[3] Due to its close proximity to Cotopaxi, the second highest peak in Ecuador and the most popular volcano, it is far less frequently visited compared to other mountains in the country.

The climb is of moderate difficulty and takes an estimated three hours and thirty minutes to reach the summit from base camp with ideal weather conditions.

[3] On 3 May 1995 a private Gulfstream II aircraft operated by American Jet, inbound from Buenos Aires via La Paz, selected the wrong VOR frequency during a nighttime approach to Quito's Mariscal Sucre Airport; the jet flew 12 miles (19 km) further south than it should have, striking Sincholagua at 16,000 feet (4,900 m).

Amongst those killed was Argentine YPF's CEO and president José Estenssoro, who had led privatization efforts under Carlos Menem; Juan Pedrals Gili, the Spanish-born general manager of Chilean ENAP as well as Manfred Hecht Mittersteiner, chief of production at ENAP's international subsidiary Sipetrol.

[7][8][9] Accompanying Estensoro was the controversial economist Ricardo Zinn, who worked as viceminister of economy and finances during the government of Isabel Perón in 1975, and is considered the architect of the radical adjustment program known as the Rodrigazo.