Beaches

For good beaches check out Playa El Agua (3 mile beach and plenty of bars). There is also Playa Guacuco and Playa Cardon but they do not have much in the way of facilities.
There is a nudist beach at Playa La Piel near Juangriego.
If you want wind surfing try Playa El Yaque near the airport.

Nightlife

You probably would be better off in a resort in Porlamar. This is the largest city with plenty of shops, but there isn't much in the way of beaches there.

Museums & Galleries

These are mostly in the Capital, La Asuncion but there is a Marine Museum just across in the Macanao peninsular and the Francisco Narvaes Contemporary Art Museum in Porlamar.
There are also many Forts scattered around the coast and Castillo de Santa Rosa at La Asuncion.

Language

The primary language is Spanish (South American). However like most tourist areas, English is widely spoken.
Expect to also run into people from Germany, Holland and Italy plus tourists from Sweden. You may also come across one of the numerous indigenous dialects.

Culture

Ethnic groups:   Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenous people.

Religions:   nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%

Animals and Plants:

Mammals include Capuchin monkeys, Armadillos, Opossums, Deer, Bats, Cottontails, Squirrels, Whales and Dolphin.

Birds include Hummingbirds, Parakeets, Parrots, Pelicans, Cormorants, Flamingos, Falcons, Hawks, Egrets, Herons, Plovers, Flycatchers, Oyster-catchers, Terns, Cuckoos, Mockingbirds, Yellow Oreoles and Frigate birds.

There are also lizards including Iguana and turtles, some small scorpions (in Macanao), tarantulas (in Cerro el Copey National Park), sea-horses (La Restinga), and several kinds of ants (watch out for the really small ones).

If you are interested in butterflies and moths then check out the Harold Skinner Collection (Urb. "Playa El Angel" Calle Coro Coro, No. C-19)

If you are interested in marine life then check out the Museo Marino de Margarita (Laguna Boca de Rio, Macanao)

Plants include Mangrove, Coconut trees, Mango, Sugar cane, many kinds of cactus including Aloe vera.

There are National Parks at Cerro El Copey near La Asuncion and Laguna de la Restinga. At Restinga you can get a boat the takes you around the mangroves where they fish out starfish and seahorses to show you.

Pearls

The name Margarita can be translated as pearl and the original attraction of the island to the spanish was the pearls. There is still a pearl trade but be aware that these are natural pearls as opposed to cultured pearls. As such they are often miss-shaped and of variable colour.

The larger and rounder the pearl then the higher the value. You will find many people walking up and down the beaches, particularly Playa El Agua, trying to sell you all sorts of things, sun-glasses, paintings, soapstone statuettes (watch your weight limit) and various kinds of bracelets and necklaces including pearl.

As with any such place, they will be trying to sell these at many times the cost price to themselves. Depending on size and quality expect to pay from £10 to £25 for a natural pearl necklace.

Excursions and Activities

As with any island in the caribbean you can find sailing, fishing and scuba diving. El Yaque is world famous for windsurfing.
For those that like shopping, the free-port status means that duty-free items are available together with local handicrafts like hammocks, baskets, pearls and pottery.

In addition there are museums, historical buildings and forts, restaurants, clubs, discos, and casinos. If that isn't enough there is micro-light flying or horse riding.

The Westerly half of the island is the Peninsula de Macanao, this is poorly developed and more arid than the east side. There is horse-riding and secluded beaches but the roads are poorer and a 4x4 is highly recommended, preferably with air conditioning.

If you want to go to other areas there are excursions to other nearby island or to mainland attractions such as Angel Falls.

Many if not all of these can be booked before going but be aware that any prices you see advertised on the internet are likely to be higher than the going rate. Until you actually go there and shop around you don't know how cheap things can be, and many will take advantage of that.

You can find many vendors of excursions on Margarita island, check at hotels, with your tour guide if you have one, or check along the beach-side shops at Playa El Agua.

Geography Climate

There is a series of islands below the hurricane belt. From west to east there are:
Aruba, Curacao and Belair (all dutch), Margarita and then Trinidad & Tobago. There is little rainfall and when it does rain it is mainly at night.

Margarita is not a volcanic island so no gray beaches or steep walks up from the beach. It is more a splinter from the mainland, the climate is desert-like with many cactuses including aloe-vera. It is shaped rather like two islands joined by a causeway with the eastern half being more developed.

History

Discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1498, Margarita was soon an important supplier of pearls and became fortified accordingly. The influx of European settlers from 1520 brought the usual supply of diseases which reduced the native indian population.

In 1814 Margarita became the first territory of Venezuela (meaning little Venice) to be freed from the Spanish Crown. This was largely due to the efforts of Simon Bolivar who was confirmed as Commander in Chief of the new Republic of La Gran Colombia (Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador).

He went on to liberate the rest of Venezuela together with Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru from the Spanish. In recognition of the services rendered by Simon Bolivar, the official name of Venezuela is the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and their currency is the Bolivar.

Margarita is now a Duty-free island which makes it a favorite holiday area for other Venezuelans.

Political

Venezuela became independent in 1821 and a republic in 1830. A period of dictatorships followed until the first democratically elected president in 1947. Since 1959, Venezuela has been a relatively stable democracy.

The oil boom of the early 1970s was of benefit to Venezuela who nationalized foreign-owned oil and steel companies in 1976, giving compensation. Dependency on oil caused problems when prices fell.

There were two unsuccessful attempt at a military coup in 1992. Then in 1994 half of the country's banking sector collapsed. Since then gold and diamond mining has been expanded, there have been political and economic reforms and the constitution was re-writ en in July 1999.

Leftist president Hugo Chavez who took office in 1999 is loved by many (generally the poor due to social spending programs) and hated by many (generally the rich). His friendship with Castro of Cuba has irked the USA leading to a loss of trade with them.

Irresponsible mining operations have endangered the rain forest and indigenous peoples but there does seem to be increased awareness of environmental issues.

Crime

There is of course some crime everywhere. Margarita is fairly safe. There is some vandalism though graffiti seems mostly political.

Alcohol is cheap and the police make regular checks on drivers to make sure they don't have a bottle in their hand. Perhaps the most worrying sign is the precautions that property owners resort to, it is common to see broken glass on the top of walls, or barbed wire fences and even electric fences

There is some drugs produced in Venezuela but much more produced in Columbia and 'exported' via Venezuela this includes Margarita Island

Water

Water is piped across from the mainland and distributed by a growing network of pipes and by tanker.

The water is not recommended for drinking as it is but can be filtered or otherwise purified. Bottled drinking water is readily available as are bottles of local beer (Polar or Brahma).

Houses and Condominiums have their own water tanks though if you are thinking of buying a condo check that the size of the tank is adequate. There is a problem that some condominiums under-estimated the size of the tank they would need and may have rationing or poor reliability of supplies.

Getting there

For all-inclusive packages, check first with 'First Choice' but these are generally thursday to thursday. If you want to check for cheaper flights and can't find Margarita Island listed by a particular carrier then check for Porlamar, Venezuela (Airport code PMV).

You would be advised to avoid changing at Caracas but if you have to and decide to leave the airport, make sure you use yellow cabs as there are some 'pirates' operating that will just drive you off somewhere quiet and rob you! Rest assured, Margarita is not like that however.

Read the local newspapers

El Sol de Margarita Local Newspaper - good advertiser
Diario Caribazo Local Newspaper
La Hora - Local Newspaper
El Nacional - Venezuelan Newspaper
Daily Journal - Venezuelan Newspaper in English

If you are looking at property, the exchange rate is about 3800 bolivars to the pound. Prices are often quoted in US dollars or euros but the transactions have to be carried out in bolivars. 'For sale by owner' is the norm and everything is negotiable.

The English tend to prefer the area known as Costa Azul but Urb.Jorge Coll and Urb.Maneiro are also favored. Condominiums are better for security but if you want a 'Casa' then Juangriego is said to be safest.

If you are going to read the classifieds then there are a few words you need to know:-
A convenir ......................................... To agree
Agua ................................................... Water
Alquiler ............................................... Rent(al)
A Estrenar .......................................... Newly available
Aire acondicionado (a.a.) ................... Air-Conditioned
Amoblado ........................................... Furnished
Ascensor ............................................ Alevator
Baños ................................................. Bathrooms
Buscar ................................................ Seek, Search
Busqueda por ..................................... Search by
Cancha tenis ..................................... Tennis Court
Casa ................................................... House
Cocina ................................................ Kitchen
Cocina Empotrada (c/e) .................... Fitted Kitchen
Comedor ............................................ Dining room
Contrato abogado .............................. Contract lawyer
En preventa ....................................... Under Offer
Entrega .............................................. Delivery
Estacionamiento ................................ Parking
Facilidades de financiamiento ........... Finance Facilities
Frente ................................................ Front
Habitaciones ...................................... Rooms
Inmueble ............................................ Real Estate
Inmobiliaria ......................................... Real Estate Office
Lavandero .......................................... Launderer
Mensual .............................................. Monthly
Piscina ............................................... Swimming pool
Piso bajo ............................................ Ground Floor
Playa .................................................. Beach
Precios inigualables .......................... Matchless prices
Preventas .......................................... Presales
Proyectos .......................................... Projects
Puesto ............................................... Position
Sala ................................................... Room
Seguridad .......................................... Security
Sólo ................................................... Only
Techado ............................................ Roof
Trabajo .............................................. Work
Venta ................................................. Sale
Vendo ................................................ For Sale
Vigilancia ........................................... Monitoring
Vista al Mar ....................................... Sea View

Failing that, get translation at Translation