THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Spend a day above Cuenca hiking the Toreadora sector of Cajas National Park, then unwind in warm thermal pools at Baños parish. This full-day trip combines high-Andean scenery, short but rugged trails, and relaxing hot springs.
Spend a day above Cuenca hiking the Toreadora sector of Cajas National Park, then unwind in warm thermal pools at Baños parish. This full-day trip combines high-Andean scenery, short but rugged trails, and relaxing hot springs.
A thin cold wind pushes across a shallow lake as your small group steps off the minivan into the Toreadora sector of Cajas National Park. Tussock grasses bend, peat hummocks squelch under boot soles and silver-backed clouds move fast along the high basin—this is Andean páramo on the move. The three-hour walk threads between glacial lakes, low polylepis stands and peat bogs, punctuated by wide vistas of serrated ridgelines and mirror-still lagunas.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Polylepis Tours · Cuenca, Azuay
A thin cold wind pushes across a shallow lake as your small group steps off the minivan into the Toreadora sector of Cajas National Park. Tussock grasses bend, peat hummocks squelch under boot soles and silver-backed clouds move fast along the high basin—this is Andean páramo on the move. The three-hour walk threads between glacial lakes, low polylepis stands and peat bogs, punctuated by wide vistas of serrated ridgelines and mirror-still lagunas.
Cajas sits on a high plateau carved by ice during the last glaciation and today supplies water to Cuenca through headwater streams. Indigenous peoples and later Inca routes crossed these highlands; the area became a national park in 1996 to protect fragile peatlands and endemic species. Culturally, nearby Baños parish has long provided hot springs to locals—an easy, restorative contrast to the cold high-mountain air.
Expect roughly 3 hours of hiking on rolling terrain (around 5–8 km, depending on route) at elevations commonly between about 3,100–3,900 m. Trails can be muddy and uneven; views reward steady pace rather than sprinting. After the hike the tour moves to Baños de Cuenca for lunch and thermal baths—pools, sauna and Turkish bath options are typical, with massage available at extra cost.
Practicalities: pack layers for wind and sun, waterproof boots for boggy sections, and water for altitude. Allow a full day (about 8 hours total with transport and stops), plan for moderate fitness, and notify guides of any health constraints—altitude and cold are the real challenges here.
moderate.
8 hours total (≈3 hours hiking).
Suited to travelers with moderate fitness who can handle high-elevation walking and uneven, sometimes boggy terrain.
The walk is moderate: trails are not technical but the high altitude and boggy ground increase effort—beginners with good stamina can manage it at a steady pace.
Pools, sauna and Turkish bath access are typically included; additional services like massages usually cost extra.
Symptoms vary—headache or breathlessness can occur; acclimatize in Cuenca, stay hydrated and inform your guide of any conditions.
Yes, the tour includes private transport and hotel pickup; confirm your pickup point when booking.
The high basins of Cajas were traversed by indigenous groups and later protected as a national park in 1996 to conserve water sources and unique páramo ecosystems.
Cajas’ peatlands store water and carbon; stick to trails to avoid damaging fragile vegetation and follow local rules at thermal facilities to limit pollution.
Polylepis Tours operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
A thin cold wind pushes across a shallow lake as your small group steps off the minivan into the Toreadora sector of Cajas National Park. Tussock grasses bend, peat hummocks squelch under boot soles and silver-backed clouds move fast along the high basin—this is Andean páramo on the move. The three-hour walk threads between glacial lakes, low polylepis stands and peat bogs, punctuated by wide vistas of serrated ridgelines and mirror-still lagunas.
A thin cold wind pushes across a shallow lake as your small group steps off the minivan into the Toreadora sector of Cajas National Park. Tussock grasses bend, peat hummocks squelch under boot soles and silver-backed clouds move fast along the high basin—this is Andean páramo on the move. The three-hour walk threads between glacial lakes, low polylepis stands and peat bogs, punctuated by wide vistas of serrated ridgelines and mirror-still lagunas.
Cajas sits on a high plateau carved by ice during the last glaciation and today supplies water to Cuenca through headwater streams. Indigenous peoples and later Inca routes crossed these highlands; the area became a national park in 1996 to protect fragile peatlands and endemic species. Culturally, nearby Baños parish has long provided hot springs to locals—an easy, restorative contrast to the cold high-mountain air.
Expect roughly 3 hours of hiking on rolling terrain (around 5–8 km, depending on route) at elevations commonly between about 3,100–3,900 m. Trails can be muddy and uneven; views reward steady pace rather than sprinting. After the hike the tour moves to Baños de Cuenca for lunch and thermal baths—pools, sauna and Turkish bath options are typical, with massage available at extra cost.
Practicalities: pack layers for wind and sun, waterproof boots for boggy sections, and water for altitude. Allow a full day (about 8 hours total with transport and stops), plan for moderate fitness, and notify guides of any health constraints—altitude and cold are the real challenges here.