Cajas National Park · Walking route

Cajas Route 5: Avilahuaycu Summit

A steep climb from the Cucheros road to Avilahuaycu, with the return along the same path.

Mapped distance: 1.78 kmOne way; return along the same path
Walking time: 6 h 20ETAPA estimate for the full route
Difficulty: High
Average altitude: 4,006 m

The route

The map shows the uphill path. Allow for the descent along the same route when planning your outing.

Relief map of Ruta 5 · Cumbre del Avilahuaycu, el Adoratorio Natural — Map: © OpenStreetMap · Relief: Copernicus

Elevation profile

≈ 3,832–4,160 m

Total gain: ≈ 340 m
Total loss: ≈ 10 m

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

4,200 m3,800 m

0 km0.9 km1.8 km

Approximate terrain elevation · Copernicus GLO-30

Out and back

3.57 km · gain ≈ 340 m · loss ≈ 340 m

These totals include walking the highlighted path both ways. For a crossing, arrange onward travel from the end.

By car, allow time to get back to your parking place. By bus, plan your finishing stop and the last service before setting out.

Highlight this route on the map

Mapped OSM path: 1.8 km. Map sources and distance differences

Carretera · CucherosStart
Cumbre del AvilahuaycuEnd

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 Cucheros area. Allow time to return down the same path. Transport and registration

The other Cajas routes

Route 1
Nature and Human History
Lakes, woodland and a historic road on one loop.
5.5 km · Moderate
Route 2
Cerro San Luis Summit
Short and steep, to a summit above 4,000 m.
2.6 km · High
Route 3
Quinuas Valley
A full day of páramo and lakes.
7.9 km · Moderate
Route 4
Historic Paths
From Tres Cruces past Larga and Togllacocha.
3.6 km · Moderate
Route 6
Burines Valley
Cucheros, the Burines valley and Caballo Shayana.
6.1 km · High
Route 7
Inca Road and Great Lakes
Luspa, Burines and Mamamag on a long crossing.
15 km · High
Route 8
Gran Osohuaycu
From Luspa through Osohuaycu to Burines.
12.4 km · High
Route 9
García Moreno Road
A walk along the historic García Moreno road.
1.6 km · 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 path named Ruta 5 runs from the road to the Avilahuaycu summit, matching the 2012 guide. The mapped distance is one way; return along the same path. ETAPA lists 1.87 km and 6 h 20 for the outing.

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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