Isla Margarita

Venezuelans are enormously fond of the island they call the Perla del Caribe, or the "pearl of the Caribbean." Its status as a duty-free port and its proximity to the mainland make it the top vacation spot for Venezuelans. Come here to explore miles of white sandy beaches, glittering hotels and restaurants, vibrant nightlife, and 16th-century forts and national parks, all of which have transformed Isla Margarita into an increasingly popular destination for other travelers as well.

Isla Margarita is split into two sections linked by an 18-km (11-mi) spit of sand. Most of the island's 400,000 residents occupy the more developed eastern half, especially the bustling city of Porlamar and adjoining Pampatar. Others are found in the much smaller city of La Asunción, the capital of the region that also encompasses the neighboring islands of Coche and Cubagua.

Margarita's Main Beaches

Playa El Agua: Easily the most famous and crowded beach on the island, palm-lined Playa El Agua is a remarkable stretch of fine white sand that runs along the coast a short drive north of Pampatar. For much of its 4-km (2-mi) length, restaurants and bars lure sunbathers with blaring salsa music and ice-cold beers. In high season this is the place to show off your bikini, not to relax.

Playa Manzanillo: Hungry for some fresh fish soup? This is a fishermen's bay on the north side of the island, complete with shacks selling cold beer and good seafood overlooking bobbing wooden boats and tangles of rope and net. Though it's not the best spot on the island for swimming, it is good for a dip and a lazy afternoon punctuated with photo ops and yummy snack from the sea.

Playa Pampatar: You'll most certainly pass by this stretch of sand when you go to downtown Pampatar to visit the sights and have a meal at one of the popular restaurants along the main drag. Also home to many fishermen, the beach has a positively lovely view.

Playa Parguito: Laid-back but still quite popular, this is the stretch of beach south of Playa El Agua that surfers love to frequent. It's basically a smaller version of Playa El Agua, offering restaurants, bumpin' music, and a bit of a scene.

Playa Puerto Cruz: Two massive hotels reign over this exquisite, if sometimes choppy, beach: Dunes and Hesperia. There's a short uphill walk to a lighthouse on one end of the beach, and a delicious ½-mi of sand that begs to be walked. You could spend days here.

Playa El Yaque: Close to the airport, this southern-side beach is windsurfer and kite-surfer central—in fact, it's internationally known for its smooth surface and high winds. It's a great place to people-watch and take a stroll, but, not surprisingly, the swimming's not great.

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