Official Language:
Spanish
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Currency:
Bolivar
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Population:
Approximately 300,000 people call Isla de Margarita home.
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Weather:
Climate and current weather information for Isla de Margarita Venezuela: The island is out of the hurricane belt making it a year-round destination. Even in the summer months when the temperature may reach 100°F/37°C the cooling breezes keep the climate very liveable.
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Cruise ships dock at the Puerto de la Mar. Taxis are available to take you to Porlamar or the surrounding regions of this scenic island.Bus service connects the main city of Porlamar with the surrounding areas of Isla Margarita. In addition, the island features several taxi companies that can take you to your particular destination. Contact Impacto (tel. 095/61-58-91) to schedule a pickup. Furthermore, you can rent a car while on the island. Contact Hertz (tel. 095/61-42-09) or Budget (095/61-64-13).
visit to the island of Margarita is a splendid journey into the past, and provides a glimpse into a successful and relatively independent island nation. Porlamar is the largest city on Isla Margarita, and it is a lovely city full of grasslands and great dining. In total, Margarita is 363 square miles, and is by definition a Caribbean Island, because it is surrounded by the Caribbean Sea on all sides. Located 23 miles northeast of mainland Venezuela, this is one of the most glorious islands anywhere. Because of rampant tourism in the area, in recent years Margarita has become a lot more modernized, but the culture of the island remains intact. One of the most splendid aspects of Margarita is that, while the region has been built up significantly, everything that has been constructed has added to the quality of the island. There are enough fine restaurants and shopping complexes to keep you happy for days. Historic sites such as Ports Church and Castillo de San Carlos Borromeo are fascinating, and Mother Nature has provided a number of gorgeous outdoor spots, as well. The Parque Nacional Laguna De La Restinga is a protected habitat on Margarita that is a bird sanctuary and a great place to hike. If you enjoy water sports and outdoor activities, Margarita is the ideal destination, as everyday seems like a holiday in this tropical dreamland. The weather is lovely, with the average daytime temperature in the mid-to-high 80?s year round, so grab you suntan lotion and have a blast.
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Attractions |
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The Paris Church in La Pampatar was built in the 18th century and is a magnificent edifice that stands tall amongst the island trees. The architecture is remarkable, and the Paris Church took years to complete.
Parque Nacional Laguna De La Restinga can be found in Juangriego and is an exquisite bird habitat and national park. People from all over the island gather here on the weekends to socialize and throw parties, as it is one of the most beautiful locations on Margarita. If you have any interest in birds at all, then be sure to explore the grounds, as you will marvel at gorgeous cormorants, pelicans, and scarlet ibis.
Castillo de San Carlos Borromeo in Pampatar was built in the 1660?s, and is a spectacular fort that was used by the Spanish military. They were stationed here for years during a number of conflicts with invaders, and you can see fabulous artifacts throughout the fort, including weapons, paintings, and coats of arms from the period.
Beaches in Isla de Margarita
Margarita Island features some incredible beach spots, and one of the most popular is Parguito. The sun shines nearly every day of the year, and there is almost always enough of a breeze for fabulous windsurfing. El Yaque is known as the best windsurfing beach on Margarita Island. Another outstanding beach is Guacuco, and this spot is popular with surfers because of the ideal wave conditions. The white sand and crystal blue water of El Agua attract tourists from all over the world.
El Agua Beach is Margarita’s longest, widest, busiest and most serviced beach. El Agua is 4 Km long, 30m wide, golden sand lined with huge palm trees, and beneath them, restaurants that extend all along the waterfront. El Agua’s most common beach activities are: To walk along the water’s edge, to drink cocktails, to eat fresh sea food, to watch the exhibition of Venezuelan bodies and of course to tan in the sun.
Playa ParguitoParguito beach is 900m long and 20m wide. It has strong surf and golden sand. The south east end is more visited and has beautiful palm trees. This is the Surfer’s spot and that’s why it has a young personality. Music is played loudly and there is always a party going on, specially on weekends, holidays and in the Venezuelan’s summer season (July to September).
Manzanillo beach is 900m long and 25m wide. Manzanillo has golden sand, strong surf with deep water 3m from shore. There is no shade and services are limited. At the south western end you can admire the artisan’s wood work in an active shipyard.
Bolivar Square
Make sure to pack lightly so you’ll have room for the bag of goodies and souvenirs that you can snag from this shopping station and popular meeting place. Bolivar Square, in honor of the great liberator Simón Bolivar, is located in Porlamar. The hero liberated five South American countries - Bolivia, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. A statute of the late great decorates the town square, where pigeons flock for handouts. While you’re here, try some island food from any one of the restaurants that line the town square. You must be tastefully dressed to walk the grounds of this popular gathering place. Out of respect for the great Bolivar, anyone wearing a hat, skirt, T-shirt, or shorts is not permitted to penetrate the plaza; they can only walk its outskirts.
Castilla De San Carlos De Borromeo
Margarita Island’s centerpiece has been standing erect from the Bay of Pampatar since the mid to late 1600s. Castilla De San Carlos De Borromeo, built with coral rock under the direction of Capt. Carlos Navarro, is the island’s largest fort.
Castillo De Santa Rosa
Walk the grounds of this highly-esteemed national monument in the capital city of La Asunción. Castillo De Santa Rosa, deemed a national park in 1965, is a historic fort that was once a deadly battleground. The fort, which was built in the early 1680s to shield the city from invaders, covers most of the La Asunción area.
Laguna de la Restinga National Park
The Laguna de la Restinga National Park is rests safely under the protective wings of Margarita Island, which has successfully preserved much of its ecosystem in this 10,000-hectare lagoon. The park - which connects to the Macanao Peninsula - safeguards mangroves, oysters, sea horses and other fish, and birds (namely Flamingos and pelicans). Visitors can access the park by road from La Asunción, or by boat.
Museo Marino (Marine Museum)
This gigantic skeleton of a whale lures onlookers from miles around. The museum, on Boca De Rio, features other types of marine animals that can be found in this part of the world. The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday to Thursday.
Nueva Cadiz Museum and Library
Browse through the handiwork of the islanders, and study artifacts from the 16th century in this life-size time capsule. The Nueva Cadiz Museum and Library, in La Asunción, contains the anchor and cannons from the sunken San Pedro de Alcántara warship that rests on the ocean bed between the Coche and Cubagua Islands. The museum’s molded concrete map of Margarita is a magnet for tourists. The former jail is definitely worth a visit. Visitors are welcomed between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., Tuesday to Thursday.
Church of St. Ana of the North
This historic church in Santa Ana has a collection of religious icons from the Colonial period. The cathedral is acclaimed for its connection to Simón Bolivar. Bolivar was inaugurated as the liberator, or the supreme commander of Venezuela’s independence, at the church.
The Tits of Maria Guevara
Spectators love to peer at the shapely twin hills that emerge from an area between Chacachacare and Punta De Pedra towns. Supposedly, the green hills resemble the breasts of a woman admired by local fishermen, who view the mounds as markers of direction.
Shopping in Jungriegor and Porlamar
Shoppers might want to reserve a day for a duty-free shopping spree in Porlamar. Shopping is great along Marino and 4th of May Avenues and Guevara and Gomez Boulevards. Snag some unique handcrafts, the latest fashions, or authentic pearl jewelry from the busy shopping outlets of Porlamar. Tourists also raid the markets and shops on Larina and Aurora Streets, where you’re guaranteed to find good deals on clothes, jewelry, liquor, perfume, and shoes.
Urbanization Bella Vista
For warm smiles and greetings, escape to bright and cheery Urbanization Bella Vista on Punta El Morro beach. Colorful balloons bejewel the boats that anchor this busy vista, which is a block away from a beautiful residential area decked with colonial-style houses.
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