He wished to look into Pichincha's crater, just as on an earlier journey he had descended into Vesuvius.

NPR: Excerpt: 'Natives and Exotics'

Finally he did what he had come for: he climbed Pichincha, the volcanic mountain that loomed over the city.

NPR: Excerpt: 'Natives and Exotics'

Rucu Pichincha, who was Mama Cotacachi's former lover, found out about the liaison and decided to punish her by taking away their child, Guagua Pichincha.

BBC: Scaling the Ecuadorean Andes

The next step is to hop on a TeleferiQo cable car and ride up the slopes of Mt Pichincha, the active volcano that overlooks Quito.

BBC: Scaling the Ecuadorean Andes

Ongoing renovations at the hotel will see the introduction of electronic window blinds in all rooms (all of which have excellent views of either the Cotopaxi or Pichincha volcanoes) and renewed local art.

BBC: Business trip: Quito

High up at the barren, lunar peak, while the Indians and mules waited behind in the mist, Humboldt in his black boots and yellow velvet jacket stepped to the rim of Pichincha's crater.

NPR: Excerpt: 'Natives and Exotics'

From the arrival platform at roughly 4, 000 metres it takes a couple of hours to hike up to the Pichincha's summit, Rucu ("old person" in the local Quechua language) just below 4, 700 metres.

BBC: Scaling the Ecuadorean Andes