Cajas National Park (day trip)

Located just 30km north of Cuenca, this stunning high-altitude park protects over 28,000 hectares of cloud forest and páramo, featuring more than 270 glacial lakes that shimmer like jewels across the mountainous landscape. The park offers a dramatic escape into untamed wilderness where rare species like Andean condors and white-tailed deer roam freely, and crystalline air provides soul-stirring views of the Andes. Visitors can experience a complete ecosystem transition in a single day, from lush cloud forest to windswept alpine meadows.