Amazing Cajas National Park Tour from Cuenca
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Cuenca, Ecuador
- 7 to 8 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
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.
- Upgrade to a private tour for a more personalized experience
- Relax in round trip transportation from Cuenca
- Choose to include lunch or bring your own food
- Visit a UNESCO listed national park
What's Included
- Lunch (Less in the option without lunch)
- Professional guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Transport by private vehicle
- All Fees and Taxes
- Drinks
- Tips
- Personal expenses
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
Hotels & Airbnb's (please we need the address)
Operating hours.8:30 am
Itinerary
1
El Cajas National Park
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
2
El Cajas National Park
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Laguna La Toreadora
3 hours • Admission Ticket Free
4
El Cajas National Park
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
5
Llaviuco
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
Cuenca
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Infant seats available
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Wear warm and comfortable clothes, rain jacket, hiking shoes, cap or toque, sunscreem
- Minimum 1 adult to book this tour
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
- After booking this tour we required : names, passport numbers, age and nationality of all participants
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Sorina_M
The trip was very informative- you will be trekking at altitude so be aware of the strong uv. Sunscreen hat and water are essential. Sturdy boots, layered clothes and a small rucksack. It was about 3 hours but tailored to guests ability and desire. We visited 3 separate climates and altitudes the highest 4200m. The main trek at 3800m. We stopped for a great lunch as part of the deal and then visited the lower part of the valley. Diego our guide was excellent in every aspect.
Reviews
4.9
based on 249 reviews
Clara_M, Mar 2026
Small group, very funny and kind driver and guide. The landscape of cajas national park was so amazing, I think its a must when you are in Cuenca
Sorina_M, Mar 2026
The trip was very informative- you will be trekking at altitude so be aware of the strong uv. Sunscreen hat and water are essential. Sturdy boots, layered clothes and a small rucksack. It was about 3 hours but tailored to guests ability and desire. We visited 3 separate climates and altitudes the highest 4200m. The main trek at 3800m. We stopped for a great lunch as part of the deal and then visited the lower part of the valley. Diego our guide was excellent in every aspect.
Harrison_B, Feb 2026
Excellent tour of the national park!
Our terrific tour guide (Pedro) was not only experienced in navigating the park but also had lots of great information about the natural environment.
I would say the tour is best for hikers with medium level of fitness/experience - there are some steeper hills and rock scrambles but nothing unmanageable.
The lunch add-on is definitely worth it. A lot of good food at a traditional Ecuadorian restaurant.
The park itself is absolutely stunning - towering mountains, chilly lakes, marshes, forests, and out of this world fauna. Truly unmissable if you’re traveling in Ecuador.
Desi_K, Mar 2024
Diego was great and had lots of interesting facts about medicinal plants, the history of Cuenca as well as local life. The tour was well paced and the fish option at the restaurant was delicious.
Jeffrey_S, Feb 2024
In mid-February my wife and I had a great hike and tour in Cajas National Park with Diego, our tour guide and hike leader. We had great weather, so we were able to get in a solid 3 hour hike through various terrain types and around many lakes. Diego adjusted our hike to challenge us and to make us earn, through solid cardio, a great lunch. The landscape was incredible and Diego's explanation of the flora, fauna and geology of the park made for a real education. The natural beauty of the park, the excellent guidance of Diego and a feeling of cardio accomplishment made for a great day.
Jessica_T, Dec 2023
Moises was an excellent guide. He picked me up directly from my Airbnb. He had a lot of knowledge about the flora and fauna of the places we went to. He was very personable and friendly and I was glad to have someone who knew what they were doing.
Beni, Mar 2023
Eddie was very knowledgeable and it was very enriching to learn so much through the tour.
If I had to do this again we would rather do it on our own in order to spend more time in the trails. Cajas is easily accessible by bus from Cuenca and there is no entrance fees, as for all national parks in Ecuador.
The price of the tour was just too high to justify the expense given our budget and personal interest considering going on our own would have been way less expensive and that we could have enjoyed the nature and trails even longer.
Bonnie_B, Mar 2022
Wilson was a great guide- very knowledgeable and friendly - hike was beautiful as was the walk around the lake
Pierre_L, Nov 2021
Amazing hike in a wonderful park with a very good guide(Eddy) who didn’t count his time to make me and another couple having an unbelievable experience …highly recommended!!
Karen_W, Jan 2021
Thank you Edison for a great day in Las Cajas. We learned a lot about the history and plants of this region.
Response from Host, Jan 2021
Hello, dear Karen
Gracias por confiar en Polylepis Tours Ecuador y por tomarse un tiempo para escribir un comentario de su visita al Parque Nacional Cajas con el guia Edison, saludos a Jorge
Regards from Polylepis Tours Ecuador Team
Sara_P, Dec 2020
I had a wonderful time on this tour with Edwin. He knew so much about the local culture and nature- he was easily able to answer all of my questions! He was also very encouraging when I was trying to catch my breath during the hike. It’s definitely manageable- but if you’re from sea level like me, you will definitely be out of breath! Very beautiful tour, definitely book this!
Response from Host, Jan 2021
Thank you for trusting Polylepis Tours Ecuador and thank you very much for your comment, we are happy that you enjoyed your visit to the Cajas National Park with our guide Edison
Greetings from Polylepis Tours Ecuador Team
Sara_P, Dec 2020
My tour guide, Edison, took me on a very beautiful hike in El Cajas. I was the only person signed up, so he let me decide what I wanted to do in the park. He has so much knowledge about the local culture and nature- I learned so much! After our 3 hour hike, we had a delicious lunch. If you're in Cuenca, you must book this tour!
Response from Host, Jan 2021
Hello dear Sara.
Thank you for trusting in Polylepis Tours Ecuador, it was a pleasure for us and the guide Edison that you enjoyed getting to know the Cajas National Park and its wonders.
Greetings from Polylepis Tours Ecuador Team
DANIEL_P, Dec 2020
Tour guide was a guy named, Edison who was very knowledgeable about the local flora and fauna. We took a side trip up San Luis Peak, 13' ft mountain. Very cool guide. Very beautiful scenery. Highly recommended.
Response from Host, Dec 2020
Thank you for taking this excursion with Polylepis Tours Ecuador.
Thank you very much for your comment, it was a pleasure to assist you on this tour. Remember anything you need in Ecuador we are at your service.
DANIEL_P, Nov 2020
The tour was great. I took a private tour with Edison, a Cuencan local. We passed by San Luis peak, and even though it wasn't part of the tour, he let me climb up to the top (~13k feet). The polylepis forest was really surprising and beautiful. He took me off the beaten path a bit. All-in-all it was a nice little 6 hour adventure through the Cajas.
Response from Host, Nov 2020
Hello, friend Daniel.
Firstly, thank you for visiting Cuenca , it was a pleasure spent a nice day visiting Cajas National Park and know that you were glad with this tour.
Greetings from Polylepis Tours Ecuador
LAURA, Mar 2020
Flavio was an excellent guide, and was very knowledgeable about the plants and birds native to the area. Diego was a great driver too
Response from Host, Mar 2020
Dear friend Laura.
Greetings and thank you for your review about the Cajas National Park tour, it´s a nice place to learn a little more about marvellous flora and fauna
Warm regards
dsbuss, Nov 2018
We had a wonderful day at Cajas Nationsl Park! Wilson was a very knowledgeable guide. Bring water and a snack! Would definitely recommend!
Hector_C, Apr 2018
Be prepare for lot of walking! Amazing views
Lunch was good in a traditional restaurant.
David S, Aug 2017
Milton was great and attentive to our inability to climb fast due to the high altitude. The two hikes were very educational and the scenery was breathtaking.
Benjamin H, Jul 2017
The tour was absolutely amazing. Our tour guide Eddy provided a very personal and educational experience. He was incredibly knowledgable about the flora and fauna of the park and always had something interesting to discuss, whether it had been the park's history, the ecology of the park and even the city of Cuenca and the people of Ecuador. He also took us to a great local eatery where we had some very authentic cuisine. He also walked at a very manageable pace. It was quite a long set of hikes, but he was understanding of us being unaccustomed to the high-altidue and didn't rush us through at any point. Honestly, we can't say enough good things about Eddy. It was apparent that he really loved what he did and he made for a most enjoyable day in Ecuador.
Traveler 81435, Jun 2017
We had an excellent and very knowledgeable guide. I would recommend that you go prepared with several layers because the weather can change and it can get very cold and windy. Also, take your own water and a snack i.e. a candy bar. We needed to stop to get water before driving out of the city. It's a beautiful area and this one day trip is a great way to get out of the city and see some of the countryside. Not particularly strenuous.
Wade C, Mar 2017
Beautiful tour. Our tour guide, Milton, was phenomenal and very well educated in the flora and fauna of the area. We were taken to three different areas of the park, lowest, highest, and middle elevations. For the middle elevation, we were offered two choices: hard/technical and medium difficulties. Given the recent rains, we opted for the medium difficulty. It was perfect.
For the non-vegetarians, my wife loved her lunch options. I was excited to hear about the vegetarian option until I saw it it was fried rice with chicken and hotdogs. Thankfully, the wife and I brought extra energy bars, so I had one of those to hold me over until I could visit a restaurant. This is the only reason I'm knocking a star off.
Deborah B, Jan 2017
We saw stunning scenery on this day hike. Eddie, our guide was extremely knowledgeable and set a good pace, with stops to point out and teach us about the geography, flora and fauna. We enjoyed the lunch at the mountain restaurant as well.
Mirja M, Oct 2016
Milton was an excellent guide and very knowledgeable about everything, flora and fauna. As it happened, I was the only participant, so I really could ask him a lot of questions. A great day.
Desiree T, Oct 2016
The tour was so much fun! Such a fun and interesting tour guide. Yummy lunch at the end! Highly recommend it!
robert r, Jun 2016
Excellent guide, Flavio! Very safe driver, Santiago! The two hikes were absolutely beautiful, and the pace was exactly right so that we saw many features of the park. The lunch of Trucha was delicious.
One of the best tours I have ever been on.
Claudia_C, Mar 2022
El parque nacional es muy lindo. El guía conocía sobre especies del parque pero durante el camino hacia la reserva emitía opiniones muy subjetivas que no tenían que ver con el tour. Sin embargo, ya en el parque, adaptó la caminata según nuestras posibilidades y pudimos hacer un buen recorrido perzonalizado. Contratamos el tour con almuerzo incluido pero la comida estuvo muy simple y barata para el precio del tour en comparación con otro que tomamos al día siguiente.
From $46.89
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Amazing Cajas National Park Tour from Cuenca
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