M. von Humboldt had promised Baudin, that, if ever the projected expedition destined for the southern hemisphere were put into execution, he would join it: accordingly, when a report reached him that the ships had sailed from France, with instructions to double Cape Horn and touch on the coasts of Chili and Peru, he immediately left Cuba to cross South America, in order to meet the French navigator. And it was not till he reached Quito, that he learned that captain Baudin's expedition had taken a different course, and was to circumnavigate the globe from west to east.

In March, 1801, Humboldt and his friend Bonpland arrived from Cuba at Carthagena, with the intention of ascending to Santa Fé de Bogota, the capital of New Granada, and to cross from thence to the elevated plains of Quito. But preparatory to this long journey, and to avoid the heats of Carthagena, they resided at the beautiful village of Turbaco, which is situated among the hills, at the height of 1200 feet above the ocean. The Indians who attended our travellers in their herbalisations often told them of a marshy country, situated amidst a forest of palm trees, and called the Little Volcanoes. They related that, according to traditions still existing among them, this country had been formerly in flames; but that a very pious man had succeeded in extinguishing the subterraneous fire, by sprinkling it with holy water.