Cajas National Park in Azuay Ecuador

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Nearby attractions

Places to visit within 30 km.

La Toreadora (Bullfigther) Lagoon

La Toreadora is the most accessible lagoon of the Cajas National Park and is the heart of this protected area. It is located 34 kilometers from Cuenca city, next to the road to Guayaquil city, by Molleturo-Naranjal road and at a height of 3.900 meters above sea level. It is located between the peaks of the southern Andes of Ecuador, the highest mountain range in this area which is a continental watershed. Here, rainwaters begin their journey towards the Pacific Ocean or the Amazon River, depending on which side of these mountains they fall. For the visitor interested in knowing about the Park, Toreadora is the ideal place as it has an information and interpretation center and a bar-restaurant service to spend a pleasant day observing nature. The polylepis forests (paper trees) are the main attraction in flora and bird watching stands out in the fauna of the site. The lagoon’s surface has an area of 17.97 hectares and its perimeter is 2.621 meters. Depending on the number of visitors, it is possible to descend to the shore of the lagoon and go hiking around it. It is highly recommended to be accompanied by a guide who knows the area, because due to unexpected weather changes, it is easy to get lost. The approach to the shore of the lagoon to admire it or to practice sport fishing, must be cautious, because it hides areas of marsh. The temperature varies between -2 to 18 Celsius degrees, without regularity, so that frost, drizzle, fog or days of intense sun are frequent. There are 71 species of Ecuadorian endemic plants in this place. At Toreadora lagoon it is possible to seen some of the 152 species of birds, 43 species of mammals, 15 species of amphibians or 4 species of reptiles that inhabit the National Park. Cajas National Park has numerous tourist attractions such as the Tres Cruces hill, very close to La Toreadora following the road, with a spectacular panoramic view and the exact point of the continental watershed. The valley and lagoon of Llaviucu are also accessible by car in a lower part of the Park. While lagoons such as Taitachugo, Burines or Luspa, relatively close to La Toreadora, are accessible by trekking routes for which a qualified naturalist guide is required. The Park where Toreadora is located is called "Cajas" because it is formed by high peaks and in the lower areas between them lacustrine systems are contained, like huge interconnected boxes. Rivers such as Tomebamba, Yanuncay, Mazán or Migüir are born in these lagoons.

8.34 Km.

Cucheros Lagoon Route

The toponym "cucheros" refers to the breeders of pigs, pigs or "kuchis", as the name is in Quichua. It can be translated as "place with pigs". Ancient place of passage of the traders of pigs between the coast and Cuenca. The "cucheros" spent the night in the lagoon and released their animals to rest. Some specimens escaped and their descendants went wild, giving rise to the name. As it is so close to the main road, the route through Cucheros is of low difficulty. It is 1.2 km long and takes about 45 minutes. The path that leads to Las Burines and other larger lakes, passes through its vicinity. A moorland site, the main plant species present in the surrounding area is straw. A number of recreational activities can be undertaken, such as hiking, trekking, sport fishing, photography, bird watching and trekking. Although it seems to be a low difficulty, in the height it is not advisable to neglect it. The visitor should first get information and advice from the Park's administrators. Due to the topography and variable weather conditions, it can cause confusion and the hiker risks getting lost. Cajas National Park is a National Recreation Area, a Ramsar site and a Biosphere Reserve. It has an approximate extension of 28,500 hectares, northwest of Cuenca. It has moorland and Andean forest. There are 235 lagoons in the moor ecosystem. Its flora has wood species, shrubs, orchids, ferns and mosses. The forests of Polylepis, "quinoa" or "paper tree" are the only species of tree above 4,000 masl. There are 500 vascular plants. The fauna component of the Park is made up of 152 species of birds, 43 mammals, 15 amphibians and 4 reptiles.

8.55 Km.

Unidas Lagoon

The name of these water bodies, Lagunas Unidas (the United Lagoons), is a metaphor. They are actually linked, hence their name. They are part of a very close group of lagoons, such as: La Toreadora, Toreador, Riñoncocha, Totoras and Patoquinoas. They are located in the northern limit of the Cajas National Park, which is crossed by the Qhapaq Ñan (Andean Royal Road), declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Very close to the Lagunas Unidas, you can also find Tres Cruces Continental Water Divide, San Luis Hill and its Polylepis (or Paper Tree) forest. Due to its easy access from Toreadora Lagoon, on the Cuenca-Molleturo road at km 31, it is ideal for hiking, mountaineering, outdoor and adventure activities. Depending on the weather, the difficulty of the hike is medium with a duration of three hours. Warm clothes and comfortable shoes are required. Complementary activities are bird watching, nature photography, sport fishing. The beauty of the landscape is exceptional. To camp, you must be properly prepared (tent, warm waterproof clothing) and ask permission from the Park rangers, who require strict compliance with some rules. In the nearby Toreadora Lagoon there is a shelter, a cafeteria and an information point. Lagunas Unidas is located at 3,500 meters above sea level. A trail connects Toreadora Lagoon with Lagunas Unidas, bordering the slopes of San Luis Hill and crossing the forest of Polylepis, a tree species better known as “paper tree”. A charming place. With moss carpets. You can feel an atmosphere of fairy tales and elves. This is an ancient forest, estimated to be between 2 and 4 million years old. Unique in its genre because of the exclusivity of the species. It also serves as a refuge for different species of Andean mammals such as deer.

9.48 Km.

Pumamaqui Thermal Springs

The thermal waters have been used for millennia for the benefit of human beings. Different cultures have found in them a method to recover the health of the body and the mind. The Andean peoples were no exception. The Ecuadorian mountains have an exceptional richness in geothermal waters, which were already known and very popular since the Incas. A few kilometers southwest of Cuenca, on the road to Soldados, are the Pumamaqui Hot Springs. This is a recent undertaking, considering other more developed and older sites in the country. In Pumamaqui, the waters spring up naturally from the ground. They are health bubbles. It has pools of different temperatures, healing therapies of cold/hot contrast, Turkish bath and clay. It is a primordial space to free the mind from the stress of daily life and routine. To leave all the problems aside. The landscape around the Yanuncay River contributes to this goal. Located in the valley of Soldados. The name Pumamaqui comes from the fact that a kind of tree grows in the surroundings, whose leaves have the shape of a lion's paw. Pumamaqui then is translated like paw of the puma. To get to the spa, you must take the San Joaquín-Soldados-Chaucha road. At km 23 there is an entrance sign. Then a hundred meters of walk. It is five minutes away before reaching the community of Soldados. Pumamaqui is a source of medicinal treatments. The beneficial characteristics of its waters are due to their alkalinity and their composition based on sodium, potassium, and calcium ions. They give a relaxing effect. Recommended to combat a huge list of ailments: high blood pressure, rheumatism, gout, joint, muscle and bone injuries, bone decalcifications and malformations, bronchitis, surgical sequelae, arthritis and arteriosclerosis; respiratory and ear disorders, insomnia, nervous diseases, skin diseases, paraplegia and other ailments. Its infrastructure is simple. Enough for those who are looking for a different experience. At the hot springs, the water is channeled into pools built with stone and cement. It has dressing rooms and bathrooms. The service is complemented with typical dishes. Visitors can request vegetarian food, pizza and drinks.

10.61 Km.

cultural

The Soldados Route with the Local Community

Soldados, a valley of glacial origin, southwest of Cuenca. The name identifies a hill at 3,954 meters above sea level on the southern border of Cajas National Park, a river, a community, a moorland, and an hacienda. All with exceptional attractions. Especially the landscape. The toponym Soldados has its origin in some stones in a vertical position that seem to be soldiers in formation and in uniform, which are found in the mountain of the same name, according to the inhabitants of the sector. Soldados borders the Nudo de El Cajas mountain range. Its landscape is dominated by high and steep mountains. The vegetation is of herbaceous moor, Andean forest and chaparro forest. In the community of Soldados live 40 families organized around a church and central square. They are farmers and cattle ranchers by tradition. They have found in community tourism and the sale of handicrafts a new source of income. For tourism there are several options. Hiking or horseback riding with native guides to the 7 lakes of Estrella Cocha. You can also ride or walk to the lagoons that give rise to the Yanuncay River, in the Gal-Gal sector. There you can visit a cave and the polylepis forest. Landscape photography is another option. It is 2 days of camping. Dozens of cyclists pedal on the weekends to visit the town of Soldados and the parish tourist circuit "San Joaquín-Río Yanuncay Route". During the tour, 20 restaurants and typical food stores serve the visitor. An obligatory stop is the Ecomuseum of the Yanuncay, with six rooms that exhibit 5,000 wooden sculptures and stone collections. You can also visit a chocolate factory, the basket workshop or the orchards of the Agricultural Producers Association. There are places to buy farm eggs, raw milk and cheese. There is a lookout point at Verde Llano, which can be reached after a three-hour walk through forests that are home to a diversity of flora and fauna. Included in the route are the thermal pools of San Vicente, where sport fishing is practiced, and the thermal waters of Pumamaqui.

11.42 Km.

Llaviucu Lagoon

Llaviucu ("lock") or Zorrocuho ("fox's den") is a lagoon that belongs to Cajas National Park (PNC), which also holds the UNESCO title of World Biosphere Reserve (WBR). This lagoon is the source of the Tomebamba river that crosses the city of Cuenca, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This beautiful place is located 17 km from the city of Cuenca, on the border of the Park, next to the rural parish of Sayausí. It is the closest lagoon to Cuenca and can be reached by car or by walking along a 2 km long stone path, which deviates from the Cuenca-Naranjal road at kilometer 15. Llaviucu is an extraordinary example of the biological diversity of Cajas National Park. In its small environment a variety of birds live together, some of them endemic, amphibians, plant species such as the paper tree, the sarar, the pumamaqui, the sigsal, human flesh, the guando, the huicundos, orchids, bromeliads. All of them are plants of the primary forest. In addition, here there are fish, like the trout which is an introduced species, as well as ducks, coots, gulls and Andean toucans, among other animals. The typical activities in the lagoon are hiking, with at least three routes, sport fishing and photography. It is completely forbidden to hunt animals. Another important feature of the site is its typical glacial formation, that is, a u-shaped valley that was formed when thousands of years ago the ice retreated from the earth's surface. Near the lagoon there is a unique abandoned building, an old brick house that was the headquarters of the Azuay Brewery in the early twentieth century. It was located in Llaviucu because large quantities of good quality water are required for the production of beer. The economic destiny of Llaviucu is very marked, because in its surroundings there are cattle and milk production enterprises. In the 70's and 80's of the 20th century it was the place of experiment for the introduction of the rainbow trout and the installation of the first farms for these fish. Today, the purpose of the lagoon is different. Managed by the Potable Water Enterprise of Cuenca. Llaviucu is cared for and the access of visitors and tourists is regulated because it is part of the hydrographic system that supplies and gives water security to the city of Cuenca.

11.87 Km.