Cajas National Park Small-Group Day Trip from Cuenca
by Cuenca Bestours
Choose from 3 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$95.98Overview
Cajas National Park, covering over 70,000 acres and home to about 768 lakes, is an important water source near Cuenca, Ecuador. This small-group day trip lasts around 7 to 8 hours and includes transport by private vehicle with hotel pickup and drop-off. A naturalist guide leads the tour. The visit starts with a 40-minute drive to the park, followed by a walk to the intercontinental water divide. Guests then hike moderately for about two and a half hours through the highland moorland ecosystem, passing wetlands and lakes. Along the way, the guide points out local plants and shares information about the geology, history, and culture of the area. The hike ends at the polylepis forest, known for some of the world’s highest growing trees. Afterward, lunch is provided at a nearby traditional restaurant, featuring trout if selected during booking. The afternoon consists of a softer 90-minute hike in the Llaviuco area, located in the park’s lower montane zone. This part of the park contains primary cloud forest where the guide explains the local flora and fauna to help visitors acclimatize before returning to Cuenca.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Cajas National Park Highlands Hike
The tour begins with a 40-minute drive from Cuenca to Cajas National Park, recognized as a RAMSAR Wetland of International Importance and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2013. The group visits the intercontinental water divide before starting a moderate hike lasting about two and a half hours through highland moorland with wetlands and lakes. The naturalist guide identifies endemic plants and explains the area's geology, history, and culture. The hike reaches the polylepis forest, which contains some of the highest growing trees globally. A traditional restaurant nearby serves lunch featuring the local trout specialty before returning to the vehicle.
180 min
Llaviuco Cloud Forest Walk
This section includes a gentle one and a half hour hike in the Llaviuco area of the park, situated in the lower montane zone. The walk passes through primary cloud forest where the naturalist guide discusses the characteristic flora and fauna. This hike also serves as an acclimatization opportunity before heading back to Cuenca.
90 min
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
Cajas National Park Small-Group Day Trip from Cuenca
by Cuenca Bestours
Choose from 3 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$95.98Overview
Cajas National Park, covering over 70,000 acres and home to about 768 lakes, is an important water source near Cuenca, Ecuador. This small-group day trip lasts around 7 to 8 hours and includes transport by private vehicle with hotel pickup and drop-off. A naturalist guide leads the tour. The visit starts with a 40-minute drive to the park, followed by a walk to the intercontinental water divide. Guests then hike moderately for about two and a half hours through the highland moorland ecosystem, passing wetlands and lakes. Along the way, the guide points out local plants and shares information about the geology, history, and culture of the area. The hike ends at the polylepis forest, known for some of the world’s highest growing trees. Afterward, lunch is provided at a nearby traditional restaurant, featuring trout if selected during booking. The afternoon consists of a softer 90-minute hike in the Llaviuco area, located in the park’s lower montane zone. This part of the park contains primary cloud forest where the guide explains the local flora and fauna to help visitors acclimatize before returning to Cuenca.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Cajas National Park Highlands Hike
The tour begins with a 40-minute drive from Cuenca to Cajas National Park, recognized as a RAMSAR Wetland of International Importance and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2013. The group visits the intercontinental water divide before starting a moderate hike lasting about two and a half hours through highland moorland with wetlands and lakes. The naturalist guide identifies endemic plants and explains the area's geology, history, and culture. The hike reaches the polylepis forest, which contains some of the highest growing trees globally. A traditional restaurant nearby serves lunch featuring the local trout specialty before returning to the vehicle.
180 min
Llaviuco Cloud Forest Walk
This section includes a gentle one and a half hour hike in the Llaviuco area of the park, situated in the lower montane zone. The walk passes through primary cloud forest where the naturalist guide discusses the characteristic flora and fauna. This hike also serves as an acclimatization opportunity before heading back to Cuenca.
90 min
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.