The main language spoken in Ecuador is Spanish. It is recognized as the official language of the country, and comes from the legacy of Spanish colonization that began in the 16th century (the 1500s).
Additionally, there are several indigenous languages spoken here. The most common in the Sierra is Kichwa (or Quichua). There are many indigenous people who still speak Kichwa. Many locations still use the Kichwa names. For example, the first volcano I climbed with my training group was Rumiñahui, which means "stone face" or "rock face". Other locations that still use Kichwa names include Cayambe, Chimborazo, and Cotopaxi, of course.
Ecuador uses the U.S. dollar as the official currency. This makes travel and shopping easy here. You don't have to convert your dollars into another currency or try to calculate how much something costs.
The cost of water obviously depends on the size of the container. I buy big bottles of water for home. A six liter bottle costs $1.80 at the fruteria (fruit shop) near my apartment. Last week, I bought a one liter bottle that costs 60 cents. Buying in bulk is cheaper, but sometimes you just want enough water for lunch. In a restarant, a 500 ml bottle of water will cost up to one dollar.
