Top Cuenca Outdoor Activities

Embark on a charming tour of El Cajas National Park. Its haze-covered mountains hold stunning landscapes on every trail, from open meadows to forests full of life. In the middle of the tour, the silence is interrupted only by the murmur of the wind and the song of birds that accompany the traveler. The lagoons, with their serene waters, reflect the vastness of the sky and convey a peace difficult to forget. This scenario invites both adventure and contemplation, offering a perfect space to disconnect from the routine and connect with the essence of the environment at every moment.

Literally, get off the beaten path on a private hiking tour in Cajas National Park. After a hassle-free transfer from your Cuenca accommodation, your guide will lead you on a light trek through a secluded valley. Have your camera ready for postcard-worthy views of Lake Llaviucu, an abandoned German brewery, and wild horses and alpacas.

Experience the world renowned natural beauty of Cajas National Park on a 4-hour guided tour from Cuenca. Convenient round-trip transportation from your accommodation enables you to relax and enjoy the scenic drive through the mountains. Once at the UNESCO listed park, your guide takes care of navigation allowing you to fully appreciate the llamas, Polylepis trees, and impressive lakes that surround you.

Turn your transfer from Cuenca to Guayaquil into an adventure with this tour. The journey conveniently begins and ends at your accommodation, so there’s no need to haul your suitcases across either city. On your way to the coast, stop at the UNESCO listed Cajas National Park where you can enjoy an optional hike through the Polylepis Forest. Lunch is offered (if option is selected), followed by a visit to a family owned cocoa plantation.

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.

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.

Discover the vibrant culture and history of Cuenca on a 4-hour sightseeing tour. Courtesy round-trip transportation from your hotel spares you the stress of finding a meeting point in an unfamiliar city. Tour highlights includes a demonstration at the Panama Hat Factory and a visit to a traditional market. The comprehensive itinerary is set at a leisurely pace, so you have ample time to take pictures and soak in your surroundings.

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.

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.

Discover historic streets, charming neighborhoods and panoramic viewpoints is possible when exploring Cuenca by bicycle. To enjoy a safe and fun route, nothing beats the knowledge of a local guide. Join the experience and tour colorful neighborhoods, make stops to sample typical drinks, and take many opportunities to capture unforgettable photos while enjoying the city.

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.

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.

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.

The park is located only 45 minutes from Cuenca. This lagoon system, with over 230 lakes, invites you to enjoy one of the nicest landscapes in South America. There are different ecosystems such as: Andean Mountain forest, Polylepis forest, paramo or grassland. You will have the chance to spot many interesting birds, even the endemic hummingbird of Cajas - the “Violet Throated Metaltail”- one of the most important birds in Ecuador. Also, on this tour you will see the beautiful Tit Like Dacnis, Blue Mantled Thornbill, Stout Billed Cinclodes, Tawny Antpitta, Spectacled Whitestar, Tyrian Metaltail, Gray Breasted Mountain Toucan, Andean Guan, and so much more.

With more than 1660 species, Ecuador´s avifauna is considered one of best places in the world to practice birdwatching. The high percentage of endemic birds found in both Choco and Tumbesian regions invite birdwatchers to enjoy a really amazing experience in this small country!! Our trips offer the possibility to see around 50 species in only one day, while you visit different ecosystems like: the Cloud Forest, Tropical Forest, Andean Mountain Forest, Andean Dry Forest, etc. In our daily tours in the south of Ecuador, you will have the chance to spot some of the Southern Endemic birds.

Discover the charm of Cuenca through its most iconic landmarks and cultural attractions. Visit the traditional San Sebastián neighborhood, the Museum of Modern Art, the colorful Flower Plaza, and Calderón Park, surrounded by historic republican-style buildings such as the Old Cathedral, the impressive Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (New Cathedral), and the Court of Justice. Continue to the famous Homero Ortega Panama Hat Factory to observe the traditional crafting process of toquilla straw hats. Explore the scenic Barranco area along the Tomebamba River, where traditional and modern architecture come together, and finish at the Turi Viewpoint with panoramic views of Cuenca’s rooftops, domes, and surrounding mountains. *Artisan Ceramic Showroom – Visit Cerámica Vega and discover handcrafted ceramic pieces inspired by the region’s cultural heritage.

Travel along a portion of Ecuador's Inca Trail on this all-day guided tour from Cuenca. Hike six miles (10 kilometers) of the famous trail, taking in the beautiful mountain scenery and the stunning paving stones. After the hike, visit the Ingapirca archeological site, which includes the Temple of the Sun that was used for ritual and astronomical purposes.

We start the tour we will take an walk in Tambo in old ferry and view of a old and indigen town. Then we arrive to Ingapircar Ruins we make all the tour in old castle onf Incas the biggest in Ecuador and second then of Machu Pichu. Before returning to Cuenca, we will have a tipical lunch in a magic place with a lot energy where you discovered the engenier and tecnologic development for inca empire

Experience the best of Ecuadorian nature on an eight-hour trip to Cajas National Park.  Avoid the stress and confusion of public buses with pickup and drop-off from your Cuenca hotel. Spend three hours exploring the Toreadora area of the park at a leisurely pace with your guide.  Break for an lunch at a local restaurant, then visit a different ecosystem during a walk around the lake.

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!

Cajas National Park and the city of Cuenca offer the best of this part of Ecuador and this full-day tour includes both. Enjoy a moderate hike in Cajas National Park to appreciate its unique geography, flora, and fauna, including llamas. In Cuenca, see the architecture, churches, art, and ambiance that make this one of the most beautiful cities in Ecuador. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for convenience.

Experience the unbeatable beauty of Cajas National Park your way on a private day tour from Cuenca. The start time and duration of the excursion are entirely up to you. Whatever you decide, relax in convenient round-trip transportation from your hotel. The park offers a variety of picturesque trails to suit every experience level. In between your two Andean treks, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

After hotel pickup in Cuenca, you’ll set off on an 8-hour avian adventure at El Cajas National Park. From an elevation of 3,800 meters (12,800 ft), you’ll see a long list of endemic birds, including the Tufted Tit Tyrant and Variable Hawk. Go at a leisurely pace with your private guide to maximize your sightings and enjoy the scenery. Unwind as private transport takes you back to your hotel.