Please come look after my cozy home and 12 year old cat, Charcoal, on the beach in Puerto Cayo, Ecuador. I will be gone for two weeks beginning mid-November and need my plants watered, home occupied and my pet cat, Charcoal, given some food and love. In exchange, you get to stay in a small, private sub-division on the beach and have access to many exciting day excursions. Puerto Cayo is a small, beautiful, tranquil fishing village, where on your morning beach walk you may not even see another person. I am on the northern (quiet) end of town, but you can walk in on the beach or call a taxi, where there are many restaurants available. I do not have a vehicle, but the easy bus system comes right by our development, and I have the schedule and can teach you the ropes. Shopping in major stores are only one hour away to Manta and light shopping only 30 minutes away to Jipijapa or Puerto Lopez. Puerto Cayo is a place where you can buy fresh produce right off the farmer's truck and fish right off the fisherman's boat. There is also a friendly ex-pat community here (I have lots of local friends that will make you feel welcome).
There are many nearby towns and activities within about an hour's ride from Puerto Cayo. Fun nearby towns and day trip sites to see include Puerto Lopez, Montecristi, Pacoche Rain Forest, Los Frailes beach, Agua Blanca and Isla de la Plata ("Poor Man's Gallapegos" island).
You can come and stay a few days before my departure to learn the routines. I am looking for non-smoking, tidy people. I do have a well and whole house water filtration system. Internet and all utilities are provided.
You will have a free 90 day tourist visa to enter Ecuador. This housesit gives you plenty of time left on your visa to explore the wealth of culture and beauty this diverse country has to offer. Quito, Baños and Cuenca are all highlight cities. Other options include Salinas, Vilacabamba, Cotacachi and Otavalo, just to name a few. Ecuador truly has so many climates and cultures all within a short distance of each other. There is plenty to see and do, should you choose to explore.
Here is a reference from my previous pet sitters last year:
Susan and I have done about 45 housesits in the past three years. Sitting for Mary and Charcoal has been one of our highlights. So much so, that we jumped at the chance to sit for them a second time.
Mary is extremely caring and the perfect host. She’s great at communicating and has very helpful advice for taking care of her home, Charcoal and how to get around the area. Charcoal is a low-key and easy to care for cat who loves to be brushed and petted. She’s a joy to sit for. The beach in front of the house is incredible and is probably the best we’ve ever been on because of the sand that stretches for miles and that you rarely see anyone else on it.
Rick and Susan Millette