Awesome Trail for Hiking Cajas National Park | Diverse Route 1 | CM Maps Routes Manager

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Author: Megan Anderson
Created: December 15, 2021 1:00 pm
Updated: June 9, 2023 4:20 pm

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Route type: Day Trip Hike

Difficulty grade: Adventure Hike

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Distance Instructions

Label

Distance 3 miles
Time 1 h 10 min
Speed 2 mph
Min altitude 12215 ft
Peak 12982 ft
Climb 443 ft
Descent 1181 ft

This is a map and basic overview about hiking Cajas National Park, route 1. The El Cajas National Park is an otherworldly protected area that can be found a little more than 20 miles from Cuenca Ecuador. There are many routes and trails that twist through the Cajas, which is over 70,000 acres and boasts nearly 786 bodies of waters, mostly beautiful alpine lakes. This unique paramo landscapes has everything from lakes, waterfalls, Polylepis forests, and towering mountains.

By hiking Cajas National Park Route 1, you can observe all these points of interest.

A guide is not required, but make sure to register at the Visitor Center. At this altitude the climate can change quickly and sadly, visitors have gone missing while exploring El Cajas National Park. The routes are well documented in the Visitor Center, but guides are available for an additional fee.

Hiking Cajas National Park makes for a superb day trip from Cuenca Ecuador

⁉️ 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. See my full disclosure here. 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

Hiking Cajas National Park Route 1

Loop Trail

Total Mileage: 3 miles

Entrance Fee for El Cajas National Park: Free to enter!
- Simply register at the Visitor Center at Laguna Toreadora. There's no need to check out

Difficulty: Moderate, the altitude of Cajas National Park is over 10,000 ft, so make sure to be properly acclimated

Trail Markers: Route 1, or Ruta 1, is marked with pink & white signboards. Some pink trail markings can be seen along the path

Excursion Duration: +/- 3 hours

Gear Essentials:
- Plenty of water
- Good hiking boots, better with ankle support, even better if they're waterproof
- Hiking poles, if you use them
- Rain Jacket
- An extra set of dry clothing, especially socks
- Warm Jacket
- Day pack with snacks
- Downloaded offline map
- An open mind that you may experience every season within a few hour visit to El Cajas National Park

How to Get to Cajas National Park from Cuenca Ecuador

Multiple buses depart from Cuenca's Main Terminal Terrestre to El Cajas National Park. The most frequent are from the company Atrain Alianaza Buses. During the ride, the conductor will ask where you wish to exit. The hiking Cajas National Park route 1 trail is accessed from the Laguna Toreadora Visitor Center.

There is another visitor's center before Laguna Toreadora. To explore the lowest alpine lake in the Cajas, stop by Laguna Llaviucu, which is seriously underrated! It's not as low as you may think, this lake is found at at an altitude of 10,365 ft. Don't miss this area when hiking Cajas National Park.

🚌 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

Note that the route between Cuenca and Guayaquil can oftentimes be closed due to heavy rains and rockslides. Verify that the buses are running the route that passes El Cajas National Park.

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.

Hiking Cajas National Park Route 1 | Visitor Center to Road

Hiking Cajas National Park Route 1 is the best trail for those visiting the national park for the first time. Ruta 1 has unique landscapes, alpine lakes, caves, and a scenic stroll through a Polylepis tree forest.

Begin the route at the Visitor Center. Make sure to check in, especially during the heavy rainy season. Some trails may be shut or dangerous to hike due to muddy paths or rockslides.

Walk along Laguna Toreadora until you see a pink and white signboard for Ruta 1.

Continue on the path through the beautiful Polylepis tree forest. Towards the end of the forest is a small cave.

After that, continue through the paramo landscape. You'll have glimpses of the breathtaking Laguna Unidas. Follow the trail until you cross a bridge. This trail takes you past Laguna Totoras. Follow the lake path and continue to Laguna Patoquinuas. There's another signboard that explains the importance of this protected area.

Head straight until you reach a fence with the limits of El Cajas National Park. Follow the path to the right which takes you to the main road of the Cajas.

Once you reach the road, head left to reach the National Park Entrance Gate. This is about 3/4 of a mile. Here, find a bus stop where buses, vans, and shuttles run frequently back to Cuenca.

Return to Cuenca Ecuador

The bus station is right next to the gatekeeper for El Cajas National Park.

On the way back to Cuenca, I caught the bus run by company Super Semeria that cost only $2.50.

Hiking Cajas National Park Route 1

This map and overview is all about hiking Cajas National Park Route 1, however there are many paths and trails to choose from. Read the complementing blog post here:

Explore the Otherworldly Cajas National Park