal Interparroquial El Arenal

Smaller and local buses depart from Cuenca to Cajas National Park next to the El Arenal Bus Terminal and the busy Feria Libre Market. This bus terminal is behind the El Arenal Main Bus Terminal and officially named Terminal Interparroquial El Arenal.

These small local buses pass by Laguna Llaviucu and oftentimes will head further into the Cajas National Park. Always ask before boarding. Make sure to confirm what time the buses pass by to return to Cuenca.

  🚌 Cuenca to Cajas National Park by Local Green Buses | Find them near el Arenal here | Buses currently depart at: 6:10, 10:20, 13:05 | One way bus ticket cost: $2.50 | Duration to Laguna Llaviucu: 40 minutes | Verify what time the bus will pass by your destination for pick up

El Cajas National Park Altitude & Weather

Historically, the rainiest months for El Cajas National Park are October and November and then again in March and April. Road closures are more than likely to occur during these months. Sometimes the route can be closed to buses and general traffic for weeks.

I’ll stress it again, the park sits in a high altitude cloud forest. Cajas National Park altitude is between 10171 to 14600 ft. (3100m – 4450m). If you aren’t properly acclimated, be mindful of possible altitude sickness

It is noticeably cooler here than in Cuenca, and from the altitude the weather can change in an instant. It’s been said that you can experience all four seasons within an hour… and it’s most definitely true. Early mornings are best to explore El Cajas National Park. Most afternoons, the clouds roll in over the towering mountains and the rain dumps down.

Popular Cajas National Park Trails

While there are many Cajas National Park trails from easy loop trails around lakes, or more strenuous multi-day treks. Also, find hiking paths that are filled with ancient history. Some of these paths follow the old Inca road of Qhapaq Ñan.

Skip to | Easy: Laguna Llaviucu | Easy: Laguna Toreadora Loop | Moderate: Ruta 1 | Moderate – Hard: Tres Cruces

No matter which route you choose, make sure to carry these essential items:

El Cajas National Park Essential Gear

• Plenty of water, and filter for long and intense hikes
• Good hiking boots, better with ankle support, even better if they are water resistant
• Hiking poles if you use them
• Rain Jacket
• Extra dry clothing, especially socks!
• Warm Jacket
• Gloves & Hat, or a Buff
• Day Pack with Snacks and dry clothes
• Sunscreen, bug spray
• Well stocked First-aid kit
• Emergency blankets
• Downloaded offline Cajas National Park Map

➯ Hey… don’t forget your Travel Insurance! I love SafetyWing

Laguna LLaviucu Scenic Loop | Easy

Llaviucu Lake is the lowest alpine lake in the Cajas National Park. The lake’s altitude is still a surprising 10,365 ft (3,160 m) and is the closest entry point to the Cajas from Cuenca. The landscape here is quite different than the higher altitude of the park, but a day trip here is more than worthwhile.

This scenic loop trail boasts the large lake, a silly herd of alpacas, an abandoned brewery, and beautiful scenery. This is an excellent place to go bird watching. Locals love to picnic here, take wedding photos, fish for trout in the river, and appreciate spectacular viewpoints. On a sunny day, lay out in the grass and savor the silence. On top of all these things to do at Laguna Llaviucu, the trail is fun to explore, especially the wooden walkway through the forest.

 🥾 Hiking Guide Sendero Llaviucu Trail | Alternative Name: Sendero Uku | Distance: 2.25 miles | Duration: +/ – 2 hours | Personal Note: I walked to and from the trailhead from the main road, 5.5 miles in total, 4 hours

Laguna Toreadora Loop | Easy

There are many trails twisting throughout the Cajas National Park. At the popular Laguna Toreadora, find the Visitor’s Center, bathrooms and a small museum. This is where you check in with the park ranger. They will notify you of any trail closures and alternative route options.

If you want a nice introduction and want to take an easier route, follow the well-marked loop trail around Lake Toreadora. This trail still offers incredible views of the Laguna. 1/4 of the way around the lake, there is a sign for Ruta 1. Even if you don’t want to hike all of Route 1, I think it’s worth it to at least walk to the Polylepis tree forest, which is less than a mile from the El Refugio.

Route 1 (Ruta 1) | Moderate

🥾 Hiking Cajas Guide Ruta 1 | Distance: 3 miles | Duration: -/+ 3 hours | Trail Markers: Pink & White Signboards Icons & Pink Paint Dashes on Rocks | Download El Cajas National Park Map Trail Route 1

One of the more popular trails in Parque Nacional Cajas is Ruta 1 (route 1). This moderate loop trail starts from the Visitor’s Center at Laguna Toreadora. About 1/4 of the way around the lake, the trail veers to the right. This trail is diverse and I highly recommend it to experience all the treasures of hiking Cajas National Park. The passes by stunning alpine lakes, twists through an out of this world Polylepis tree forest, includes a stop at a cave, and shows the unique landscape of the high altitude paramo.

The real highlight is the Polylepis trees, which are reddish trees that appear to look like they are peeling. Due to their unusual composition, these trees are often nicknamed “paper trees,” but Ecuadorians refer to them Quinua trees. These high altitude trees usually grow above 10,000 feet and can take over 100 years to simply grow .5 of an inch in diameter.  Walking through these magical forests feels like a wonderful, strange glimpse into another planet. Yeah, trees are fascinating.

After exiting the forest, there is a small cave on the outskirts of the forest that’s worth a peak. The trail passes by the stunning Laguna Unidas. Enjoy the views and cross a small wooden bridge. From here, follow along Laguna Totoras and onto Laguna Patoquinuas. This area is extremely important to the biodiversity of the park, as it is home to a wide range of wildlife, including many species of birds. If you are lucky, you may spot a few flying above the lakes and resting on the large rocks.

Once you reach the park limit, take a right to reconnect to the main road. From here, it’s a less than 3/4 of a mile to reach the main control gate. However, it’s not as scenic, as it follows along a heavily trafficked road.

⁉️ If downloading the map, please verify that the map is correct and follows the waypoints. Oftentimes, there are daily updates to the site, map platforms, and other external issues that may cause a bug in downloading. Be mindful that this map is solely for entertainment purposes. Always hike responsibly and respect the mountains by following a no-trace philosophy, avoid hiking alone, be conscious of the weather and personal limitations, and do not stray from the visible trail.

Tres Cruces | Moderate – Hard (Altitude)

Another popular point of interest in Parque Nacional el Cajas  is the Tres Cruces, or three crosses viewpoint. The main road actually crosses the Ecuador Continental Divide. The Continental Divide at Tres Cruces is where the water to the west of the Andes flows to the Pacific Ocean, while the water to the east of the Andes drains into the Atlantic Ocean. It can be seen here, at an altitude of just under 14,000 ft!

As stated earlier, this is one of the one of the highest altitude points in the Cajas National Park. If you want to get higher, take the trail up to Cerro Paragüillas. This path is around 1.5 miles and takes about 1 hour to reach the peak. What’s killer here is the altitude. Paraguillas peak sits at an altitude of 4,400 meters, or nearly 14,435 feet!

There is also another popular route that begin on the opposite side of Tres Cruces that follows the Luspa Path past Laguna Luspa and into the small village of Guagrahuma. Make sure to check into the Visitor Center if attempting this longer and more strenuous hike.

Cajas National Park Restaurants & Hotels

The cuisine in the Cajas is fantastic and usually showcases trout, or trucha from the nearby streams in the park.

For a super eclectic experience, visit Casa Vieja Restaurante. Find it close to the main control gate for the Cajas, which is also conveniently the bus station back to Cuenca. This place boasts a totally authentic menu in a cozy restaurant with a wood-burning fire place and covered garden that is decorated super cute. The hosts are incredibly friendly. Casa Vieja has been refueling hungry hikers for over 60 years!

Find them here: KM 26.5 Cuenca to Guayaquil | Hours: Daily, 10:00 – 18:00 | Facebook Page

To warm up after a rainy hike, drink the agua de tipo, an aromatic red tea that is made from plants from the mountains. Locro de papas, or potato soup is hearty and good for the soul. Of course, the trout is fantastic!

🍽 More food inspiration on where to eat in Cuenca Ecuador

Not technically in the park, but just on the outskirts, find Hosteria Dos Chorreras. This is a great options to stay close to Parque Nacional El Cajas, without the hassle of camping and carrying gear! Enjoy the grounds, the open feeling lodge, and a beautiful dinning room, all that is surrounded by the beauty of the mountains. Book here.

How to Return to Cuenca After Hiking Cajas National Park

If visiting Parque Nacional Cajas as a day trip, simply return via bus. Flag down any bus or shuttle that is going in the direction of Cuenca, which is the opposite side you exited. For those hiking Route 1, the best place to catch a bus is from the main control gate. There is a small bus stop with a bench.

 🚌 Parque Nacional el Cajas to Cuenca by Super Semeria | Catch buses here next to the control point | Buses run: frequently by multiple bus companies and shuttles | One way bus ticket cost: $2.50 | Duration: 1 hour

Fares will vary depending on each bus company and where you catch the bus from.

More Cuenca Day Trip Ideas

After hiking Cajas National Park, why not rejuvenate those sore muscles at the curative waters of Baños de Cuenca. There are a wide range of hot springs ranging from local baths to higher end luxury spas only a few miles from the historical center of Cuenca.

Want more natural adventures? Head to the small village of Giron Ecuador to discover the beautiful El Chorro Waterfall. Hikers will love the scenic trail up to the second tier of the towering Giron Waterfall in a cloud forest.

Those fascinated with ancient civilizations should visit Ingapirca, which is originally home to the Cañari civilization and then incorporated into the mighty Inca Empire. Another small ruin site can be found in the small village of Cojitambo, which has a nice hiking path and killer views of the fertile valley.

There are many artisan villages just outside of Cuenca including Gualaceo, Chordeleg, SigSig, and more that are worth a visit. Each village boasts natural wonders, bustling markets, and handmade goods from specialty items such as macanas, which is like a scarf to intricate jewelry.

➯ Detailed Ecuador Travel Guide | 10+ Stellar Day Trips to Discover from Cuenca Ecuador

Ecuador Hiking Inspiration

For those looking for more notable Ecuador hikes, head north.

Alausi Ecuador

In the adorable village of Alausi Ecuador are two excellent hikes. From the hamlet itself, take the scenic hike to the Devil’s Nose, or “la Nariz del Diablo.” Alausi is also one of the best access points for the Ecuador Inca Trail. This multi-day trek starts from the small village of Achupallas and continues to the Ingapirca Archaeological Complex. This three day hike is the also the official start of “The Great Inca Trail,” an incredible 3-4 month trek that twists through the Andes Mountains and follow the Qhapaq Ñan, the intricate Inca road system. The trail eventually leads to the the Imperial City of Cusco.

✈ Travel Planning | 10+ Wonderful Things to Do in Alausi Ecuador

Quilotoa Loop

Arguably one of Ecuador’s most famous multi-day treks, the Quilotoa Crater Lake is a must-visit destination. The standard trek takes three days. This is an incredible experience, both culturally and to appreciate the abundant scenery, since it’s possible to sleep in guest houses along the way.

While there are many ways to experience this trek, the best way is to gaze up the Quilotoa Lake as the grand finale.

Coming Soon: Detailed Hiking Guide | How to Hike the Stunning Quilotoa Loop

Overview for Hiking Cajas National Park

As you can see, hiking Cajas National Park is an otherworldly experience and a fairly simple day trip from Cuenca Ecuador. The protected area is filled with alpine lakes and showcases unusual highlights such as the polyepelis trees that are all part of a high altitude paramó ecosystem in a cloud forest.

El Cajas National Park can be explored independently, on a tour, or with a guide from the national park. Buses passing between Cuenca and Guayaquil are frequently and quite inexpensive

There are many Cajas National Park Trails to choose from. Make sure to checkin with the Visitor Center and be prepared for the weather to change at a moment notice. One of the best trails to discover the diversity of the Cajas is Route 1, a moderate trail.

Don’t miss exploring and hiking Cajas National Park on your trip to Ecuador and South America!

Have you been to El Cajas National Park Cuenca Ecuador? Did you visit Cajas National Park as a day trip or multi-day excursion? Did you take a specific trail that you loved? Let me know in the comments below!

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