Cajas National Park, Ecuador
The SPECS
What is Caja’s National Park
A UNESCO-protected site outside the city of Cuena
altitude - approximately 4,3000 m // 13,500 ft
climate - wet and cold, though the sun could also be shinning
hiking routes - a variety of routs raning in length and difficulty
The area includes 270 lakes and lagoons & some cool vegetation including forests of paper trees called “Quinua”
The Park
Entrance - iS FREE!
rangers station - you must visit there TO sign into their data base, you can also get a map here
There is a small museum, bathrooms and a restaurant that also sells some snacks
there is also parking if you are driving
How to get ther by bus
depart from the Terminal Terrestre in Cuenca
bus company - Occidental or Feria Libre
cost - $2 // time - 1 hr
Please Note - the park is not the buses final destination,
so you will get of at the stop for the national park
what to wear & bring
rain jacket, warm layers in case it gets cold
A hat and sunscreen if the sun comes out
hiking boots or shoes that can handel mud and wet
snacks - it’s always less expensive to bring some with you
get a map from the rangers station
The Story
Back in Chimborazo's National Park, while waiting for the bus to take us back to Riobamba, the two other people also waiting for the bus had mentioned Cajas National Park. Apparently a must see just outside of Cuenca. Excited by their enthusiasm, I planned to visit the part during my second day in Cuenca. Turns out, most gringos visiting Cuenca head to this park for a day of hiking. So the next morning, I tied up my hiking boots, filled up my water bottle and headed to the bus terminal with a small group of hostel friends.
We found the bus easily and after an hour on the bus, weaving through stunning scenery, we hopped off at the entrance to the park. Giddy with excitement by the landscape presenting in front of us, we made our way to the check in. One by one we signed into the parks log, listen to a brief explanation of the different routes by a very enthusiastic park ranger and then set off.
We chose the four hour hike, despite the forecast of rain. We walked and talked for a couple hours, often stopping to gasp at the mountains and lakes surrounding us. Then a little over half way through the light sprinkle that we all agreed contributed to the drama of the landscape, turned into a steady down pour.
Soaked through my old school, second hand Patagonia rain coat (my best thrift find this summer) we made it back to the park entrance. With ten minutes to spare before the bus arrived, we made our way slowly to the bus stop to wait.
The bus came, the bus didn’t have any space, and so the bus left. Apparently there would be another bus in 20 minutes, but 45 minutes went by and no bus. We were all completely soaked and gradually getting colder and colder. Even with my fingers jammed into my armpits, they remained icy.
While I focused on warming my hands, someone in the group stuck out a thumb to a van speeding by. They slammed on the breaks maybe 20 feet down the road and we all ran to meet our potential ride. They were too seats short but desperate, we decided to squeeze. The van very kindly delivered us back to our hostel and a round of very hot showers concluded the day.