CAMPING 2 DAYS 1 NIGHT CAJAS NATIONAL PARK
DAY 1 We leave Cuenca early and head west and enter Cajas National Park. We start in the Tres Cruces (Three Crosses) area and trek along the route of Lakes Negra – Larga – Togllacocha – Luspa. We will have time to have our box lunch. Then we will continue to “Canutillos”. Following an explanation of the region, the work begins of setting up camp. Dinner will be prepared.Time of hike: approximately 6 hours. Level of difficulty: Medium.
DAY 2: Hot breakfast. We will have a couple of hours to walk around and admire the very attractive natural resources and the panoramic view of the area. Assisting our guide, we will break camp, join up, and continue the trek to Lake Mamamag, where there is a leafy wooded area and we can see a variety of birds and plants such as pumamaquis, chuquiragua, huicundos, mosses, ferns, a great variety of orchids, etc. We also will be able to witness the presence of the pre-colonial cultures as we pass along the Inca Trail. We will have our box lunch along the way. Finally, we will arrive at Llaviuco, where we can unload our backpacks and take a short walk to observe birds. Llaviuco is considered the best place in the Park for bird watching. This mountain forest remains in an excellent state of conservation, allowing for the easy sighting of bright species like the Gray-Breasted Mountain Toucan (Andigena hypoglauca), the Andean Guan (Penelope montagnii), the Masked Trogon (Trogon personatus), the Turquoise Jay (Cyanolyca turcosa) and several species of scarlet tanagers. The twelve species of hummingbirds registered in the area are an example of the great diversity of this group of birds in the mountain ecosystem. Among them stand out the Rainbow Starfrontlet (Coeligena irie), the Shining Sunbeam (Anglaeactis cupripennis), and the Sword-Billed Hummingbird (Ensifera ensifera). Return to Cuenca. Time of hike: Approximately 5 hours. Level of difficulty: Medium.
