On my first evening at BoutiQuito Hostel, another guest was drinking wine in the common area, and offered me a glass. He had just got to Quito from the USA, and planned to do the route through South America that I have taken, but in reverse, including going through Bolivia and Argentina as I did two years ago. He wanted to know about every place I had been to, as he did not have a strict plan and wanted to choose his destinations based on the recommendations of other travellers. I gave him lots of advice and hostel recommendations, and showed him photos of Peru.
He had been to Colombia before, where I plan to go next, and he told me where to stay in every city he had visited, and suggested how long I should aim to stay in each place. It was great to share stories and advise on BoutiQuito’s comfy sofa.