Cajas National Park Tour from Cuenca: Over 200 Glacial Lakes and Paramo

A day on the Andean moorland among lakes, birds, llamas and alpacas

Walk the high Andean moorland of Cajas National Park, where more than 200 glacial lakes sit among birds, llamas and alpacas. Begin at the 3 Cruces viewpoint, then spend around three hours on foot through the Toreadora area, past Polylepis forest and glacial lakes. This tour from Cuenca also takes you to the Llaviuco valley, where the Tomebamba River begins.

Options for this experience

3 options

From US$ 47.99 to US$ 75.99 per person, depending on the option and date you choose. See options & prices

Tour without lunch 08:30 Guide in English or Spanish Perfect for travelers who would rather bring their own food. Pickup is included.

Tour that includes a local lunch 08:30 Guide in English or Spanish Ideal for people who enjoy trying local food, with a typical lunch included. Pickup is included.

Private tour 08:30 Guide in English or Spanish Private tour built around your requirements. Pickup is included.

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Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Cajas National Park and surroundings

• Travel to 3 Cruces viewpoint
• Learn about continental watershed and religious importance
• Take photos of Cajas Park landscape (weather permitting)
• Walk in Toreadora area around Polylepis Forest and glacial lakes
• Learn about flora and fauna of the paramo ecosystem
• Optional: Eat local Ecuadorian lunch
• Travel to Llaviuco valley
• Explore Andean mountain forest and learn about medicinal plants
• See origin of Tomebamba River
• Return to Cuenca hotel

Stops and time spent at each 5 stops

1. El Cajas National Park 1h
2. El Cajas National Park 30m
3. Laguna La Toreadora 3h
4. El Cajas National Park 1h
5. Cuenca 1h

What’s included

• Collection from your lodging and return there.
• Professional guide.
• Lunch with a local soup and main course.
• Private vehicle for the whole route.

Times

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• Every day 08:30

Information

Walk the paramo of Cajas National Park from Cuenca, past the 3 Cruces viewpoint and lakes of glacial origin, with a guide who names the plants you pass.

Group Up to 15 1 similar private tour ›

Live guide English and Spanish

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included. See the pickup points

Ages Adult (15 to 75 years) · Youth (12 to 14 years) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Good to know

Moderate physical effort Infant seats available Not recommended with heart problems

More information The pickup points, the operator’s instructions and every other detail are in the full listing. See the full listing

Traveler reviews

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The experience

The drive from your hotel to the 3 Cruces viewpoint takes about an hour, and your guide fills the ride with what you are about to see. At the viewpoint, the guide explains the continental watershed and why the spot matters to travelers for its religious meaning. When the weather allows, the different lookouts give you the chance to photograph the landscape of the park from several angles.

Ten minutes further on, you reach the middle of the park at 3,960 meters and set off on a walk of around three hours through the Toreadora area, at the pace your group sets. The path runs past the Polylepis forest, several glacial lakes and the paramo, the moorland that covers much of this high country, while the guide names the plants and animals along the way. Photographers will find plenty to frame here, and if you are lucky, llamas may come into view.

Lunch brings a local soup and a main course, with a good option for vegetarians. After that, a twenty-minute drive takes you to the Llaviuco valley, lower in the park at about 3,200 meters, where native trees of the Andean mountain forest grow and the guide explains medicinal plants. You can also see where the Tomebamba River begins, the river the city of Cuenca counts as its most important. The last hour brings you back to your hotel in Cuenca.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 14 years); Child (6 to 11 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

Do I have to walk a lot on the Cajas tour?

Yes, the middle of the park means a walk of around three hours in the Toreadora area, at the pace of the group, past Polylepis forest, glacial lakes and paramo.

What happens at the 3 Cruces viewpoint on the Cajas tour?

The guide explains the continental watershed and the religious importance of the place for travelers, and when the weather permits you can photograph the park from its different viewpoints.

Will I definitely see llamas on the Cajas tour?

No, llamas are not guaranteed: the guide mentions a chance to see them on the Toreadora walk if you are lucky.

Is there a vegetarian option for lunch on the Cajas tour?

Yes, lunch includes a local soup and a main course, and the tour has a very good option for vegetarian travelers.

Will the guide explain the plants on the Cajas tour?

Yes, the guide explains the flora and fauna of the Toreadora area and the medicinal and representative plants of the Llaviuco valley.

What is the Llaviuco valley stop like on the Cajas tour?

It is a short visit, about twenty minutes by road after lunch, to a lower part of the park at about 3,200 meters, with native Andean forest trees and the origin of the Tomebamba River.

Operated by Polylepis Tours. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago