Morurco Peak

The Morurco is a rocky peak at the southern face of the Cotopaxi volcano. The peak was left after many eruptions of an ancient volcano near the actual Cotopaxi cone. The Morurco peak was formerly called “Cabeza del Inca” (The Inca Face), according to Humboldt, an appellation of uncertain origin, and founded on a popular tradition that claims this rock was once part of the Cotopaxi. This entire area belongs to the Cotopaxi National Park and has a great beauty, showing everywhere the evident results of intense volcanic activity, with volcanic sand slopes, ancient glacial valleys and the black Morurco rocks showing very inclined and tempting, sometimes covered with snow and ice. Just at 200 meters north of the Morurco, the Cotopaxi south face glaciers rise imposingly, offering on clear days one of the best possible views of this Andean volcano. This was preciselly the route followed by its first conqueror, Wilhelm Reiss, in 1872, just after a powerful eruption he ascended the Cotopaxi south face, accompanied by his butler Angel Escobar and his dog, until reaching the southern section of the Cotopaxi crater, mostly walking on sand and rock drifts.