Share this
Twitter
Digg
Del.icio.us
Slashdot
Yahoo
Technorati
Googlize this
Facebook
Print
E-mail
Overview
A natural and outstanding highlight of the Southern Andes of Ecuador, the Cajas National Park is located approximately 30 kilometers to the west of Cuenca. This park covers approximately 29,000 hectares of remote and bleak scenery. This area was designated a National Park in 1996, and covers a large altitude range, spanning between 3100 meters and 4450 meters above sea level. The landscape is glacial, with giant u-shaped valleys, a remnant of an icy past. The Cajas National Park provides much of the drinking water for Cuenca.
The scenery of this park is one of its major attractions. The park has flora that is tundra-like and it is dotted with a couple of hundred crystal blue lakes. There are large jagged rock formations interspersed with small forests of polylepis trees. The polylepis tree is known for its special bark which is paper-like and comes away from the tree easily when touching it.
The name for this national park, Cajas, comes from the Quichua word caxa, meaning cold, and cold it is. The flora here falls clearly within the paramo grasslands ecosystem that is commonly found at these altitudes in Ecuador. The land here provides a home to a large variety of fauna and fauna, which are in themselves a highlight of this national park. The most likely species that the traveler will see is the array of wild llamas that were reintroduced back into the park toward the end of the 1990s. There is also the possibility of spotting White Tailed Deer.
The Virgen of Cajas allegedly appeared in the National Park some years ago. This brought the park some fame, with visitors showing up to pray and ask for miracles from the Virgen. Aside from the Virgen, the Cajas National Park is also known for its spectacular hiking opportunities through remote areas.
The park has flora that is tundra-like and it is dotted with a couple of hundred crystal blue lakes...
Highlights
Hiking – there are a number of different hikes that can be taken in the Cajas National Park, from one day up to several days of walking. Most commonly, three to six hour hikes are taken. Hiking can be challenging in places due to the gusty and biting winds and the open landscape. The scenery makes for some spectacular hiking through jagged rock formations, areas of polylepis forest and paramo grasses and passing by the many pretty lakes that the park is known for.
Camping – for those on a multi-day hike in the Cajas National Park, camping will provide one of the few accommodation options. Since hiking in this park is not as common a pursuit as in some of the more visited parks further north, this provides the traveler with an opportunity to get close to nature here in a way that few do. The weather is cold here day and night, so warm gear is a must to enjoy this activity.
Lakes – the pretty lakes dotted about the Cajas National Park are the signature piece of this protected area—one of the things it is best known for. There are approximately 270 or so lakes to be found in this national park in the Southern Andes region of Ecuador and they are like blue jewels in the tundra-like scenery. The biggest lake here is called Luspa. The distance around the lake is approximately 5160 meters, and its greatest depth is 68 meters. The lake covers a massive area of 78 hectares.
Trout fishing – the lakes of the Cajas National Park are home to a large number of trout, an introduced species to Ecuador’s lakes. Trout fishing can be a fine way to spend a day in the park—taking a rod, bait and a warm jacket out to one of the many lakes that the park houses. Those who are lucky enough to catch a fish or two can ask their hosteria to cook them up for dinner, so they can enjoy this fish cooked local-style.
Wildlife – in this park there is a wide variety of animal life that can be found. In particular, the park is home to a grand total of 44 different members of the mammal family. There are some endemic species here such as the Cajas Water Mouse and the Tate’s Shrew Opossum. Additionally, there are pumas, foxes, rabbits, bats and weasels. The lake areas provide habitats for more than 17 species of amphibians
Bird watching – the Cajas National Park has an abundance of bird life to be observed by keen birders. There are approximately 155 bird species found in this protected area. The Giant Hummingbird is found here. This is the biggest hummingbird in the world. It is also possible to spot the Andean Condor sometimes. In addition, bird watchers here might get to see the Violet-Throated Metaltail or the Curiquinga.
Getting There
The adventurer wishing to visit the Cajas National Park needs to first travel to the city of Cuenca in the Southern Andes of Ecuador.
To get to Cuenca from Quito, travelers can take a bus from the Quitumbe terminal to the south of Quito, or alternatively take a flight. A bus will take approximately 10 hours, and a flight will shave more than nine hours off that journey time. TAME flies to Cuenca several times per day.
For those taking a bus, to get to Quitumbe, they need to take a taxi directly to the terminal, a journey of half an hour at a cost of $10 or so, or alternatively take the Trolebus to its final stop and alighting for the terminal. The cost of this route is $0.25. This journey on the Trole will take approximately one hour. The cost of the bus journey to Cuenca is around $10 and the flight will set the traveler back around $80, one way.
From Cuenca, one of the best ways to get to the Cajas National Park is to hire a guide, especially if the traveler plans to hike in this area. The journey from the city will take approximately 45 minutes in private car with the guide.
