Cajas National Park Hiking & Thermal Baths from Cuenca

Three hours in the high-altitude lakes, then thermal pools to ease the climb down

This eight-hour tour from Cuenca combines a three-hour hike through El Cajas National Park's Toreadora area with an afternoon at the thermal baths of Baños de Cuenca. A bilingual guide picks you up from your hotel, leads the walk through alpine terrain, arranges lunch, and ends the day in the hot springs, sauna and Turkish bath. Choose between a private tour or a shared group departure, with or without lunch included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hike Cajas NP and relax in baths

• Pick up from hotel
• Walk 3 hours in Toreadora area
• Have lunch
• Relax in Baños hot springs

The experience

The hike starts at 8 a.m. when your guide collects you from your hotel. El Cajas National Park sits at high altitude, and the Toreadora area where you walk is a landscape of glacial lakes and moorland that feels removed from the lowland city you left behind. The three-hour walk is moderate in pace but steady: the terrain and the elevation mean you need a reasonable level of fitness, though the guide sets the rhythm and knows where to pause. The park itself is the draw: the lakes reflect the sky, and the vegetation changes as you move through the zone.

After the hike, lunch happens before you head to Baños de Cuenca, the thermal bath complex about an hour away. The hot springs there are the payoff. You soak in the main pool, use the sauna, and access the Turkish bath as part of the afternoon. The water is warm year-round, and the setting lets your legs recover from the morning climb. Massages are available for an extra fee if you want them.

The tour runs eight hours total. Private tours give you a guide and vehicle to yourself. Group tours share both with other travelers. Either way, the guide speaks English and Spanish, and your hotel pickup is included. If you book the group option without lunch, you'll need to arrange your own meal before heading to the baths. The group-with-lunch option handles that for you.

What’s included

• Private transportation and bilingual guide in English or Spanish.
• hotel or apartment pickup.
• lunch (included in the private tour and the group-with-lunch option, not in the group-without-lunch option).
• access to the thermal pools, sauna and Turkish bath at Baños de Cuenca.

Options for this experience

3 options

Tour for a group, lunch not includedGuide in English or Spanish · 08:00Tour without lunch: a good choice for those who prefer to bring their own food. Pickup is included.

Group tour including a local lunchGuide in English or Spanish · 08:00Ideal for those who'd like to sample home-cooked dishes at a local restaurant. Pickup is included.

Private tourGuide in English or Spanish · 08:00Private tour with a special lunch: the itinerary is tailored to your requirements, and you choose the pickup time and other details. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

AgesAdult (13 to 70 years) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Polylepis Tours

Is this one for you?Book the private tour if you want a guide and vehicle to yourself and prefer lunch arranged. Choose the group tour to share costs with other travelers, and pick the lunch option based on whether you want the meal included or plan to eat on your own before the baths.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 12 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How difficult is the three-hour hike in El Cajas National Park?

The walk is moderate in difficulty and covers the Toreadora area at high altitude. You need at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The terrain is steady but the elevation demands a reasonable pace. The guide leads and can adjust timing, though the hike itself is not technical.

What's included in the thermal baths time at Baños de Cuenca?

Baños de Cuenca access includes the hot spring swimming pool, sauna and Turkish bath. Massages are available separately for an additional fee. The spa entrance fee itself ($20 per person) is not included in the tour price.

Do I choose between a private tour and a group tour when I book?

Yes. You pick either a private tour (guide and vehicle for your group alone) or a group tour at checkout. The group option also lets you choose whether lunch is included or not. The private tour includes lunch.

What time does the tour start and when does it end?

Hotel pickup happens at 8 a.m. The full tour runs eight hours, so you return to your hotel in the late afternoon. The guide collects you from your hotel or apartment in Cuenca.