Cajas National Park

Parque Nacional Cajas (1996), A Ramsar Wetland And Paramo Of Lakes, Polylepis Forest And Trails Near Cuenca, Home Of The Andean Condor And The Andean Fox. Short And Long Hikes From The Visitor Centre At Toreadora Lake; Weather Is Cold, Wet And Changeable. · Cuenca, Azuay

Cajas National Park is a high Andean park about 30 km west of Cuenca on the road to Molleturo and Guayaquil, with more than 270 lakes at roughly 3,100 to 4,450 m. Its landscape is paramo: tussock grass, cushion plants, mist and small stands of red-barked Polylepis forest, and it is a Ramsar wetland. The visitor centre at Laguna Toreadora, at about 3,900 m, is the usual starting point, with short loops of 1 to 2 hours and longer routes for experienced walkers. Andean condors, the Andean fox and the Andean gull live here, and trout swim in many of the lakes. The weather is cold, usually 0 to 10 C, and rain and fog arrive even in the dry season, so dress in layers and expect the view to change within minutes. The altitude is real, so spend a few days in Cuenca first. Paths are unmarked in places, and visitors do get lost in fog, so sign in at the centre, stay on the trail and carry a map. Go for the quiet, not for a guaranteed sighting: the lakes are the show, and the wildlife is a bonus on a clear day.

High-Andes paramo park of about 270 glacial lakes at 3,100 to 4,450 m, about 30 km west of Cuenca on the road to Guayaquil, Cuenca, Azuay, Ecuador

The park is open every day of the year in daylight, and the visitor centre at Toreadora keeps normal day hours. Weather can close trails or make them unsafe at any time. Entry has been free or a small fee; confirm at the centre. Sign in before you start walking, and be back before dark.

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