Puerto Cayo
Puerto Cayo is a tranquil fishing village in the Coastal Lowlands of Ecuador.
Understand edit
Get in edit
From Manta there are frequent buses from the main terminal ($2.90, 90min.)
Get around edit
Though everything is in a walking distance, there are inexpensive mototaxis ($0.50).
See edit
Do edit
- Isla de la Plata. Isla de la Plata offers some spectacular wildlife like boobies and sea lions. Though it is closer to Puerto Cayo then to Puerto López it is usually accessed from the latter. Very few fishermen in Cayo have a license to dock at the island. Tourists usually don't try to get to Plata from here so you would need to rent out an entire boat which might not be an option for you unless you arrive in a large group.
- Isla de Cayo. Local fishermen can take you the island that you see out on the water towards the south. $5 per person.
- Go Fishing. Local fishermen sometimes offer tourists to take them out with them in the morning when they go fishing. They leave in the early morning and come back by noon. Their boats are not covered so wear a hat, sunglasses, a long-sleeved top and sunscreen.
Buy edit
Eat edit
- Señora Lula (From the northern end of the main square walk uphill for about 400m (0.25mi)). 16:00-21:00. Lula sells freshly prepared empanadas ($0.50) and softdrinks ($0.50) in front of her house and is always happy to chat with customers. The empanadas with plantain filling are spectacular. $0.50.
Drink edit
Sleep edit
- Jhonny (along the Southern part of the beach). He runs a small restaurant behind Restaurante Juliana. Since he only opens at the peak of the high season, he lets backpackers stay in the restaurant all the time while it is closed. He is often drunk but perfectly harmless and might just start chatting with you if you sees you wandering around near the restaurant. $0.
- Camping at a palapa at the beach (At the northern end of the malecón, just south of the river.). There is a palapa where you can pitch a tent. You can use the restrooms and showers of the bar next to it. $2 per person.
Connect edit
- Hostal Los Frailes (on Calle Malecón) runs a restaurant with an excellent WiFi (8MBit upstream.) The owner is well known to be unpleasant with guests and might angrily kick you out without prior warning when he feels that you did not order enough drinks (Pilsener $2.50 + random charges for the WiFi that you can refuse to pay.)
Go next edit
- Puerto López is a short bus ride south. It is a much more lively and touristic town than Puerto Cayo and offers tours to Isla de la Plata and Isla de Salango.