Corazón volcano, Stratovolcano in Pichincha Province, Ecuador.

Corazón is an inactive, eroded stratovolcano in the western Andes of Ecuador, about 30 km southwest of Quito, reaching 4,790 m. Its bulk is the steep, deeply incised western flank of an extinct volcano, and nine glaciers drape the western face, moving down the mountain and shaping the surrounding landscape.

The volcano last erupted during the Pleistocene epoch and has been dormant ever since. In 1738, French scientists Pierre Bouguer and Charles-Marie de La Condamine made the first recorded ascent as part of their geodesic mission in the Andes.

The volcano takes its name from two deep ravines on its eastern side, Verde and Mortiño, which together form the shape of a heart when seen from above. This natural feature has shaped how local people refer to the mountain and how it is recognized across the region.

Because of its accessible location and moderate technical difficulty, the mountain is often used by hikers and students as an acclimatization route before attempting higher Andean summits. The approach lies about 30 km southwest of Quito, so plan for a long day and allow time to adapt to the altitude before climbing higher peaks.

The name Corazón does not come from the mountain's outline, as many assume, but from two long ravines on its eastern side, Verde and Mortiño, whose courses trace a heart shape on the slope. The ravines are best picked out on the eastern face above the approach valleys.