Cajas National Park

Comprising 70,530 acres of undeveloped wilderness, the Cajas National Park is a dream for hikers and walkers with a never-ending succession of sublime lake-and-mountain vistas. Water is in abundance here, with about 270 glistening lakes and lagoons found within the park’s borders, many of which are glacial in origin. In fact, more than half of the drinking water for the Cuenca metropolitan area comes from here.
<p style=”text-align: left;”>Where there is water, wildlife usually follows and Cajas National Park is no exception. Life flaps, burrows, swims and crawls all around. About 157 or so bird species are found here including the endangered Andean condor, which has a wingspan that can reach up to 10.5 feet and the giant hummingbird, which – at around 9 or so inches or so in length – is the largest hummer in the world. Carunculated caracara, a type of large falcon, can also be spotted here.</p>
<p style=”text-align: left;”>Down at ground level, and occasionally burrowed below ground, are 44 mammals, including stealthy pumas, pacas (a plant-eating rodent), skunks and foxes. Among the endemic species found here – and only here – are the fish-eating Cajas water mouse and the tate’s shrew opossum.</p>
<p style=”text-align: left;”>If you want to squeeze in some outdoor pursuits or nature-based activity while you’re in Cuenca, the Cajas National Park is the place to go.</p>