If you’ve ever wanted to go trekking at altitude, El Cajas in Ecuador is a great place to start. It will leave you out of breath, both from the stunning scenery and from the elevation.
El Cajas National Park
El Cajas National Park is unlike any other place in South America. The park’s elevation is between 3100 – 4450 m. The combination of high humidity, elevation and its location near the equator results in a unique alpine tundra landscape called paramo. As we walked through the park we marveled at the many unusual trees, shrubs, flowers and grasses.
Vegetation, El Cajas, Ecuador 
Vegetation, El Cajas, Ecuador 
Vegetation, El Cajas, Ecuador 
Vegetation, El Cajas, Ecuador 
El Cajas, Ecuador 
El Cajas, Ecuador
The park’s rolling hills are covered in straw grass and end in small valleys filled with pristine lakes and ponds. Beyond the hills are rugged mountains with steep dramatic cliffs. We were there in December which should be dry season, but there were low clouds hanging on the hills providing an eerie ambiance.
Mountain tarn, El Cajas, Ecuador 
El Cajas, Ecuador 
El Cajas, Ecuador 
El Cajas, Ecuador 
El Cajas, Ecuador 
El Cajas, Ecuador 
El Cajas, Ecuador 
El Cajas, Ecuador 
El Cajas, Ecuador
There are many different hiking trails in the park. They range from easy, flat walks to long hikes with a lot of elevation gain. Many of the hikes intersect allowing you to combine different routes. The trails pass by lakes and climb over hills. Our favourite though, was the trail that took us through a very peculiar forest. The trail weaves between bizarre looking quenua tree. They look mangled with their gnarled branches taking over the trail. They’re also called paper trees because of the thin bark they shed.
We didn’t see many animals in the park but we did spot a herd of wild llamas. They seemed to fit in perfectly with the extraordinary views.
Quenua trees , El Cajas, Ecuador 
Llamas, El Cajas, Ecuador 
Llamas, El Cajas, Ecuador
Tips for Visiting El Cajas National Park
The park is 33 km northwest of Cuenca so it’s easy to do in a day trip. The hiking trails are not difficult and we found them to be well marked. Be aware that the park has a very high elevation (3100m – 4450m) so make sure you are acclimatized. Trail maps are available at the Lago Torreadora Visitor’s Centre.
Entry Fee – There is no fee, but you do have to sign in at the Visitor’s Centre
Getting to El Cajas National Park
By bus – From Cuenca take one of Occidental Bus company’s morning buses leaving from Terminal Terrestre ($2 USD). Ask to get off at Lago Torreadora Visitor’s Centre. To return to Cuenca, flag down a passing bus headed for Cuenca. Or if you’re lucky like we were, take a taxi that is returning to the city.
By taxi – Taxis will cost $15-20 USD one way.
Tours – There are many tour companies in Cuenca offering day trips to El Cajas. We went on our own and found the trails were clearly marked and in good condition so we don’t think a tour is necessary.
Coming Next: Ecuador’s High Altitude Climbs – Cotopaxi, Chimborazo & Illiniza Norte
For extra pictures from Ecuador click here. For pictures from other blogs go to Gallery at monkeystale.ca
To read about more of our adventures go to Destinations.
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Monkey's Tale 
Wow definitely an experience – I need to add Ecuador to my bucket list!
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Yes definitely, there are many interesting and beautiful places in Ecuador.
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Always informative
The photos you select are amazing!
I’m not the easily amused sort, but in regards to the beauty every land offers, every body of water, & every sky vision, I never cease to be amazed! Thanks for sharing the wonders found here. I attempted to research the plant in the first photo. I found some similar, but none as colorful in that shape. You have a gem of photo there.
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Thank you so much Dawn. There were so many unusual plants in El Cajas, most we had never seen before. Some reminded us of plants we saw on Mt Kenya which is also at the equator, but they don’t seem to be exactly the same. It’s definitely an interesting and unique landscape. Thank you so much for your kind words, Maggie
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That is strange & neat, in that plant species can be so varied, naturally. You are quite welcome.
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Stunning photography. I had no idea the landscape would have those basalt-looking rocks.
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Thanks, the park has amazing landscape and interesting rock features. Thanks for reading!
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A beautiful place for sure. I am sure this altitude would leave me gasping. I remember what it felt like to exert myself hiking in Bryce & Grand Canyons at lower altitudes. Thanks for sharing. Allan
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Most of Ecuador is quite high, so you can get acclimatized strolling the colonial streets in the towns first. Thanks for reading.
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wonderful landscape, wonderful trip.
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Thank you!
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Wow, you guys have been to so many amazing destinations! The highest mountain I’ve ever been on was Sulphur Mountain in Banff, so the elevation of 4,450 m would be something new and very exciting at the same time! Thanks for sharing, I love misty landscapes and weird rock formations! Aiva
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Thanks Aiva, yes being at altitude is an experience on its own, but there are amazing views from Sulphur too!
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A really beautiful country. Don’t know if I’ll ever get to Ecuador or anywhere else in South America, but I should try. Take care.
Neil Scheinin
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Yes you should! There’s a lot to see and do in Ecuador and the rest of SA. Thanks for reading!
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An excellent post!! So vivid! Hope you are both staying safe!
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Thank you, we are being safe… and bored. Hope you’re doing well too. Maggie
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Good. Yes, thanks, all ok here. Awwhh, at least you can travel virtually and take us on those journeys with you 😉
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Oh, man, I wish I’d seen this before our trip to Ecuador a few years ago! The terrain is so unique – I would have loved hiking here! Great photos.
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It’s a great area, so different from the rest of Ecuador, and easy to access. Guess you’ll have to go back:)
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Almost reminded me of some views of Skye, in Scotland (minus the altitude and llamas that is…)
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Oh, I’ve never been to Skye. I’ll have to put it on my future trips list.
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Gorgeous images!
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Thank you!
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What a cool looking area, though for me, any place with intersecting hiking trails, unless they are EXTREMELY well-marked, is just an invitation to get lost. 🙂
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haha, well you could get a guide.
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Love the llama photos. We were supposed to be in Cuenca a few weeks ago, but….
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ohhh too bad. We’ll have Cuenca in our next post. It’s a lovely town. Hopefully this all ends soon so you can go.
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Almost otherworldly!
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Yes, the landscape is very mysterious. It does feel like another planet. Thanks for reading!
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Such a stunning hike!
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El Cajas has such a unique and interesting landscape. It’s definitely worth a visit when we can start to get out again.
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Some of these photos look like they were taken in a mythical place. The landscape and vegetation is so unique. I love the grasses. The quenua tree reminds me a bit of the Arbutus that we have in parts of coastal BC (though completely different environment).
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It felt like we were in a mythical place too. There were barely any people and with the low clouds and strange landscape it was very surreal. I just looked up arbutus trees and they do look very similar. Add in some BC fog and you can have an eerie forest too!
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Beautiful. Love the unusual vegetation. Look forwarding to reading your posts. Thanks.
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Thanks! El Cajas had the most unusual landscape and vegetarian. Definitely worth a visit one day.
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Amazing place. Such different terrain and plant life. Thanks for allowing a little virtual hike. Mel
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Thanks for coming along on the hike Mel! This was such an interesting place, one I would consider going back to. Maggie
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Stunning !
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Thank you!
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The post is excellent and the photos are wonderful!
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Thank you very much, the landscape in this park is amazing and very photogenic.
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🌹 🌹 🌹
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OH God…. Now I have to add this to my wish list.
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Hahaha It is a gorgeous area, and it’s very peaceful. When we were there it was very quiet.
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Gorgeous photos! The paramos are very unique ecosystems.
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Thank you, yes I don’t think we’ve been to anywhere else like it.
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Wow! such a vibrant colours!
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I now trek in Hyde Park. No people to speak of and loads of swans and squirrels
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I’m not a nature person myself, but these pictures look really gorgeous!! X
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Thank you, it’s a very special place.
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