Answer/Explanation:
Thank you for sharing this interesting story! It seems like the woman in the posada is referring to the legend of El Dorado, a mythical city of gold that was said to exist in the Americas during the time of the Spanish conquest.
Based on her instructions, it seems like the city of El Dorado may be located on the western shore of some body of water, possibly a sea or an ocean, and surrounded by fields of gold and silver. The Cotopaxi mentioned is a real-life active volcano located in Ecuador, which may indicate that the journey to find El Dorado may involve traveling to Ecuador or a nearby region.
However, it's important to remember that the legend of El Dorado is just that - a legend. Many explorers and treasure hunters have searched for the city over the centuries, but no concrete evidence of its existence has ever been found. It's possible that the woman in the posada was simply playing along with the legend, or that she was passing on information that she had heard from others. Ultimately, the true location of El Dorado remains a mystery.