Getting there - Ministerio de Turismo

Contents
This brochure offers a panoramic view of
the biological and cultural diversity of Cajas
National Park (CNP), as well as practical
information for the visitor: a geographic
and a tourist map, sites you do not want to
miss, outstanding tourist activities, some
useful recommendations for your trip, and a
directory of services.
Mosses (Breutelia integrifolia) and this Asteraceae plant
(Hypochaeris sp.) associate with each other to better use scarce
resources and gain protection from the harsh climate of the páramo.
b
2
Map of Ecuador’s Natural
Heritage Sites (PANE)
4
Cajas National Park
An isolated massif dotted with lagoons
8
Geographic map of the National Park
10
Faces and traces
The shortest route between the Andes
and the sea
14
Tourist map
16
Not to be missed
20
Things to do
24
Getting there
26
Directory
28
List of outstanding wildlife species
GALÁPAGOS
1
GALÁPAGOS NATIONAL PARK
2
GALÁPAGOS MARINE RESERVE
16
PACIFIC COAST
3
GALERA SAN FRANCISCO MARINE RESERVE
4
MACHALILLA NATIONAL PARK
5
MANGLARES CHURUTE ECOLOGICAL RESERVE
6
MACHE CHINDUL ECOLOGICAL RESERVE
7
SANTA CLARA ISLAND WILDLIFE REFUGE
8
MUISNE RIVER ESTUARY MANGROVES WILDLIFE REFUGE
9
EL SALADO MANGROVES FAUNA PRODUCTION RESERVE
10
SANTA ELENA PENINSULA MARINE FAUNA WILDLIFE REFUGE
11
EL MORRO MANGROVES WILDLIFE REFUGE
12
PACOCHE WILDLIFE REFUGE
13
PARQUE LAGO NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
14
ARENILLAS ECOLOGICAL RESERVE
15
ISLAS CORAZÓN Y FRAGATAS WILDLIFE REFUGE
16
CAYAPAS MATAJE ECOLOGICAL RESERVE
17
ESMERALDAS RIVER ESTUARY MANGROVES WILDLIFE REFUGE
18
LA CHIQUITA WILDLIFE REFUGE
19
ISLA SANTAY AND ISLA DEL GALLO NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
20
PAMBILAR WILDLIFE RESERVE
21
LOS SAMANES NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
22
PLAYAS DE VILLAMIL NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
23
EL PELADO MARINE RESERVE
18
2
17
1
26
3
Pto. Baquerizo
Moreno
20
8
LOS ILINIZAS ECOLOGICAL RESERVE
25
COTACACHI CAYAPAS ECOLOGICAL RESERVE
6
27
PULULAHUA GEOBOTANICAL RESERVE
28
PASOCHOA WILDLIFE RESERVE
29
ANTISANA ECOLOGICAL RESERVE
30
EL BOLICHE NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
31
COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK
32
CHIMBORAZO FAUNA PRODUCTION RESERVE
33
CAJAS NATIONAL PARK
34
YACURI NATIONAL PARK
35
QUIMSACOCHA NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
PODOCARPUS NATIONAL PARK
37
LLANGANATES NATIONAL PARK
38
SANGAY NATIONAL PARK
39
CAYAMBE COCA NATIONAL PARK
O
28
Sto. Domingo
N
24
15
30
E
S
CUYABENO FAUNA PRODUCTION RESERVE
41
LIMONCOCHA BIOLOGICAL RESERVE
42
YASUNÍ NATIONAL PARK
43
EL ZARZA WILDLIFE REFUGE
44
COFÁN BERMEJO ECOLOGICAL RESERVE
45
SUMACO NAPO-GALERAS NATIONAL PARK
46
EL CÓNDOR BIOLOGICAL RESERVE
47
EL QUIMI BIOLOGICAL RESERVE
48
CERRO PLATEADO BIOLOGICAL RESERVE
40
45
31
29
Latacunga
Portoviejo
12
41
Francisco
de Orellana
Tena
37
42
Ambato
32
4
Puyo
23
13
9
Santa Elena
11
38
Babahoyo
21
10
Riobamba
19
Guayaquil
5
Macas
Perú
22
33
Pacific Ocean
35
7
Azogues
Cuenca
Machala
47
14
43
AMAZON
40
39
Quito
ANDES - AMAZON
36
Nueva Loja
27
0o
Guaranda
EL ÁNGEL ECOLOGICAL RESERVE
44
Ibarra
ANDES
26
Tulcán
25
COAST - ANDES
24
Colombia
Esmeraldas
Zamora
Loja
36
100 km
34
46
MAP of
NATURAL HERITAGE SITES
Patrimonio de Áreas Naturales del Estado, PANE
48
3
CAJAS
NATIONAL
PARK
An isolated
massif dotted
with lagoons
Around 10 thousand years ago, the last
ice age came to an end and the glaciers
began to retreat. In the process, they
sculpted the Cajas massif, separating it
from the rest of the Andes and giving it
its current, unique visage.
L
ike the shards of a broken mirror on
a green rug, Cajas National Park and
its 786 bodies of water are located
on a massif of the western Andes in
Ecuador’s southern province of Azuay. These
lagoons are connected by small streams.
Some drain into the Pacific and others into
the basin of the Paute River, which drains
into the Atlantic by way of the Amazon River.
There are a number of versions about
the name of the Park, Cajas. Some say it
comes from the Kichwa kahas, which means
mountain or cordillera. Others say it refers
to the irregular landscape of rocky valleys
and lagoons, like pools of water “boxed in
by mountains” (caja is Spanish for box). In
any event, the author of this peculiar natural scenery is ice. This area of the cordillera
was cut by the passage of ancient glaciers,
slow but implacable. By the end of the ice
age, around ten thousand years ago, the
páramo, an ecosystem characteristic of cold
tropical highlands, invaded this area, today
occupying 90% of the Park’s surface.
When the glaciers retreated, they left
deep cuts in the Andean cordillera, forming a
massif with the Cajas River to the north and
the Jubones to the south, whose peaks are
CAJAS IN BRIEF
Location: Cuenca county (Azuay)
Area: 28,544 hectares
Altitude range: 3,150 to 4,445 masl
Temperature range: -2 to 18 °C
Nearby settlements: Cuenca
Established in: 1977
Additional distinctions: RAMSAR site (2002),
IBA EC063 (2008)
located in the Park. The lack of connection
with other highlands ecosystems created
an important center for speciation, that is,
for the evolution of new species. The Park is
located on the edge of what scientists call
the “Paute-Girón biogeograpical frontier.”
This frontier marks the transition between
the Northern Andes and the Central, lower
ones. The species south of this line are different from those of the Andes to the north.
The páramo, a spongy tapestry covering the
Park, includes patches of intricate papertree forests, locally known as queñual or
quinua (though they have nothing do to with
the nutritious grain). The páramos here, in
the south of the country, begin at lower altitudes and experience higher precipitation
and temperatures, but milder winds. This
climate favors the formation of new species.
In this rugged environment, the resistant
paper tree creates a microclimate in which
unique plant and animal species take refuge,
including the so-called quinua bird (Giant
Conebill).
In the Llaviucu valley, at a lower altitude
and to the east of the Park, there is also one
of the few remnants of inter-Andean forest
found in the Ecuadorean Andes. In spite of
its reduced surface, this exuberant forest is
home to an impressive diversity of life.
The strategic combination of location (on
the Paute-Girón frontier) and isolation make
Cajas a veritable factory of unique species.
The Park protects 71 species of plants found
only in Ecuador and 16 of which are found
only in this protected area. Cajas is also famous among bird lovers because here you
The 786 lagoons in the Park cover
1,199 hectares. Luspa, with a surface
area of 77 hectares, is the largest.
Cajas provides water to the city of
Cuenca, the third-largest in the country,
and to the Paute hydroelectric dam.
La Toreadora Lagoon (3,900 masl). It takes
about one hour to walk all the way around it.
4
5
La Virgen del Cajas, near the Park.
Due to the abundance of aquatic
habitats, the Park is an authentic
paradise for amphibians. Fully 88%
of those living in the Park are not
found elsewhere, including the last
highland jambatos, survivors of a
group of frogs once very common in
the country and now mostly extinct.
can see threatened species, such as the
Xenodacnis and the Violet-throated Metaltail,
a hummingbird found only in the Park.
These facts demonstrate the Park’s
importance as a refuge for unique species
threatened with extinction, as well as an
incredible water reserve. For this reason,
Cajas has been declared a RAMSAR Wetland
of International Importance and a BirdLife
Important Bird Area (IBA).
Together, these natural elements –water,
geography, living beings, and climate– are
key to the enchantment that characterizes
this nature park in the south of the country.
The plant paposa
grows in cushionlike “almohdillas” to
withstand frosts.
Biodiversity and endemism in CNP*
CNP
no. of species
Flora
Mammals
Birds
Amphibians
Reptiles
% of
Ecuador / no.
% of
endemism of species national total
500
14.20
15,306
3.27
43
18.70
380
11.31
150
9.33
1,616
9.28
17
88.23
464
3.66
4
25.00
416
0.96
Ecosystems: Páramo, High Andean Forest
6
Cajas is the Mecca for the
best rock climbers in the
country.
* These figures are, of necessity, estimates and subject to change. Sources: Arbeláez and Vega,
2008; Jade 2007; Sánchez and Carbone, 2005; Tinoco and Astudillo, 2005; Ulloa et al., 2005.
7
79°20'0"W
79°10'0"W
PROVINCE
OF CAÑAR
N
Migüir
San José de Huigra
O
San Luis
Peak
Tres Cruces
Peak
da
Huil
S
L. Totoras
PROVINCE
OF AZUAY
L. Toreadoras
Lu
sp
a
Panam. Highway
L. Larga
L. Cucheros
main road
secondary road
illas
Culebr
Huagrauma
access
Bur
Migüir
city
village
L. Patoquinuas
Avilahuayco
Peak
L. Illincocha
Santa María
Quinuas
access
river
province limit
Park limit
summit
Elevation
ine
y
L. Osohuaycu
To
L. Sunincocha
Lla
o
2°50'0"S
L. Llaviucu
er
L. Mamámag o
Taitachungo
il
u
yaq
Gua
ta d
Ma
L. Las Chorreras
le
al
Río Blanco
sV
L. Luspa
E
viu
CAJAS
c u Va l
ley
Surocucho
access
Sources: ETI, 2011; Jarvis, 2008; MAE, 2011
Credits: S. Crespo, P. Cabrera, X. Cordovez
Ecuador Terra Incognita
Cre
e
k
L. Lagartococha
2°50'0"S
NATIONAL PARK MAP
Jer
ez
M
az
án
án
az
M
Va l l e y
Sayausí
To M
o
lletur
o
ados
Sold
San Joaquín
Cuenca
Angas
cay
an
Ch
Soldados
au
ac
ay
ch
Mina
s
r
k
e
re
uC
0
Na
r
Sayán
Narancay
To Loja
Baños
2
6
4
79°20'0"W
cay
Shu
8 km
79°10'0"W
Sunsún
Faces and
traces
One possible explanation for the name
Cajas (Spanish for “boxes”) may refer to the
many lagoons “boxed in” the Andean nooks.
The shortest
route between
the Andes and
the sea
As beautiful as they are mysterious,
the lagoons of Cajas are featured in
countless stories of treasures and
enchantments. According to popular
wisdom, the mountain is kind or
severe, depending on the attitude of
the visitor.
T
he cold lands of Cajas have been occupied since ancient times. Among the 28
archaeological sites found in the Park,
there is evidence of human presence since
the year 1800 B.C. It seems that Cajas was
always a transit site, a shortcut to the sea. It
was probably this condition that inspired travelers to risk the highlands, suffering the cold
in exchange for the shorter route.
Between 500 A.D. and the mid-15th
century, the Cañari people used this mountain pass to trade products from the Paute
Valley to the gulf of Guayaquil. Organized in
chiefdoms, the Cañaries farmed the land and
exchanged products with Amazon peoples.
When the Incas conquered the area,
around 1450, and named Tomebamba (today,
10
Cuenca) as the major city in the north of the
empire, the Cañari route through Cajas became even more important. A branch of the
Qhapaq Ñan (Inca Trail), visible even today,
was built on the trails of the Cañaris. This
road begins in Cuenca and, in Cajas, follows
the Llaviucu Valley, the Mamámag Lagoon,
the Burines Valley, and leaves the Park passing by the Luspa Lagoon in the direction of
Paredones de Molleturo, in the west. The trail
is two to three meters wide, in the style and
with the cobblestone paving characteristic
of the Incas.
In the republican period, the route was
used again, and named the “García Moreno
trail.” Caravans of mules transported
all kinds of goods to Cuenca along this
route. A parallel trail was used to transport
bootleg liquor when the liquor tax came
into being. Names, such as “Dead Men’s
Ancient traders opened routes
to the Coast that passed
through Cajas, used later
by the Incas. There are few
places in South America where
the inter-Andean valleys are so
close to the sea.
11
Plinth of an ancient edifice at the
Paredones de Molleturo, close to the Park.
The Mama Huaca and
the Mountain Indian are
legendary beings who guard
the treasures allegedly hidden
under the water. Among these
are the mythical dowry of
Inca Atahualpa.
12
Cave” are due to the traders who attempted
to spend the night in the páramo; surprised by
bad weather, they never woke up.
Communities around the Park have
been inhabited by Cañaris, Incas, and mestizo muleteers and traders. This heritage has
provided grist for countless tales about the
mountain as the source of life but also of suffering. It is believed that those who do not
demonstrate reverence and gratitude enrage
the divinities who unleash freezing rain.
Famous spirits include Mama Huaca and
the Mountain Indian. Both are benign spirits
who protect the riches of Cajas. However,
they can “enchant” hikers and take them
away forever.
Mama Huaca (from waka, family god or
goddess) is the owner and protector of all
animals and plants that live in these mountains. She is pictured as an old woman with
long, shining hair and a humble air that disguises her power. Some hunters have seen
her heal animals wounded by their bullets.
The spirit known as the Mountain Indian,
on the other hand, is the custodian of the
lagoons and the gold hidden in their depths.
To the south of the Park, the Soldados
sector, through which the river also known
as Soldados flows, is associated with the
Inca’s troops, and their spirits still wander the
páramo, guarding their lord’s treasure.
More recently, at the end of the nineties,
Cajas was the site of alleged appearances
of the Virgin Mary which attracted huge
crowds of the faithful. A sanctuary near the
eastern border of the Park continues to be
visited by pilgrims.
Today, Cajas National Park is an important
space for recreation and nature exploration
for residents of Cuenca. The Park administration is decentralized and is a model of good
management by a municipal government.
The Andean rabbit is a
common companion in the
Ecuadorean páramos.
13
N
To
PROVINCE
OF CAÑAR
re
do
O
E
S
nes
Molleturo
PROVINCE
OF AZUAY
L. Playas Encantadas
To G u a y a q u
il
HUAGRAUMA
ACCESS
QUINUAS
ACCESS
Tres Cruces
Peak
Migüir
Avilahuayco
Peak
lodging
restaurant
refuge
camping
tourist
cycling
excursion
climbing
panoramic
view
archaeological
area
lookout
point
bird
watching
flora
forest
Bur
information
ine
a
sv
lle
y
Lla
viu
cu val
ley
To M
SUROCUCHO
ACCESS
lle
M azán va
olle
turo
y
fauna
city
village
Panam. Highway
main Road
secondary road
province limit
trail
Kapakñan trail
García Moreno road
river
Cuenca
Cuenca-Loja: 205 km
Cuenca-Azogues: 37 km
Azogues-Riobamba: 217 km
Cuenca-Cajas: 21 km
Loja-Cajas: 251 km
Guayquil-Cajas: 140 km
To
Riobamba
Azogues
protected area
summit
TOURIST MAP OF
CAJAS NATIONAL PARK
Sources: ETI, 2011; Jarvis et al., 2008; MAE, 2011
Credits: Esteban Garcés y Ximena Cordovez
Ecuador Terra Incognita
Cuenca
To
Loja
Baños
L. Ventanas
To L
oja
Pa
Not to be
missed
Few places are as ideal as Cajas for understanding
the “sponge” function of the páramos. Seen below
is Togliacocha Lagoon, near one of the three
branches of the Inca Road inside the Park.
Toreadora - Illincocha sector
The Park’s touristic heart
T
his is an ideal site for an initial
meeting with the Park. The informative visitor’s center provides a useful
general overview, before walking the trail
around Toreadora Lagoon and returning
to the restaurant for a delicious meal of
fresh trout. The more adventurous can try
climbing the nearby rock walls. This is
also one of the best places in the Park for
birdwatching. You will find birds typical
of the páramo and wetlands, such as the
Andean gull. The Illincocha forest is one of
the few places in the country where you
will see the rare Xenodacnis. The birdwatcher will also see other charismatic
species, such as the Great Horned Owl
and the Quinoa Bird (Giant Conebill), so
named for its association with the quinoa
tree. In Toreadora there is a parking lot,
an information stand, and a mountain refuge. From here, you can walk to Illincocha
in groups of no more than eight people,
accompanied by a guide.
16
17
was, initially, a Cañari settlement that
grew after the Incas arrived, being
a strategic point on the way to the
Coast. It is located at the beginning of
a steep descent from the cordillera,
where the páramo becomes cloud forest. The combination of landscape,
Inca structures, and stunning sunsets
make this an excellent spot for taking
photos. However, access is not easy
and it is recommended that visitors
join guided excursions.
Taitachungo Lagoon
Two names, a thousand stories
W
ith so many lagoons in the Park,
it seems that there were not
enough names to go around, so some
were baptized in groups, such as the
“Burines” and the “Unidas” Lagoons.
On the other hand, one lagoon has two
names: Taitachungo and Mamámag.
Though access is somewhat difficult,
the site is emblematic of the Park in
the beauty of the surrounding landscape. You get there from Toreadora,
crossing the Burines Valley. This used
to be a required passage on the route
to the Coast. Nearby are the remains
of pre-Inca stairs and foundations
that were probably places for resting.
From here, you can walk a stretch
of the Inca Trail to the Luspa Cave,
where there is a camping area for up
to 10 people. The cave is an important
reference point along the trail.
Llaviucu
The best kept secret
T
his beautiful valley is characteristically U-shaped, carved by the
movement of ancient glaciers. The lagoon at the bottom of the valley, also
named Llaviucu, is surrounded by reed
beds and forests typical of the high
Andes. There are two piers for trout
pole-fishing and a camping area. In
spite of its small size, the Llaviucu forest is full of life, being one of the most
diverse places in the Park. It is an excelent spot for watching forest, meadow,
and aquatic birds. There are three easyaccess trails: Uku, 2 kilometers long; Zig
Zag, 1.3 kilometers, and San Antonio,
2.7 kilometers. The last trail runs
through the entire valley.
Paredones de Molleturo
Vestiges of ancient splendor
B
eyond the western border of the
Park, there is an archaeological complex with the foundations of
400 dwellings, two large buildings,
a plaza, a monumental pyramid, and
a staircase leading to three lookout
points. The remains suggest that this
18
The quinuas or queñuales
grow in high Andean sheltered
areas and ravines.
19
Things to do
Walks
T
he best way to get to know Cajas National
Park is on foot. You will enjoy the prodigious
landscape of lakes and forest groves. There are
eight routes and five trails along which you
can combine walking with other activities. It
takes from a few minutes to two hours to walk
the trails. The routes require a few hours or, if
you want to really take your time, a few days.
There are camping sites along the way.
An alternative is to combine the different
trails of the Park’s central area, such as
Toreadora and Illincocha, with the “Nature and
Human History” route. This is an easy excursion, near the visitors’ center, which goes by
a number of lagoons, lookout points, quinua
(paper tree) forests, and the famous García
Moreno trail, an emblematic route which, in
the 19th century, connected Cuenca and the
port of Guayaquil. The more adventurous can
combine the Llaviucu trails with the “Inca Trail
and Larger Lagoons” route, which begins in
the Huagrahuma area in the Park’s western
sector. From there, it follows the northern bank
of the Luspa Lagoon, going east, and goes
through the Burines Valley, descending to the
valley of the Taitachugo or Mamámag Lagoon.
There you will see Cañari-Inca vestiges and
continue along the Inca Trail until you get to the
forested area of the Llaviucu sector, where you
will come to the San Antonio trail.
All the Park’s routes and trails are in the
northern area and are accessible from the CuencaMolleturo highway.
At the Park entrance you will receive
20
Cajas is full of charming
trails that ring its lagoons.
a map of routes and trails. • Some walks
require a nature guide. Consult Park personnel
before setting out. • Always tell someone at
a checkpoint the route you intend to take. •
Take a compass (and learn how to use it) or a
GPS device. • Respect the vegetation and do
not walk off the trails. • When walking, take
the altitude into account. • Take food rich in
calories and sufficient liquids (avoiding throwaway bottles and packaging).
Cajas National Park: (07) 237 0127
There is no park entry fee. Guided walks cost
between US$ 30 and 60 per person.
Rock Climbing
T
he Park’s bare rock faces were created by
glaciers moving through the mountains
thousands of years ago. Easy access and the
amazing landscape make Cajas an excellent
place for this sport. There are a number of options, including 30 equipped routes grouped
in seven climbing areas: Cochuma, Chica
Toreadora, Cerro San Luis, Toreadora, Godzila,
La Proa and Las Vírgenes. The degree of difficulty goes from short climbs for beginners
to overhangs and boulders requiring a high
degree of technical skill. Remember to climb
with a qualified guide.
Most climbing sites are in the northern
sector, a short distance from the CuencaMolleturo-Naranjal highway. Access to the Chica
Toreadora, Cerro San Luis, and Toreadora sites
is via the Toreadora trail. You get to Godzila from
the highway, southwest of the restaurant at La
Toreadora. Access to La Proa is via the route to
the Burines Valley. The wall in the Cochuma area
is outside the Park and access is on foot (one
hour, approximately) from the Tres Cruces sector,
near the highway, to the northwest. Access to
Las Vírgenes is from the Quinuas check point
toward the Padre Urcu mountain.
21
Always go with experienced guides who
are familiar with the area. • Take equipment
in good repair: helmet, harness, ropes and
carabiners. • Use wool fingerless gloves that
protect from the cold but leave the fingers
bare for better grip and sensation.
Birdwatching
C
ajas National Park is a site in
southern Ecuador not to be missed
by birders, both beginners and experts.
It is an important refuge for 150 species,
including nine endangered species, one
that is found nowhere else in the world
(the Violet-throated Metaltail hummingbird) and five migratory species. Thus,
together with the neighboring Mazán
Protected Forest, Cajas is part of the
“Cajas-Mazán Important Bird Area.” In addition to the eye-catching Violet throated
Metaltail, there are 23 additional species
of hummingbirds. A quinua grove next to
Illincocha Lagoon is one of the few places
where you can see the rare Tit-like Dacnis.
With a little bit of luck, you will also see
condors in the Playas Encantadas sector.
The Toreadora Sector is a good place
for watching páramo and aquatic birds.
Nearby, on the other side of the highway, is
the trail to Illincocha, with entry restricted
to a maximum of eight people at a time,
accompanied by a guide.
Take waterproof binoculars with you. •
Walk in small groups and be quiet. • Wear
clothing in muted colors so as to be less
obvious to the birds.
Cajas National Park: (07) 237 0127
Birdwatching excursions leave from
Cuenca and Guayaquil and cost between
US$ 60 and 100 per person per day.
22
The rainbow starfrontlet is an
endemic hummingbird of southern
Ecuador and northern Peru.
23
Getting there
entrance, without going to Cuenca (though
this is not very practical if you have
checked-in luggage).
Transportation
BY LAND
From
Quito
Quitumbe
Bus Station
From
Guayaquil
Bus Terminal
From
Cuenca
Bus Terminal
Jahuay, Panamericana, Patria,
Santa and Sucre bus companies
Between 8 and
12 hours
US$ 9-12
Oriental, Súper Taxis Cuenca
and Ejecutivo San Luis bus companies
4 hours
US$ 8
Súper Taxis Cuenca, Sucre
and Occidental bus companies
25 minutes
(buses leave hourly
between 7:00 am
and 5:00 pm)
US$ 1-1.50
The main entrance to Cajas National Park
is along the Cuenca-Molleturo-Naranjal
highway, which goes through the northern
part of the Park. This road connects Cuenca
and Guayaquil. You can enter the Llaviucu
Valley via the same highway, turning off at
kilometer 17 onto a cobblestone road which
you follow for two kilometers until coming to
the Surocucho checkpoint. There is no public
transportation from this point, but the walk
is only about 20 minutes.
Those traveling from Guayaquil by
bus can get off at the Cajas National Park
24
You can travel by plane from Quito
(55 minutes; US$ 102 round trip) or
Guayaquil (50 minutes; US$ 150 round trip).
Safety and health
In general, you should take the usual
precautions required for high altitude:
clothing for the cold, since temperatures
can get as low as 5° C during the day
and below 0 °C at night. Rain is frequent and unpredictable, so waterproof
jacket and pants are needed, as well as
plastic bags and covers for clothing and
equipment.
To take the routes, which require hours
of walking, you must have a guide. This is
not necessary for the trails. Maps and a
compass or GPS-enabled device are recommended as the terrain is irregular and fog
often makes it difficult to determine where
you are. It is preferable to walk only until
4:00 to take advantage of better visibility;
after that time, the fog becomes heavier. To
be safer, you should indicate at one of the
checkpoints where you will be visiting.
If you live in low areas, it is recommended
that you become gradually acclimated to
the higher altitude before visiting the park.
Blood pressure sometimes drops at high
altitudes and eating something sweet helps
to bring it back up. You should also eat well,
keep hydrated, and get enough sleep. If, in
spite of these precautions you are affected
by “soroche” (altitude sickness), take a nap
and if that does not help, get to a lower
altitude as soon as possible.
When to visit
Any time is a good time to visit, although
it rains less between October and
January. Because the daily number of
visitors is limited, you should call the
Park and make a reservation before
visiting (07) 237 0127. Office hours are
Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Tours can be arranged in Cuenca.
• The Illincocha trail receives special
management because it is the habitat of
the Tit-like Dacnis, a bird in danger of extinction. A maximum of eight visitors are
permitted at one time and they must be
accompanied by a guide.
• Given the danger fires represent,
campfires are not allowed. If you plan to
camp, take a gas-powered camping stove
or something similar.
• You will be given a bag for garbage at
the Park entrance which you should leave
at one of the control points on your way
out; personnel will take care of it in an
appropriate fashion. Take special care
that paper and plastic items are not
swept away by the wind.
Important contact information
- 1 800 TURISMO (1 800 887 476)
Sustainable tourism tips
• Páramo vegetation is fragile and takes
a long time to regenerate. Thus, visitors
are required to stay on the trails.
• Taking plants out of the Park and
hunting in the Park are prohibited.
• Pets are not allowed in the Park due
to the danger they pose for Park species.
• Trout is an introduced species that
affects native species, such as toads,
aquatic invertebrate and the preñadilla,
a native fish species. For that reason,
visitors are allowed and encouraged to
pole fish for trout in the Park. However,
boats and swimming are not allowed.
- Cajas National Park (ETAPA):
(07) 237 0127 / (07) 237 0128
- Ministry of the Environment, Cuenca:
(07) 287 1694
- Ministry of Tourism, Cuenca:
(07) 286 5642 / (07) 286 2953
- Municipal Government, Cuenca,
Tourism Department: (07) 282 1035
- Bus Terminal, Cuenca:
(07) 284 2023
- Hospital, Cuenca: (07) 288 5595
- Police, Cuenca: (07) 408 8985
Entrance to all PANE continental
protected areas is free for
residents and foreigners.
25
Directory
Lodging
address
reference price
contact
category
Tour Operators
Prices are per guest and include taxes but not breakfast, unless otherwise indicated.
Activities
1. Camping
2. Guided walks
Cuenca
Almíbartour
(07) 282 6117 / 098 658 307
almibartour@etapanet.net
1 2 3
Cazhuma Tours
(07) 283 9959 / (07) 283 2052
info@cazhumatours.com
www.cazhumatours.com
3. Inca Trail
4. Fishing
5. Birdwatching
Terradiversa the Travel Center
(07) 282 3782
info@terradiversa.com
www.terradiversa.com
Ecoandes Travel
(02) 222 0892
quito@ecoandestravel.com
www.ecoandestravel.com
Tinamu Tours
(07) 284 3064 / 098 066 085
gerencia@tinamutours.com
www.tinamutours.com
Ecoleviajes Ecuador
(02) 223 7595
gerencia@ecoletravel-ecuador.com
www.ecoletravel-ecuador.com
Quito
Enchanted Expeditions
nena@enchantedexpeditions.com
www.enchantedexpeditions.com
1 2 3 5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3
1 2 3
1 2 3
Apullacta Expeditions
(07) 283 7815
info@apullacta.com
www.apullacta.com
1 2 3 4 5
Hualambari Tours
(07) 282 7598
info@hualambari.com
www.hualambari.com
1 2 3 4
Metropolitan Touring
(07) 283 4732 / (07) 283 4930
mcornejo@metropolitan-touring.com
www.metropolitan-touring.com
1 2 3 4 5
Andean Travel Company
(02) 222 8487
info@andeantc.com
www.andeantc.com
1 2 3
Campustrekking
(02) 234 0601
info@campustrekking.ec
www.campustrekking.com
1 2 3
Contactour
(02) 226 3820 / (02) 224 40173
info@contactour.com
www.contactour.com
1 2 3
South-Land Turismo
(07) 283 3126 / 093 933 087
info@southlandtouring.com
www.southlandtouring.com
1 2 3 4
26
Cretertur
(02) 222 2166
creter1@creter.com.ec
www.cretertours.com
1 2 3
1 2 3
Galacruises Expeditions
(02) 250 9007
info@galacruises.com
www.galacruises.com
1 2 3
Geo Reisen
(02) 292 0583 / 095 220 726
info@georeisen-ecuador.com
www.georeisen-ecuador.com
1 2 3
Mirametours Ecuador
(02) 323 8370
info@mirametours.com
www.mirametours.com
1 2
Hostal Las Tejas
García Moreno w/n
13.44
(07) 225 0175
third
Pensión Cofradía del Monje
Presidente Córdova 10-33
29-35 (high or low season)
(07) 283 1251
first
Hostal Huayna Capac
Huayna Capac 3-57 and Bonilla
(07) 283 2655
third
Hostal El Manantial
España and Núñez de Bonilla
15 (includes breakfast and tax)
(07) 284 3060
first
Pensión Nuestra Residencia
Los Pinos 1-100 and Ordóñez Lasso
32 (includes breakfast and tax)
(07) 283 1702
first
Hostal Santa Fe
Borrero 5-57 and Juan Jaramillo
6 (shared bathroom)
(07) 282 2025
second
Hostal El Monasterio
Padre Aguirre 7-24 and Sucre, piso 6
16.80 (includes breakfast and tax)
(07) 282 4457
second
Pensión Andaluz
Mariano Cueva 12-21 and Sangurima
7
(07) 282 7292
third
Hostal El Cajas
Tarqui 7-29 and Sucre
18
(07) 282 6627
second
Hostería Hacienda El Hato
Panamericana Sur (between Cuenca
and Loja) E35 Km 35 Nabón
40 for a double (includes breakfast
and tax)
(07) 281 8724
084 500 044
elhato@mail.com
www.haciendaelhato.com
second
Hostal Cutilkay
Abdón Calderón 2-27
8
(07) 225 0133
third
Hostal Casa del Barranco
Calle Larga 9-41 and Luis Cordero
21.90
(07) 283 9763
second
Pensión La Casa Cuencana
Hermano Miguel 4-45 and Calle Larga
8.96 (includes kitchen access to
prepare your own meals)
(07) 282 6009
third
Pensión La Posada del Rey
Benigno Malo and Presidente Córdova
25 (includes breakfast and tax)
(07) 284 3845
first
Cuenca
Hostal Bristol
Hurtado de Mendoza 1-50
(07) 286 1231
second
Hostal Samay
Tomás Ordóñez 11-86
10
(07) 283 1119
second
Hostal La Castellana
Luis Cordero 10-47 and Gran Colombia
26.43
(07) 280 9281
first
Hostería Dos Chorreras
Km 22 on the way to Cajas
50 (includes breakfast and tax)
(07) 404 1999
098 810 197
info@hosteriadoschorreras.com
www.hosteriadoschorreras.com
first
Apart Hotel Otorongo
12 de Abril and Guayas
60 (suite)
(07) 281 8205
first
Hostería Cabañas de Narancay
Panamericana Sur km 1
70.56
(07) 289 2360
second
27
Below is a short list of some outstanding wildlife found in Cajas.
Given the extraordinary diversity in this area, it is, of necessity, an incomplete list.
Enjoy filling it in!
Mammals
Slate-coloured Coot
Fulica ardesiaca
Mountain-crest Robber Frog*
Pristimantis vidua
Andean Fox or Wolf •
Lycalopex culpaeus
Masked Flowerpiercer
Diglossa cyanea
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus peruvianus
Scarlet-bellied Mountain-tanager
Anisognathus igniventris
Robber Frogs*
Pristimantis riveti, P. ruidus
and P. philipi
Llama
Lama glama
Tawny Antpitta
Grallaria quitensis
Chucuri o Andean Weasel
Mustela frenata
Turquoise Jay
Cyanolyca turcosa
Grey-bellied Shrew Opossum*
Caenolestes caniventer
Golden-plumed Parakeet
Leptosittaca branickii
Ecuadorean Small-eared Shrew*
Cryptotis montivaga
Rainbow Starfrontlet •
Coeligena iris
Rabbit •
Sylvilagus brasiliensis
Andean Guan
Penelope montagnii
Red Andean Mouse*
Thomasomys auricularis
Grey-breasted Mountain-toucan
Andigena hypoglauca
Haggard’s Leaf-eared mouse*
Phyllotis haggardi
Water birds
Mountain Paca
Cuniculus taczanowskii
Birds
Tit-like Dacnis •
Xenodacnis parina
Violet-throated Metaltail* •
Metallura baroni
Great Horned Owl •
Bubo virginianus
Giant Conebill •
Oreomanes fraseri
Amphibians
Ucug*
Telmatobius niger
Brown trout (introduced)•
Salmo trutta
Rainbow trout (introduced)
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Catfish or preñadilla •
Astroblepus spp.
Flora
Quinua or paper tree •
Polylepis spp.
Andean Horsetail
Equisetum bogotense
Manzana cashpi
Hesperomeles obtusifolia
Rosette bromeliad
Puya spp.
References
• Arbeláez, Ernesto and Amanda Vega, 2008. Guía de Anfibios, Reptiles y Peces del Parque Nacional
Cajas. Etapa, Cuenca
• Ecuador Terra Incognita, 2010. Ecuador: Turismo en Áreas Protegidas. Ministry of Tourism, Quito
• Rivera, Jade, 2007. Parque Nacional Cajas. In: ECOLAP and MAE. Guía del Patrimonio de Áreas
Naturales Protegidas del Ecuador. ECOFUND / FAN / DarwinNet / IGM, Quito
• Rodríguez, Santiago and Xavier Contreras, 2005. Guía de Rutas del Parque Nacional Cajas.
Etapa, Cuenca
• Sánchez, Francisco and Miguel Carbone, 2005. Guía de Mamíferos del Parque Nacional Cajas.
Etapa, Cuenca
• Tinoco, Boris and Pedro Astudillo, 2005. Guía de Campo para Observación de Aves del Parque Nacional
Cajas. Etapa, Cuenca
• Ulloa, Carmen; Samara Álvarez, Peter Jørgensen and Danilo Minga, 2005. Guía de 100 Plantas
Silvestres del Páramo del Parque Nacional Cajas. Etapa, Cuenca
• Villa, José, 2003. Plan de manejo integral del Parque Nacional Cajas. Cemaprimes / Ministerio del
Ambiente, Cuenca
Harlequin Frog* •
Atelopus exiguus
Almohadillas
Azorella pedunculata,
Plantago rigida, etc.
Black Harlequin of Tres Cruces* •
Atelopus nanay
Toreadora sedge*
Carex toreadora
Azuay Marsupial Frog*
Gastrotheca litonedis
Chuquiragua
Chuquiraga jussieui
San Lucas Marsupial Frog*
Gastrotheca pseustes
Borrachera
Pernettya prostrata
© Ministry of Tourism of Ecuador, 2012
Boulenger Rocket Frog*
Hyloxalus vertebralis
Shuspilla
Berberis lutea
Produced by:
re
ejemplar
ste
,p
or compár
ta
fav
l
• species mentioned in the text
This document may be cited as:
Ecuador Terra Incognita, 2012. Informative brochure for sustainable tourism in Cajas National
Park. Ministry of Tourism / Ministry of the Environment, Quito
or
Sarashima
Gentianella hirculus
* species endemic to Ecuador
Coordination, Ministry of Tourism: Mónica Burbano Montalvo and Liliam Figueroa
Revision, Ministry of Tourism: Undersecretaryship for Tourism Management, Undersecretaryship for
Tourism Promotion and Undersecretaryship for Information and Communication
Revision, Ministry of the Environment: National Biodiversity Directorate and Area Chief
uiere guar
da
Kichwa porcupine*
Coendou quichua
Andean Gull
Larus serranus
Yanuncay River Kingsnake
Philodryas simonsii
Photo credits: Rafael Cárdenas / Biographica (table of contents);
Jorge Anhalzer / ETAPA (cover:lagoon, 4, 11, 20); Afuera Producciones (6:columns);
Patricio Mena (6:flowers); Esteban Barrera (6:climber); Pete Oxford / Archivo Criollo (12:rabbit);
Carlos Galindo (12:rock walls); Juan Carlos Astudillo (17:páramo);
Valentí Zapater (18:hiker); Murray Cooper (23)
oq
in
Puma
Puma concolor
Silvery Grebe
Podiceps occipitalis
Mountain Lizard
Pholidobolus montium
s
Unexpected Cotton Rat*
Sigmodon inopinatus
Andean Teal
Anas andium
Perracca’s Whorltail Iguana*
Stenocercus festae
o
Aquatic Cajas Mouse*
Chibchanomys orcesi
Reptiles and fish
Series director: Andrés Vallejo
Editorial design and edition: Nadesha Montalvo
Texts: David Parra
Design: Esteban Garcés
Photographic research: Alegría Acosta and Martina Avilés
Maps: Susana Crespo and Pablo Cabrera
Map coordination: Ximena Cordovez
English translation: Mary Ellen Fieweger
Text revision: David Padgham
d
utearge
b
i
tr h
Dise of c
fre
CONSCIOUS TOURISM
Is Love for life
Conscious tourism is a life-transforming experience that leads to personal growth, making
us better human beings.
This new concept is based on principles of sustainability and ethics, and promotes peace,
friendship, respect, and love for life as the essence of tourism.
It is a pact to live together in a responsible, mutually respectful fashion, in communion with
tour agents from sending and receiving communities, the tourist, and the natural and
cultural heritage.
Conscious tourism is a living, dynamic concept in constant development. It is an experience
in giving and receiving.
El Telégrafo E7-58 and Av. de los Shyris
Av. 6 de Diciembre N59-161 and Manuel Zambrano
Quito-Ecuador
Telephone: (02) 399 9333