THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
A one-way day tour from Cuenca to Guayaquil that pairs an optional hike in Cajas National Park with a stop at a vibrant fruit market and a hands-on visit to a local cacao farm. Expect highland lakes, Polylepis groves, and fresh craft chocolate.
A one-way day tour from Cuenca to Guayaquil that pairs an optional hike in Cajas National Park with a stop at a vibrant fruit market and a hands-on visit to a local cacao farm. Expect highland lakes, Polylepis groves, and fresh craft chocolate.
Book with Cuenca Bestours Tour Operator
Book directly with Cuenca Bestours Tour Operator for the best rates and real-time scheduling.
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Operated by Cuenca Bestours Tour Operator · Cuenca, Azuay
You push away from Cuenca before sunrise and the Andes open like a shifting map—knife-edged ridges, peat bogs, and lakes that catch the light. The van climbs toward the Toreadora refuge at Cajas National Park, where wind shapes the tussock grass and Polylepis trees cling to rocky hummocks. Later the route drops through the continental divide into warmer air, a roadside market thick with fruit aromas, and finally a family-run cacao farm where chocolate is still made by hand.
moderate.
6–8 hours.
Suitable for most travelers with basic mobility; optional short hikes require sure footing and short uphill sections.
The tour runs about 6–8 hours and is a one-way transfer departing Cuenca and ending in Guayaquil with scheduled stops at Cajas, a market, and a cacao farm.
The hike is optional and short (1–2 hours); trails are uneven but not technical—comfortable hiking shoes are recommended.
Lunch is included only if that option is selected; entrance to Cajas National Park is included in the itinerary as specified by the operator—confirm at booking.
The operator allows two suitcases per person and the tour is wheelchair accessible; advise dietary needs and passport details at booking.
Cajas has been a highland water source for centuries and conserves remnants of Polylepis woodland important to indigenous communities; cacao cultivation has deep roots in Ecuadorian coastal culture and craft chocolate traditions.
Cajas is a protected national park focused on water and habitat conservation—stay on designated trails and pack out waste; support local farms that practice small-scale, shade-grown cacao.
Cuenca Bestours Tour Operator operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
Book with Cuenca Bestours Tour Operator
Book directly with Cuenca Bestours Tour Operator for the best rates and real-time scheduling.
Reserve Now