Guide to Hiking Cajas National Park in Ecuador [2022]
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Loading... - Tereza Dvorak
- 02 Aug 2022
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Cajas National Park is a national park located in the Andes of Ecuador. Located only 30 km west of the famous UNESCO city of Cuenca, hiking Cajas National is one of the many popular day trips from Cuenca.
The Cajas National Park offers a tundra vegetation 3900m above sea level, something that is unique from other national parks in South America.
Travelers looking to do some hiking around Cuenca should not miss Cajas National Park!
Without further ado, here is the guide to hiking Cajas National Park in Ecuador.
HOW TO GET TO CAJAS NATIONAL PARK FROM CUENCA (AND BACK)
The easiest way to get to Cajas National Park is with a tour agency. However, I wouldn’t recommend doing so because getting to Cajas National Park is easy on your own, safe, and is really what traveling is all about! To get to Cajas National Park, you will want to base yourself in Cuenca.
Cuenca is only a short 45-minute ride to Cajas National Park and there are buses that run regularly from Terminal Terrestre. Terminal Terrestre is a quick 20-minute walk from the historic center or a 5-minute taxi ride.
Once you arrive at the Terminal Terrestre, there are 2 booths that sell tickets to Cajas National Park, booth number 39 and 40. When we arrived, booth 39 wasn’t open so we bought our ticket to Cajas National park at booth 40 for $2.
They have departure times as early as 7 AM but the park doesn’t open until 8 AM. The buses are also quite frequent so if you miss one you can just take the next one.
Buy your ticket and you are on your way to hiking Cajas National Park.
To get back to Cuenca, you can take any bus on the road that is going towards Cuenca. You don’t need to be at a bus station or anything. Just be on the same side of the road as the bus and wave it down when you see it coming.
Technically, there are buses that run in that direction all day but I would recommend being back before nighttime.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE HIKING CAJAS NATIONAL PARK
1. Bring your passport or ID – At the visitor center, you will need to register yourself with the ranger. You will have to advise him which route you plan on taking and how long you are to stay in the park. However, you do not need to sign out.
2. Cajas National Park is located 3900m above sea level. Many people experience symptoms of altitude sickness at around 3000m. That means chances are you will also experience symptoms of altitude sickness if you are hiking Cajas National Park. Here’s a guide on how to prevent altitude sickness.
3. Download maps.me and Parque Nacional Cajas App on your phone. Maps.me is a map app similar to Google maps but much better. Their offline maps are one of the best out there. Paruqe Nacional Cajas App is the official app for Cajas National Park.On there, you will have all the information you need including trails, opening hours, camping information, and much more.
4. Start hiking early in the day to avoid clouds and rain coming in. Check the weather too before you go!
WHAT TO BRING WHEN YOU HIKE CAJAS NATIONAL PARK
Hiking Cajas National Park can be a little bit tricky due to the biosphere and altitude. Below are things you should bring on your hike.
1. Sunscreen is a necessity – The sun at high altitudes is much stronger than the sun at sea level. In addition, you are on the equator, and the sun is even stronger there.
2. Rain poncho or raincoat (Him/Her) – Weather can change so quickly at such high altitudes. Pack one for safety.
3. Filtration Water Bottle – It will help you in dire circumstances. Plus there are many water sources in Cajas National Park.
4. Hat and Gloves – For the cold that you will encounter at such high altitudes.
5. Mud shoes – Or shoes that you are willing to sacrifice to the mud and water.
6. Food/Snack/Water – Pack accordingly to how long you plan on staying at Cajas National Park. There is a restaurant on-site next to the visitor center but they only have something simple.
OUR EXPERIENCE HIKING CAJAS NATIONAL PARK
The bus dropped us off at the visitor center. Immediately, we started to notice that the weather was not quite the same as it was in Cuenca. We walked towards the visitor center and encountered a sign that said altitude 3,850m. Read More...
