Sendero Llaviucu

Chévere.

After hiking Ruta 1 de Toreadora, I wasn't so sure Llaviucu was going to be enough for me, not sure it'd be worth the bus ride. ¡Pero sí vale la pena!
In my EXP, the bus folk don't always ask, so I would politely communicate your desired destino de Cajas to the driver and be ready to hop off as the bus approaches. After getting dropped off in the middle of 582, continue down an old stone road full of beauty and devoid of cars save one or two which have no choice but to drive slowly thanks to the nature of the road. It was here that I met the only Ecuadorian bunny rabb that I have ever seen in my five months here. There are also many dope flowers along the path if you keep your eyes open. A pie, you'll be about half an hour on the stones before you arrive at the station, where they asked for my name but not mi pasaporte.
Now, everyone says Cajas is scorching and freezing and rainy as all get out, but I've been visiting in late Febrero on days with relatively pleasant weather forecasts, and I have come prepared but both days found the climate amenable to hiking in T-shirt and jeans with a light chompa to don and doff along the way. Check the forecast on Google, they've been reliable for me.

La ruta along la laguna is mos def chév—great views, peaceful piers, flora fabulosa, a lovely wooded area—I'm sure the other reviewers have it covered. For you aventureros who fancy a larger excursion, Llaviucu's got y'all covered, too. But those of you who think the path around the lake is muddy—and those who think the first mile of this next trail is muddy—you're havin a laugh. Wait till you get to the good stuff, that pitch-black old motor oil-lookin fun lurking beneath the surface. Pro-tip: Find a good walking/mud-probing stick, güey.
Continue passed the cervecería abandonada to find an unmarked trail that goes as far as you want to go and has a lot to offer besides the great fun of navigating mud traps. First and foremost, it took me to a large herd of llamas or alpacas, wasn't sure which, as they refused to answer my inquiries, just looked at me like I was an imbécil and didn't belong there—which reassured me that, whatever they were, they were definitely Ecuadorian. Apparently, it's all in the ear. Llamas have larger, banana-shaped ears. I think perhaps there were both species in this flock. They let me get fairly close, but I stopped pushing my luck when one stamped to assert its territorial hegemony.
On I went. Fun with mud, megatons of beautiful earth and novel vegetable matter, exquisite birdsong and tranquility, a rushing crick and cascadas en la distancia, it really is a spectacular sendero.
Now, I thought this trail would take me to the "Antigua Presa" site you see west of the lake on Google Maps. After ~1.5 hour, the French couple that overtook me decided to turn back. Their offline mapa showed the trail kept going on forever without soon reaching any destino. "Antigua Presa" wasn't on the map. Nonetheless, I kept trekking into the wilderness. After the ancient rock bed, I entered a large wood, steeply sloped and slick with mud and wet leaves. I climbed fairly deep up into this bosque but started worrying about the hour as well as my stupid knees, ultimately stopping where the path before me looked more like a narrow pond. There I dramatically planted my walking staff and cried unto all the wood, "I SHALL NOT PASS!"

On the way back, I saw red painted trail-markers which I had not seen on the way up. I suspect a much larger trail ends at Llaviucu, and fools like me who start from Llaviucu don't know what they're getting into. Nevertheless, I'm glad I got into it.
The stone path back to 582 was a long, painful foot massage. There's no bus stop up there, and the first bus that passed ignored all my waving, thus providing a nice opportunity to have a laugh and practice mis palabrotas. All for the best, I ended up viajando a dedo, hitching back to Cuenca with a súper amigable Michael with whom I'm having coffee later!

Chévere.

Absolutely stunning. The boardwalks were wet and slippery but they also had strips od wood for traction. I would recommend bringing hiking boots that are water proof as there a lot of water and muddy spots.
The trails are very well taken care of. There is a lot to see here including water falls, humming birds, toucans and llamas.

Stunning place to take in the beauty of Cajas National Park! It is an easy-to-follow loop around the lake with minimal changes in elevation. You are required to sign in at the ranger station to enter, and only a certain number of people are allowed in each day. Pets are not allowed.

Very nice place to spread the love for nature and a picturesque camping spot a bit further up the valley!

A *hidden* gem close to Cuenca. Easy trail around lake and westward trail along River and the llamas. Entrance is a mile or so in from highway.

Aways off of the highway (3 km), down a stone paved road, and absolutely beautiful. A circular walk around the lake includes informative signage.

Part of the Cajas reserve. Very beautiful half day hike.
Cloud forest, lagoons and creeks, highland view and wild animals such as llamas, bird watching.

A very beautiful place for bird watching when the weather is nice. It takes a big of a drove down a narrow bumpy road to get there. A walking trail loops around the pond.

Breathtaking place, really beautiful and absolutely no people at all. Great for having contact with horses and alpacas.

Great place to make love!

Great walk! Great views!

Fantastic...

Ein wirklich wunderschönes Wandergebiet, wir wollten eigentlich zur Laguna Taitachungo. Obwohl es schönes Wetter war, war der Wanderweg noch sehr Schlammig da es an den vortragen noch geregnet hat. Und deshalb mussten wir kurz vor dem Ziel umkehren wirklich schade.😥😥 Zwei Schweizer 🇨🇭🇨🇭 Touristen mit WoMo

Hermoso sendero con alta diversidad de aves nativas y endémicas de la zona.

Una laguna muy bonita grande, amplio espacio para recorrer, a unos 35 minutos de Cuenca.

La entrada desde la carretera principal es de piedra así que es un poco incómodo si vas en un carro no todo terreno de ahí en adelante está a 3 kilómetros desde la carretera principal una vez que llegues al sitio sólo abren hasta las 4 de la tarde al público no cuesta la entrada hay un parqueo amplio para varios autos una vez en el estacionamiento empieza la caminata una vez llegada la laguna hay un sendero donde se pasa por una cervecería antigua una infraestructura abandonada y se sigue el sendero hasta recorrer toda la laguna se pasa por unos senderos de madera construidos muy bonito con banquitas con bancas cada cierto tiempo para poder descansar y el sendero termina donde se empezó en el primer lugar que está unos 200 m del estacionamiento el lugar muy bonito lo único que le faltan son unos botecitos para poder remar en la laguna obviamente con todo el cuidado ya que es un clima frío y una caída en esa Laguna puede ser mortal

Excelente lugar para acampar o pasar el día. La laguna tiene un sendero que la rodea, además tiene 2 muelles donde se puede pescar. En la zona se ven muchas aves, alpacas, caballos. El acceso no es nada complicado, el camino es de piedra y se puede parquear vehículos muy cerca de la laguna. El parque cuenta con baños y una pequeña tienda de bebidas y snacks junto a la garita de entrada. El horario de visita es de 8:00 a 16:00. Recomiendo llevar ropa que proteja del viento frío. Y POR FAVOR NO DEJAR BASURA EN LA NATURALEZA.

Excelente espacio abierto para compartir en familia, puedes acampar

Preciosidad de naturaleza parecería otro país.. 100% recomendado....y tan cerca de Cuenca

No olviden que no se puede llevar mascotas... Reglamentos!!