The Cajas National Park is the narrowest point of the Andean mountain range and the one with the best landscapes. It is located close to the city of Cuenca, at 4400m (14435ft) above the sea level and it has a surface of 28500 hectares. Considered a national park since 1996, it is made by an exceptional group of more than 300 small lagoons framed by valleys, rocky plateaus and enchanted forests where unique animal and plant species live. Its highest point is the area of the Tres Cruces Lagoon, the place where the Tomebamba River –the only river on Southern America that is the closest to the Pacific Ocean but has waters from the Atlantic Ocean– is born.
The park is considered part of the North-Andean Endemism Center due to the importance it has regarding the Andean Plateau’s biological diversity. It is the only place in the world where you can find 4 out of the 7 existing species of polylepis, the famous enchanted trees from the fairy tales (polylepis weberbaueri, p. reticulata, p. lanuginosa and p. incana). There are also many endangered species living there, like the Andean condor (vultur gryphus), the deer (odocoileus virginianus), the spectacled bear (tremarctos ornatus), the plateau wolf (dulsicyon culpaeus) and the mountain toucan (andigena laminaris). From an ornithological point of view, the park is also a place of high importance because its lagoons are home for a total of 150 bird species.
A trip to Cajas is worth complementing with activities lasting from a couple of hours to a few days. The whole park is perfect for activities such as hiking, climbing and mountain biking. It also offers a great chance to take beautiful pictures: walking in the middle of the mountains and observing everything there is in this land, it is impossible not to feel like taking out your camera. Regardless the place you may choose for your picture, it can easily come out like a beautiful postcard. The lagoons of Toreadora and Llaviucu are ideal for sport fishing and bird-watching. On the other hand, if you want to spend the night in the immensity of the plateau, a good place to set up your camp is in the shores of the Lagartococha Lake. Whatever activity you may choose to do at this park, the experience will undoubtedly be always unique and wonderful.
The Cajas National Park is one of the best parks in Ecuador to get to know the plateau. It is a Nature sanctuary where a great amount of birds and other endemic species coexist in a large forest of enchanted trees. Furthermore, it is easily accessible, well preserved and simply beautiful.
Photo: Orban López Cruz
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