Lake Arenal, Costa Rica

About this assignment

I'm looking for a responsible person or couple to take care of my two dogs, mind the house and water plants the while we're away. Although Costa Rica is generally quite safe and the Lake Arenal area in particular is quiet and secure, break-ins do occur when houses are left unattended. House-sitters are welcome to make day trips to the many scenic and adventurous destinations nearby, with the request that they are home by 7 pm nightly. Good communication between homeowner and sitter, preferably via WhatsApp, will be greatly appreciated in the case of any concerns. Beyond that, relax, enjoy and make yourself at home in this lovely corner of the world!

Temporary note! Construction is underway on an apartment nearby the house. The roof is up and most walls are installed, so the noisiest work is behind us. However, please be aware that the crew of 4 guys — all very nice and generally very quiet with no music or loud voices, will work every week day 7 am to 5 pm. There’s no need to interact with them if you’d prefer not to. They will come and go and manage everything they need on their own.

What responsibilities are required of the house sitter

Most important is to take good care for my two dogs, Bruno and Tandi   Bruno is a large, 6 year old  Doberman and an easy-going, fun-loving  sweetheart.   Tandi is also about 6 years-old and is a typical mid-sized Costa Rican mix of shepherd and maybe cattle dog.  She is also a sweetie and well-behaved, with the exception that she craves attention and paws at visitors to receive it   This is her third home, after early life neglect and she's overall a little more anxious than Bruno   I'll leave an anti-anxiety med here that can be given to her in case of heavy thunderstorms. But again, she is a sweet girl who wants most of all to be loved. The dogs are used to eating once in the morning and once in the evening, and to spending the day lounging indoors or on the potash, and to sleeping inside at night. Both dogs love to go on walks, and fortunately there’s a quiet country road passing by my house that takes you on a 10 min walk right to the shore of scenic and beautiful Lake Arenal.  Willingness to take the dogs on a daily walk is a plus, first on leashes and later off-leash if you are comfortable with that.  Calling all dog lovers! Bruno and Tandi will be great companions during your stay! here!

In addition to caring for the dogs, house sitters are asked to water plants on the porch and a few indoor plants, to generally take good care of the house, and to communicate with me promptly, preferably via WhatsApp, if any concerns should arise regarding the house or dogs. Mowing and gardening will be done by our regular guys, who you'll need to allow onto the property. And if you are amenable to it, I’d like to have my usual house cleaner come in once a week to do a general cleaning at my expense. She’s been with me 8 years and is 100% trustworthy. If you speak Spanish, she’s also a great person to talk with about the area and local culture.

What are the good features of the property and location

Located above beautiful Lake Arenal, with tall palms and a lovely, mature garden you can enjoy from the wide porch or from multiple expansive windows. Within 45 minutes of many tourist attractions at popular La Fortuna - hot springs resorts of all price ranges, a hot flowing river, waterfalls, sloth tours, chocolate tours, hanging bridges hikes, and much more. Our nearby town of Nuevo Arenal is just 10 minutes away and offers excellent restaurants, bank, pharmacy, groceries, etc. This is a vibrant expat community with many activities -- pickle ball, tennis, hiking, lunches, Spanish classes, and many outgoing folks who'll be glad to welcome you. There are also two paddleboards at the house that you are welcome to take out on the lake.

What does the house sitter need to consider before applying for this assignment

Do you agree to stay in the home every night? If you wish to spend nights at the beach, will you do this before or after your stay here, please?
Will you be home every evening by 7 pm please? You are welcome to host a few new friends for dinner here if you'd like.

Are you ok with a fairly quiet crew of 4 builders working nearby 7 am to 5 pm on weekdays and 7 am - 1 0m some Saturdays? The noise is not bad at this stage, but occasionally you there may be some brief banging or grinding noises that do not last long.

Lastly, please be aware that June and July are often feature thunderstorms in the late afternoon and evening. It’s our rainy season. However, most mornings dawn clear and sunny, with plenty of time to get outside and go exploring and exploring before the clouds roll in during mid to late afternoon.

Can I bring my own pets?

No, sorry.

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