At last he came to the city of Quito, high up on the equator.

NPR: Excerpt: 'Natives and Exotics'

The 4, 630m-high Imbabura volcano, which gives its name to the province, rises nearby, and the capital city of Quito is just 90km to the south, a journey that takes you over the equator and into the southern hemisphere.

BBC: Otavalo: The land of Andean artistry

It would mean no games in Quito, Ecuador's capital, or Mexico City, scene of some of the greatest World Cup matches.

BBC: Tim Vickery column