Sincholagua gets onto so few hikers' hit lists that if you make it out to this far flung peak it means you're probably well on your way to becoming a veteran of the Ecuadorian wilderness.
Quito does a good job of teasing visitors with its stunning views of snow capped mountains in every direction. But between tackling the likes of Cotopaxi and Antisana, there are a few good day hikes within a stone throw of the capital to get acclimatised like Pasochoa.
No, there are no guinea pigs at Cuicocha, at least not that I could see. The name comes from the islands in the middle of this picturesque crater lake that look a bit like a pair of guinea pigs (Cuicocha is Kichwa for “guinea pig lake”) .