Let's discover Margarita

Travelling through the Caribbean Sea is a wonderful experience; you can meet new people, discover amazing cultures and enjoy the Caribbean sun.

Have you ever been in Margarita? This lovely island is located in the Venezuelan Caribbean, its nickname is “Pearl of the Caribbean” (La perla del Caribe). Is one the islands that beside to Coche and Cubagua is located in the Venezuelan state of Nueva Esparta, Margarita is the biggest one.

Before traveling to Venezuela

Playa Manzanillo

As you probably have seen in the news, Venezuela has a currency control since 13 years ago, so, if you decide to travel to Margarita you should probably check the exchange rates. There’s an official exchange rate called Simadi (the one used by bureaux de change), but you should also check the black market rate.
Besides the currency control, Venezuela now has a food shortage, if you’re staying at a hotel it won’t be a big problem, but if you decide to stay in a hostel you’ll probably have some problems to find milk, coffee or flour.
Traveling is nice, but you need to be careful, put your wallet in a safe place and don’t put all your money on it.
If you come from outside Venezuela maybe one the stops will be in Maiquetia (close to Caracas), Margarita has its own airport called: Santiago Mariño. Taxi drivers from the airport are identified by their T-Shirts and their license with their name on it.

What can you do in Margarita?

El Yaque

Visiting beaches: If you come to the Caribbean you probably like the beach, so; close to Pampatar you will find Playa Juventud, this is a nice place to stay during the day. There are deep blue waters where you can practice snorkeling.
There’s also a place called Playa Manzanillo close to Porlamar. Water is really cold there but the view is amazing. You can stay there or you can take a boat that takes you to Cabo Negro or Los Frailes, both are really close to Playa Manzanillo.
One the most famous beaches in Margarita is El Yaque, is really close to the airport. El Yaque is known by its ideal conditions to practice windsurfing and kitesurfing. There’s even a movie about it!

Going to malls: There are 3 big malls in Margarita: La Vela, Costa Azul and Sambil. There you can find good food and nice designer stores (Margarita is a tax free place).

Stopping at natural and historical places: In Pampatar, you can find the San Carlos de Borromeo Castle (Castillo San Carlos de Borromeo) it was built between 1664 and 1684, now it’s in remodeling process but you can access and enjoy the amazing view of the Caribbean. If you’re in the mood for visiting natural parks, you can also visit Laguna de la Restinga National Park, which is a really important bird area. This park is between the eastern part of Margarita island and the Macanao Peninsula.

More tips
• Transportation: One of the most important things to remember is: Venezuela is the country with cheapest gas in the world, so, wherever you’re staying or where you want to go, a taxi won’t cost more than $5 (remember to check the exchange rates that I recommend you before).
• Food: Venezuelan food is really tasty, but if you decide to stay in the Caribbean you definitely need to try different kind of fishes: Cazón, Carite, Pargo and fresh shrimps are a must! There’s also a typical dish called: Empanada de Cazón, it’s a kind of fried pastry with Cazón inside. You can combine them with shrimps or any other kind of fish. The mix of flavors is delicious!

Planning to go to Margarita? Let me know about your trip! :D