More than 230 Andean glacial lakes in a relatively compact area near the colonial city of Cuenca
Area
285 km²
Declared in
1996
Region
Andes (Azuay)
Climate
Tropical, Árido / desértico, Montañoso
Best time
June to September
Highlight
More than 230 Andean glacial lakes in a relatively compact area near the colonial city of Cuenca
Declared in 1996, El Cajas holds more than 230 lakes of glacial origin in a relatively compact area a short way from the colonial city of Cuenca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its páramo vegetation includes forests of Polylepis, a genus of extremely slow-growing Andean tree adapted to the extreme conditions of the equatorial high mountains.
Location
See on the interactive map2 dive sites within 300 km are also shown.
18 species documented in El Cajas
At conservation risk:Cóndor andino,Oso de anteojos,Águila poma,Guacamayo militar,Loro orejiamarillo,Oncilla
Least ConcernPuma
Puma concolor
Least ConcernVenado de cola blanca
Odocoileus virginianus
Colibrí picoespada
Ensifera ensifera
VulnerableCóndor andino
Vultur gryphus
VulnerableOso de anteojos
Tremarctos ornatus
Least ConcernTrucha arcoíris
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Near ThreatenedCoatí andino
Nasua olivacea
Conejo de páramo
Sylvilagus brasiliensis
Least ConcernPato de los torrentes
Merganetta armata
Águila poma
Spizaetus isidori
Colibrí gigante
Patagona gigas
Guacamayo militar
Ara militaris
Flora and ecosystems
Ecosystems found in Ecuador, where El Cajas lies.
Experiences in this park
Nearby dive sites
Where can I dive near here?
Máncora
243 km away
Machalilla / Isla de la Plata
266 km away
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