Cajas National Park, Cuenca is a major attraction in the country. The forest park with high elevation lies on an easily accessible plateau. It has been the main source of drinking water in Cuenca. The enormous diversity of landscapes, flora and fauna make a visit to Cajas National Park, Cuenca an interesting trip.
Cajas National Park is spread over an area of 29,000 hectares. The park is located about 29 kilometers west of Cuenca. It boasts of over 250 lakes.
The popularity of the national park grew far and wide after the heresy appearance of the Virgin. Many people like to go there to ask for miracles and pray. The park boasts of 125 species of birds. Frequently spotted among them are the Condor and the Violet-tailed Metal tail. In the lakes one can come across the Andean gulls, yellow-billed pintails and the speckled teal.
This national park lies at an altitude of 3100 meter and 4450 meter. It has received 3 important international accreditations. This includes the one bestowed by the UNESCO.
The park is famous for its very clean water. It achieves this through its particular vegetation system which is naturally equipped to clean the water.
Locally the park is also called the Cajas Park. In local parlance Cajas means boxes. This is because the lakes and valleys of the park resemble little boxes.
The park boasts of a Polylepsis forest. The Polylepsis tree is the tree which can sustain itself on the highest altitude. It grows quite slowly and it takes several hundred years until a tree is a few meters high. This apart there are many medicinal plants which includes valerian and stuff for malaria. The trees look very eerie like. It is commonly believed that in the park there resides the chusulongo a kind of a man-ghost who likes to capture women.
Hiking is possible all year round in the park. However one should go from August to January for at this time of the year one can look forward to clear days and strong winds. From February to July, temperatures are higher with more fog, snow and rain. August to January is considered to be the driest months of the year.
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