El Cajas National Park tour from Cuenca: Tres Cruces Viewpoint

Walk to Tres Cruces and stand above the moorland at 3,900 meters

A half-day guided tour of El Cajas National Park near Cuenca takes you to Tres Cruces Viewpoint and Laguna Toreadora, a glacial lagoon ringed by high-altitude moorland. The tour runs about four hours with a live guide in English or Spanish, and includes hotel pickup. The itinerary also passes the park's Interpretation Center and visits a shrine known locally as the Garden of the Blessed Virgin.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore El Cajas National Park

• Visit Tres Cruces Viewpoint
• Explore Laguna Toreadora and Interpretation Center
• Visit the Garden of the Blessed Virgin shrine
• Experience Hosteria Dos Chorreras and local cuisine

The experience

El Cajas National Park sits in the mountains above Cuenca, and this tour reaches two of its signature stops. Tres Cruces Viewpoint is the main draw: a high-altitude vantage point that opens onto the park's haze-covered ridges and open meadows. From there the route moves to Laguna Toreadora, a glacial lagoon at approximately 3,900 meters above sea level, where the water reflects the sky and the moorland landscape spreads in all directions. The Interpretation Center sits along the way and holds interactive exhibits on park geography, the water cycle and the wildlife that moves through this ecosystem.

The tour also includes a stop at a shrine called the Garden of the Blessed Virgin, a place of natural beauty where visitors can collect water from a spring if they wish. Afterward, the route passes Hosteria Dos Chorreras, a lodge named for two nearby waterfalls, where you can taste local cuisine and visit a chocolate shop stocked with desserts made from Ecuadorian cocoa. A live guide in English or Spanish leads the group throughout, and hotel pickup from Cuenca is included in the booking.

What’s included

• Guided tour with a live guide in English or Spanish.
• hotel pickup from Cuenca.
• access to Tres Cruces Viewpoint and Laguna Toreadora.
• a stop at the Interpretation Center with its exhibits on park ecology and the water cycle.
• a visit to the Garden of the Blessed Virgin shrine.
• and a pass by Hosteria Dos Chorreras where local cuisine and chocolate made from Ecuadorian cocoa are available.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30 and 14:00

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (11 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 90

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tour360

Is this one for you?Four hours leaves room for breakfast before or a late lunch after, so it fits easily into a day spent partly in Cuenca. The high altitude and moorland terrain suit all fitness levels, though the elevation itself is something to pace yourself through.

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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: Youth (11 to 17 years); Child (3 to 10 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What is Tres Cruces Viewpoint like in El Cajas?

Tres Cruces Viewpoint is one of the park's main highlights, offering a vantage point over the haze-covered mountains and open meadows that define El Cajas. It is a destination for nature lovers and sits at high altitude where the landscape opens across the moorland.

How high is Laguna Toreadora and what is the terrain around it?

Laguna Toreadora sits at approximately 3,900 meters above sea level and is one of the largest lagoons in the park. It is a glacial lagoon surrounded by mountainous moorland landscape that offers views of the high-altitude terrain.

Is hotel pickup included in this tour?

Hotel pickup from Cuenca is included in the tour price.

What else does the tour visit besides the viewpoint and lagoon?

The tour passes the park's Interpretation Center, which has interactive exhibits on park geography and wildlife; visits a shrine called the Garden of the Blessed Virgin where a spring offers water; and stops at Hosteria Dos Chorreras, where you can taste local cuisine and visit a chocolate shop.