Cajas National Park · Walking route

Cajas Route 1: Nature and Human History

A marked loop from Laguna Toreadora through the San Luis woodland and the Lagunas Unidas, coming back along the old García Moreno road.

Mapped distance: 5.5 km
Walking time: 5 h 05ETAPA estimate for the full route
Difficulty: Moderate
Average altitude: 3,900 m

The route

Start on the trail below Toreadora refuge. Follow the lakeshore toward the San Luis woodland and Lagunas Unidas, then return to the refuge along the old García Moreno road. The path stays around 3,900 m, so allow about five hours.

Relief map of Ruta 1 · Naturaleza e Historia Humana — Map: © OpenStreetMap · Relief: Copernicus

Highlight this route on the map

Elevation profile

≈ 3,797–3,943 m

Total gain: ≈ 220 m
Total loss: ≈ 220 m

In the direction shown below. Walking in reverse swaps gain and loss.

3,950 m3,750 m

0 km2.7 km5.5 km

Approximate terrain elevation · Copernicus GLO-30

Getting back

Loop: finishes at the start. The distance and elevation totals already include the whole circuit.

Download GPX

Refugio ToreadoraStart
Laguna Toreadora
Bosquete de San Luis
Lagunas Unidas
Camino de García Moreno
Refugio ToreadoraBack to the start

Before you walk

Register at the control
Ask which way the route is marked that day, and stay on it.
Start early
No walk may start or continue after 16:00.
Dress for cold and rain
Warm waterproof layers, good shoes, water and food. The weather changes fast at this altitude.
Stay out of the lakes
Swimming and wading are not allowed.

Getting there: Start in the Toreadora area. The circuit returns to its start. Transport and registration

More Cajas routes

1Nature and Human History5.5 km · 5 h 05 · Moderate
2Cerro San Luis Summit2.6 km · 3 h 50 · High
3Quinuas Valley7.9 km · 6 h 55 · Moderate
4Historic Paths3.6 km · 4 h 05 · Moderate
5Avilahuaycu Summit1.8 km · 6 h 20 · High
6Burines Valley6.1 km · 5 h 50 · High
7Inca Road and Great Lakes15 km · 14 h 10 · High
8Gran Osohuaycu12.4 km · 7 h 00 · High
9García Moreno Road1.6 km · 1 h 00 · Moderate

Compare all nine routes →

Plan your visit

Sources

Path and distance from OpenStreetMap, checked 16 October 2026. Route name, difficulty, average altitude and estimated walking time from ETAPA; its published distance may differ.

The OSM loop returns along the Toreadora shore and measures about 5.5 km; ETAPA’s current catalogue lists 4.46 km. The older guide omits the shore return from its waypoint table and shows a different woodland branch.

OSM paths checked 16 October 2026. The 2012 ETAPA guide covers Routes 1–6.

Elevation profiles use Copernicus GLO-30 terrain, approximately 31 m resolution, sampled every 50 m or less and smoothed over three samples. Gain and loss sum the changes within each section and are rounded to 10 m. Disconnected sections remain separate; gaps add no distance or elevation change.

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