Many indigenous people live in Quilotoa and the surrounding area. Although I could communicate with most people in Spanish, Quechua is the first language for many people. The word "Quilotoa" itself comes from the Quechua words "quiro" (tooth) and toa (queen). Quilotoa got it's name from its sharply-ridged volcantic crater that apprears like a "Queen's Tooth".
As with other parts of Ecuador, people in Quilotoa use the US Dollar!
Yet again, I relied on my trusty filtered water bottle! This bottle never leaves my side.
After we got off of the third and final bus on the journey to get to Quilotoa, I was super hungry. Thankfully, the owners of the hostel where I was staying had prepared a delicious meal for me and my friends. The usual rice and vegetables tasted even better because I was so happy to finally be in the mountains. My favortie part of the meal was the fried plantain, which was sweet and delicious. Plantains are really popular here and they can be cooked to be either sweet or savory.
