Cajas Inca Road

El Cajas is a secluded area of high, rugged, eroded mountains and lakes in the last southern gasp of the western cordillera, with a huge variety of landscapes.

As if this isn't enough, an Inca road crossed the area, from roughly from east to west, running from what is now Cuenca to the coastal lowlands. While most of it is in poor condition (indeed invisible), there are some stretches where remains of the road can be seen. And wherever you are on its course, there is a fascination to it. Other old trade routes over the high ground now form the basis of walking routes.

Inca road: you can cross the range, roughly from east to west (or vice versa), on the old Inca road. A fabulous selection of habitats and scenery, from cloud forest to the high passes and innumerable lakes of the roof of the park. 2 days.

Lakes and Inca road: A particularly exciting day walk would be a 4hr or so route dropping steeply south from just west of the high (4,167m) Tres Cruces pass to the fabulous Laguna Larga and Laguna Togilacocha lakes, then turn west on the Inca road and walk down a gorgeous paramo valley, back out to the main road.

You can also access the Inca road from Laguna Llaviuco: you could walk up into the hills and back through interesting forest in a glacial valley.

This can be demanding walking in high, remote mountains with unpredictable weather,frequently cloud-bound and thus difficult to navigate and with a reputation for being cold. You will have to be self-sufficient. Altitude can cause problems. Come fully prepared, including proper acclimatization.

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For more information and photos, including detailed practical information and some warnings, see our Cajas NP walk page.