Cajas National Park has numerous well-marked trails, but it is still importantto check the map, current conditions, and keep an eye on the weather.
Photo by Claudia Cavazos
Llamas are kept as domesticated animals in many parts of the Andes. Here, onenibbles grass high in Cajas National Park, Ecuador.
Photo by Stephan Lorenz & Claudia Cavazos
The author's fiancé, Claudia Cavazos, poses in the mountains in Cajas NationalPark, Ecuador.
Photo by Stephan Lorenz
Many flowers thrive in the high altitude grasslands of Cajas National park,Ecuador.
Photo by Stephan Lorenz & Claudia Cavazos
The Inca ruins of Ingapirca are an easy day trip from Cuenca and offer greatviews of the surrounding country side from the main structure, the Temple of theSun.
Photo by Stephan Lorenz & Claudia Cavazos
Laguna Toreadora is the largest of over 250 lakes in the park.
Photo by Stephan Lorenz & Claudia Cavazos
Numerous emerald-colored box lakes found in glacial cirques lie sprinkledthroughout the mountains in Cajas National park, Ecuador.
Photo by Stephan Lorenz & Claudia Cavazos
Puyas are large terrestrial bromeliads that send their large flowering stalkshigh into the harsh Andean climate.
Photo by Stephan Lorenz & Claudia Cavazos
Polylepis trees grow at higher elevations than any other tree species in theworld. The dense weather-beaten stands harbor many animals and plants unique tothe region.
Photo by Stephan Lorenz & Claudia Cavazos
Rugged wilderness stretches for miles and miles in Cajas National Park, Ecuador.
Photo by Stephan Lorenz & Claudia Cavazos
Cajas National Park in southern Ecuador is a large protected area that offersamazing trekking in the Andes.