Cuenca to Cajas: Small Group Hiking & Cloud Forest Day Trip

Summary

Cloud forest trails, high lakes and polylepis trees near Cuenca

You’ll leave Cuenca behind for wild lakes and misty trails in Cajas with a small group led by a local guide. Hike among ancient polylepis trees, spot rare plants, taste fresh trout for lunch, and wander through cloud forest before returning to city life—changed just a little by all that quiet air.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t realize how quickly you could leave Cuenca’s traffic behind until we were winding up into the misty hills. Forty minutes—that’s all it took. Suddenly, the air felt sharper and the colors changed; everything was mossy and silver-green. Our guide, Andrés, kept pointing out tiny orchids growing out of nowhere on the rocks. He said something about RAMSAR wetlands and UNESCO, but honestly I was too busy watching clouds drift over the water to really process it. The silence up there is thick—except when someone in our group (okay, me) stepped in a puddle deeper than it looked.

The hike through Cajas felt like walking through a storybook that hadn’t decided if it wanted to be moorland or jungle. We passed these weirdly ancient-looking polylepis trees—Andrés called them “paper trees”—and their bark really does peel off in layers you can almost see through. There was this moment where the wind dropped and all you could hear was your own breathing and some distant bird calling out. It made me feel small in a good way. My boots got soaked but I kind of stopped caring after a while because every turn showed another lake or patch of wildflowers.

Lunch happened at this old roadside place where trout is apparently the thing to get. I tried it with some ají sauce that nearly blew my head off—Andrés laughed at my face, which I probably deserved. Afterward, we drove down to Llaviuco for a softer walk through what they call “cloud forest.” Everything smelled damp and alive; even the tree trunks felt cold if you touched them (I did). By then I was tired but not in a bad way—more like pleasantly emptied out. On the ride back to Cuenca, everyone got quiet except for one guy snoring gently behind me. I still think about that silence sometimes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Hike Cajas National Park ecosystems

• Drive 40 minutes from Cuenca
• Visit dividing inland waterway
• Hike 2.5 hours in highlands
• Explore Polylepis tree forest
• Have trout lunch at local restaurant
• Hike 1.5 hours in Llaviuco cloud forest

Top questions

How long is the drive from Cuenca to Cajas?

About 40 minutes each way by private vehicle.

Is lunch included on this day trip?

Yes, lunch is included—a traditional restaurant with trout as the specialty.

What kind of hiking should I expect?

A moderate 2½ hour hike in the highlands plus an easier 1½ hour walk in the cloud forest area.

Are hotel pickups available?

Yes, hotel or port pickup and drop-off are included with your booking.

Can vegetarians or vegans be accommodated?

Yes—just mention dietary needs when booking so they can prepare accordingly.

How big are the groups on this tour?

The maximum group size is 15 travelers; minimum is two people required to run shared tours.

Will there be a bilingual guide?

Yes—a bilingual naturalist guide leads groups up to six people; larger groups have both driver and guide.

Is this tour suitable for people with limited fitness?

You’ll need at least moderate physical fitness due to hiking at altitude; not recommended for those with poor cardiovascular health.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel or port pickup from Cuenca, all entry fees and taxes covered, guided hikes through both highland moorlands and cloud forest areas with a bilingual naturalist guide (who also drives if your group is small), plus a traditional lunch featuring local trout before heading back into town together.