Top Activities on the Ground in Cuenca

Don’t stress about time-consuming public transport; instead, opt for this private full-day excursion to El Giron Waterfall and Busa Lake from Cuenca. Relax and enjoy the scenery of the Tarqui Valley as you’re driven from point to point, stopping to hike through a cloud forest and lunch at a local restaurant. Ideal for first-time visitors, this tour is an easy way to see places you might otherwise overlook.

Cuenca, with its museums, markets, sunny squares, and historic buildings, is Ecuador’s most beautiful colonial city. With this half-day tour, work with your own private guide to personalize your itinerary, prioritizing the sites you most want to see and skipping those you don’t. Choose a departure time that works best for you.

The spectacular El Chorro Waterfalls, also known as the Girón Waterfalls, lie about an hour south of Cuenca. With this full-day tour, hike between the first waterfall with the help of a local guide who can point out birds and native vegetation along the way. You’ll also have time to visit a museum in Girón, sample some local bread and yogurt, and see tranquil Busa Lagoon, a mountain lake sacred to aboriginal Andeans.

Escape the city and discover the mountain scenery of El Cajas National Park with ease on this efficient half-day tour from Cuenca. With transportation taken care of, you don’t need to worry about figuring out local bus timetables. Instead, travel between dispersed highlights—including viewpoints, lagoons, and the revered pilgrimage site of the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Cajas—without having to plan your own route.

Cajas National Park protects a huge swath of lake-dotted Andean grasslands—one of the most biologically diverse in the Andes range—just west of Cuenca. During this full-day tour, save time waiting in line at the national park visitors center, and go on a hike through highlands, wetlands, and a Polylepis forest, home to the highest altitude trees in the world. This leaves time for lunch at a local restaurant specializing in fresh trout.

Explore the beautiful city of Cuenca by bike on this 3-hour tour. Pedal along the river and admire the architecture of the El Barranco neighborhood. Visit an old Inca archaeological site, Pumapungo, and learn about this ancient culture at the adjacent museum and finish up with a pedal around the UNESCO-listed historic center of Cuenca.

This private full-day tour from Cuenca, Ecuador was designed with hikers in mind. Explore trails through primary cloud forest, then continue to Cajas National Park to explore the high altitude paramo landscape and watershed within this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. A well-earned lunch of trout from local fish farms is included.

Discover the best of Cajas National Park without the overwhelming tourist crowds on a private hiking tour from Cuenca. Starting from the park's highest elevation, you'll follow your guide on a leisurely downhill trek through three ecological zones, each offering unique flora and fauna. With very few people on the backcountry trail, you'll enjoy unobstructed views of mountains, rivers, grasslands, and more.

Spend time at the UNESCO-listed Cajas National Park on a small-group tour from Cuenca. With a guide by your side, all you have to do is enjoy the adventure on a hike that offers spectacular views as well as a look at the Andean flora and fauna.

Cajas National Park, with its 200 glacial lakes and numerous hiking trails, is easily one of the most beautiful places in Ecuador. With this tour, travelers with limited time in Cuenca can still spend a few hours exploring the Andean highlands with two guided hikes through two different forest ecosystems.

Connecting the Andes Mountains to the coast, the Devil’s Nose Train was considered one of the world’s greatest feats of engineering when it was built in 1899. On this private tour, enjoy the convenience of private transportation to Alausi, the starting point for the train. Take in the scenic Andean landscape en route to the coast, then continue along the Pan-American Highway to Ingapirca, Ecuador’s largest pre-Columbian archaeological site.

Embark on an unforgettable journey through the hidden trails of Cajas National Park. Starting at the Toreadora refuge, our certified guide will lead you along a 16-kilometer (10-mile) pristine trail, showcasing stunning Andean grasslands, serene lakes, and sweeping views that few experience. The trail reaches a peak of 13,388 feet, descending to 10,600 feet, making it a moderate hike for those in good physical condition. After a boxed lunch in the peaceful Llaviuco valley, we’ll return you to Cuenca with hotel drop-off included.

Our tours are unique and exclusive in the country. We can help you with a tour according to your needs with our professional guides. We have two offices nationwide where you can approach and hire any of our services.

Explore the centuries-old traces of the cultures that forged Ecuador in a unique and comprehensive tour. This tour takes you through breathtaking archaeological sites full of history, traditions and amazing scenery. Immerse yourself in ancient civilizations, learn about their mysteries and marvel at the cultural and natural richness that these places offer.

Add some adventure to your Ecuadorian vacation on a private bike tour from Cuenca. Comfortable transfer from your hotel takes you for a downhill bike ride along "El Camino Viejo" to the Yunguilla Valley. Starting from an elevation of 9,064 feet (2,760 meters), you’ll enjoy a 25-mile (40-km) ride through native forests, farms, and local communities. Go at your own pace and are free to pause at any time to take photos.

If you’re on a tight schedule this program is ideal to see the highlights of Cuenca city and Cajas National Park You’ll start the day visiting Cajas National Park, one of the most beautiful natural sites in Ecuador. Its landscapes, flora, fauna, and more than 230 lakes, makes it an essential place to visit. After hiking with amazing views, you will return to Cuenca for lunch and a guided tour of the historic center, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and see places like the new and the old Cathedral, the 10 de agosto market, Turi Viewpoint and the famous Panama Hat (Straw hats) factory. Because, as a matter of fact, all Panama hats are proudly manufactured in Ecuador! We will tell you all its history while on tour.

For lovers of nature trekking we have an awesome camping tour in the Cajas National Park, In this 2 day tour you can walk an average of 5 hours per day, enjoying unique landscapes in the Andes, knowing about the Andean flora and fauna, putting your physical conditions under test, If you are a mountaineer, you can´t miss this tour. Experience the Authentic!

Hike the trails of the Incas and Cañaris on a private 9-hour tour to the UNESCO listed Cajas National Park. Thanks to comfortable round-trip transportation from your Cuenca hotel, you can avoid the headache of infrequent public buses. After arrival, follow your personal guide on a challenging 5- to 6-hour hike through the Andean Mountains. Along the way, have a boxed lunch amongst the Ecuadorian flora and fauna.