Guagua = Baby
Pichincha = El bueno que hace llorar or
'The good one that makes you cry'
Guagua = Baby
Pichincha = El bueno que hace llorar or
'The good one that makes you cry'
An eruption in 1660 covered Quito with 40cm of ash and pumice, blotting out the sun for four days. Recent activity has precipitated scientific interest, with the area now being activily monitored.
The first asscent was led by José Ortiguera in 1582.
Various legends have been told about the volcano which scared the inhabitants of Quito off climbing it:
Three friers attempted to climb the volcano, but became lost in thick fog, lost and frightened they found a cave. The bravest went out to investigate the area, and became hopelessly lost. The storm cleared and his two companions went in search of their lost brother. They found him kneeling in prayer on the summit. Happily they rushed to him, but found that he had been turned to stone. Today Pichincha’s third highest peak, at 4500m is named El Padre Encantado (The Bewitched Priest).
Guagua One day: Transport to the refuge if possible, takes two hours and from there it is just three hours round trip to the two summits. You can see the immense crater in all its beauty and smell the sulfur. Ususally it is possible to see steam escaping from fumeroles on the lava dome.
Note: Pichincha is a mountain we recommend doing with an organized tour do to robbery and safety risks.
Warning: Access to the crater is currently restricted due to activity and has been since July 1999.