Margarita Island Things To Do

Christopher Columbus discovered Margarita Island on his third voyage in 1498. Located in the Caribbean coastline, north of Venezuela, Margarita Island is a popular vacation destination by Venezuelans and by visitors from all over the world. Named as 'Pearl of the Caribbean', due to its rich oyster beds with beautiful pink, unusually shaped pearls, this island has numerous beaches and some excellent locations for windsurfing.

Great for: beaches, windsurfing and duty free shopping
Location: Venezuela, South America
Population: 420,000
Size: 365 sq miles
Largest city: Porlamar
Airport: Del Caribe International Gen. Santiago Marino Airport, Porlamar, PMV
Language: Spanish
Time zone: UTC -4
Country code: 58

Did you know?
With many nearby, smaller islands Margarita Island forms the Venezuelan state of Nueva Esparta. The state capital, La Asunción, is located on Margarita Island.

Margarita Island is a diverse destination, a Caribbean feel blended with big city living and modern life's amenities. You can enjoy one of the many beaches, spend the day shopping at one of the shopping malls and dine at some of the finest restaurants. 

There are more than 70 beaches on Margarita Island. El Yaque is considered by many sport enthusiasts as one of the best places for windsurfing and a perfect place for beginners too. Playa El Agua is the most popular place among national and international tourists and Playa Parguito is the beach of surfers, just to name a few of the favorites.

The Spanish explorers left their mark all over the island. Remains of the Spanish colonial architecture give Margarita Island its character and charm. Founded in 1561 La Asunción, the island’s capital and the oldest settlement, is a cultural town with a cathedral, museums and the ancient fort of Santa Rosa. It is one of the best places to spot the colonial architecture of the island. Another city filled with colonial buildings is the city of Pampatar. Here you can find large shopping malls, exclusive restaurants and happening bars too.

Beaches

Points of Interest

There are lots of beaches to explore on Margarita Island; sporty types can enjoy surfing, sailing, windsurfing, kite surfing, horseback riding, tennis and golf, while water enthusiasts can snorkel and scuba dive.

Beaches:

Playa El Agua - One of the most popular beaches of the island. Many locals and tourists alike visit this gorgeous seashore.

Playa Caribe - A popular white-sand beach.

Playa Punta Arenas - A popular beach with fine sand and warm water.

Playa La Pared - Another popular beach with fine sands and warm waters.

Points of Interest:

Playa La Restinga, Restinga Lagoon - A national park with flamingo, parrot and pelican habitats. It also features canals lined with mangrove trees.

El Yaque - The best place for windsurfing and kite surfing.

Cubagua Island - Great for diving and snorkeling.

La Asunción - The island's capital is the oldest settlement. It has a cathedral, several museums and an ancient fortress, named Fort of Santa Rosa.

Porlamar - The largest city on Margarita Island. Great shopping and fine dining.

• All Americans are required to present a passport to enter and re-enter the United States.
• Non-U.S. citizens, please contact the nearest consulate or embassy of the country to which you are traveling to determine your entry/visa requirements.
• Passport, visa and travel advisory information may be found at the U.S. Department of State's Venezuela pages. Although most travel to international destinations is completed without incident, Caribbean-TravelDeals.com urges passengers to review travel prohibitions, warnings, announcements and advisories prior to booking.