Isla Margarita
Venezuela · Nueva Esparta · 5 m
Description
Isla Margarita is the largest of the Venezuelan islands and the country's main beach destination, two hilly halves joined by a sand isthmus across a lagoon of mangroves. Playa El Agua on the north coast is the long busy one, while Playa Parguito behind it takes the surf. Pampatar and La Asunción keep Spanish forts built against the buccaneers who came for the island's pearl banks. The Restinga lagoon is crossed by boat through mangrove tunnels. Duty-free shopping has drawn mainland Venezuelans here for decades. The island has been a duty-free zone since 1974, and ferries run over from Puerto La Cruz.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 3 to 10 days (optimal 5 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: December – April
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Playa El Agua
- Laguna de La Restinga by boat
- Duty-free shopping in Porlamar
- Castillo San Carlos Borromeo at Pampatar
- Surfing at Playa Parguito
- La Asunción and the Santa Rosa fort
- Basílica de la Virgen del Valle
- Kitesurfing at El Yaque
- Juangriego sunsets over the bay
- Coche island sandbanks(Day trip)
- Empanadas and fresh fish at the beach stands
Getting there
- Airports:
- PMV
- Seaport:
- Reachable by ship or ferry