One hour drive west of Cuenca you will find El Cajas National Park, known for its biodiversity, famous for its 200 plus lagunas. Comprised of 70,000 acres of diverse terrain, El Cajas is the best place in the region to get lost in nature. During the rainy season from February-July you will find higher temperatures and more rain, whereas August-January offers lower temperatures and more sun.
Hiking is a very common pursuit in the reserve; most of the park lies above 3,000 meters. Amazing vies can be seen from the summits overlooking the lakes. Fishing is also quite 
popular, particularly for trout. Other wildlife that can be seen in the park includes puma, bears, and llamas. There is also a large and varied bird population.
Tours can be arranged from Cuenca that include a hike and camping out in El Cajas. If you decide to make the trip solo, hop on one of the buses heading to Guayaquil from Cuenca. Tell the driver to let you off at el refugio, where you pay an entrance fee of about $10 per person. ($2 more if you want to stay overnight.) There are kitchen facilities and electricity, but no hot water. If you plan to camp out, make sure you bring good camping gear, as temperatures can drop pretty low at night.
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