Margarita Island Info
Oct 22nd, 2002, 07:29 AM
#1
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Margarita Island Info
Planning on going this December for 1 week - been hearing horrid stories about the beaches being polluted and you can't go swimming - can anyone confirm this for me. Also like to the know the approx. cost of flying to Angel Falls. Thanks in advance.
Oct 22nd, 2002, 08:20 AM
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9-AH: I go every year to Margarita Island, and those horrid stories are wrong. There are maybe some poluted beaches near the main city ( Porlamar), but the majority of the great beaches of the island are wonderful: 1.- Playa el Agua, 2.- Playa Parguito.3.- La Restinga 4.- Punta Arenas 5.- Puerto Cruz 6.- El Yaque is world famous for windsurfing. Any of the above are recommended, and many more are non polluted.<BR>Check www.ilemargarita-venezuela.com for details of the island and excursions<BR>to angel falls or los roques ( if you have time don´t miss it). <BR>Any other question is welcome. Enjoy!<BR>
May 22nd, 2005, 02:30 AM
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Anytime of year is the perfect time to visit Margarita. The beaches are wonderful! The weather doesn't change much at all from month to month and it doesn't get any of the storms. It's always about perfect.
The places that seem to have any negative factors are around the city, like anywhere else in the world. The best part is that if by chance there is a bad day at one beach due to excessive seaweed, marine life or what not, you can just go to another one and you WILL find a perfect one for everyday of your stay.
Remember, it's paradise but it's still on Earth so you will find natures quirks turning up every now and then. I've never personally seen a jellyfish problem and I know for a fact that there are only a very few beaches around the city that are 'brown' beaches, polluted ones.
Also, Angel Falls is a great trip but MANY people who pay for it never actually see the Falls as it's a fly-by only and if there is any inclement weather the pilot won't go anywhere near it. You do however get to Sabo Falls where you walk a bit, even behind the waterfall. If you're going just to see Angel Falls there is a good chance you may be disappointed. It rains alot on the mainland. The Island gets it's rain mostly during the night. Seldom during the day.
The places that seem to have any negative factors are around the city, like anywhere else in the world. The best part is that if by chance there is a bad day at one beach due to excessive seaweed, marine life or what not, you can just go to another one and you WILL find a perfect one for everyday of your stay.
Remember, it's paradise but it's still on Earth so you will find natures quirks turning up every now and then. I've never personally seen a jellyfish problem and I know for a fact that there are only a very few beaches around the city that are 'brown' beaches, polluted ones.
Also, Angel Falls is a great trip but MANY people who pay for it never actually see the Falls as it's a fly-by only and if there is any inclement weather the pilot won't go anywhere near it. You do however get to Sabo Falls where you walk a bit, even behind the waterfall. If you're going just to see Angel Falls there is a good chance you may be disappointed. It rains alot on the mainland. The Island gets it's rain mostly during the night. Seldom during the day.
Feb 16th, 2006, 12:40 AM
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If you go to Margarita, you have to visit "La Restinga". It's a national park. Natural canals that you visit by boat. At the end of the boat trip, you get to a beach where you can have lunch on one of the beach restaurants. You can rent a car, or visit the island by taxi. "La Asunción" is the capital, but it's a small town. "Porlamar" is the tourist/comercial capital with stores, hotels, nightclubs, and restaurants. Porlamar is on the coast; La Asunción isn't.
Feb 22nd, 2006, 07:32 AM
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Author: jedivader
Date: 02/08/2006, 01:25 pm
Headed to Isla Margarita for one of my cruise stops. Just wanted to get some do's & don'ts.
Should I rent a car?
Hi jedivader,
If you're coming on a cruise stop you may not have enough time to rent a car and you may not even want to leave the port El Guamache.
This link on Fodor's has lots of info about El Guamache. Check towards the last postings.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34729306
Driving in Venezuela - The maximum velocity in most Venezuelan roads is 80 kmph (55mph), but speed limits are not widely enforced. Although most highways are in good condition, roads in the countryside may have potholes which can be dangerous at high speeds. Also, farm animals and wildlife cross roads frequently in these parts-- drive with caution. Venezuelans are known to make their own rules when they get behind the wheel. Most drivers consider the symbolic references of traffic lights as mere suggestions-- so be careful when crossing an intersection, even when your light is green! Always use taxis belonging to a legitimate Taxi company. PLEASE >>> Do not accept rides from people in unmarked vehicles using their cars for a taxi just to be on the safe side. Please use your seat belts, and remember to drive on the right-hand side of the road. The rule of thumb is that the right-of-way belongs to whoever gets their vehicle's 'nose' out in the intersection first.
You can also call a highly recommeded taxi driver I personally have used many many times...Andres Patete from Margarita Mar Taxi service or another English speaking driver Nelson Mazzei. If you need the cell numbers please contact me. I'll be glad to get these numbers to you if you want them.
Don't be afraid to rent a car while you are on vacation on Margarita. The roads are clean and clear and there are gas station everywhere all over the island. They have BP, PDV and Texco gas stations. All you have to do show them the grade of gas you want and point to the one you want and say full. Or you can try saying sin plomo to the attendants it means unleaded and say "full sin plomo por favor". It's easy to pay since you can see it on the pump and give the attendant the correct amount of bolivars.
Renting a car is not essential, but it does make it easier around Margarita. Budget (tel. 0800/283-4381 or 0295/269-1047; www.budget.com.ve), Hertz ( www.hertz.com), and Margarita Rentals (tel. 0295/263-2711) all have offices at the airport. Also Losan Motors is a car dealership here on the island but also has car rentals. At the moment they are offering a small car for about bs 83,000 per day with insurance included. The more days you have the car rental for, the cheaper the total fee will be. Budget offers a smaller Chevorlet for about bs 102,000 per day. Rental pick up can be as early as 7:00 am. Returns have to be at the same time the next day or on the day you decide to finish using the car. It costs $30 to $70 per day to rent a car.
Losan Motors- Isla de Margarita - Main Office Porlamar (0295) 263.9420 / 8:00 a.m.til 12:00 p.m. then from 2:00 p.m. til 6:00 p.m.
Also if you're at the airport in Margarita you can choose from several car rental places to choose from. City Rentals offers the cheapest but great service I think and there is a new car rental place called Bakho's... higher priced cars but of course they offer luxury cars to rent. They are new on the island and they even offer free transportation in their brand new limousine from the airport to their car rental store in Porlamar. Here's their site url: http://www.bakhosrental.com the store is located in Los Robles area in Margarita.
Date: 02/08/2006, 01:25 pm
Headed to Isla Margarita for one of my cruise stops. Just wanted to get some do's & don'ts.
Should I rent a car?
Hi jedivader,
If you're coming on a cruise stop you may not have enough time to rent a car and you may not even want to leave the port El Guamache.
This link on Fodor's has lots of info about El Guamache. Check towards the last postings.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34729306
Driving in Venezuela - The maximum velocity in most Venezuelan roads is 80 kmph (55mph), but speed limits are not widely enforced. Although most highways are in good condition, roads in the countryside may have potholes which can be dangerous at high speeds. Also, farm animals and wildlife cross roads frequently in these parts-- drive with caution. Venezuelans are known to make their own rules when they get behind the wheel. Most drivers consider the symbolic references of traffic lights as mere suggestions-- so be careful when crossing an intersection, even when your light is green! Always use taxis belonging to a legitimate Taxi company. PLEASE >>> Do not accept rides from people in unmarked vehicles using their cars for a taxi just to be on the safe side. Please use your seat belts, and remember to drive on the right-hand side of the road. The rule of thumb is that the right-of-way belongs to whoever gets their vehicle's 'nose' out in the intersection first.
You can also call a highly recommeded taxi driver I personally have used many many times...Andres Patete from Margarita Mar Taxi service or another English speaking driver Nelson Mazzei. If you need the cell numbers please contact me. I'll be glad to get these numbers to you if you want them.
Don't be afraid to rent a car while you are on vacation on Margarita. The roads are clean and clear and there are gas station everywhere all over the island. They have BP, PDV and Texco gas stations. All you have to do show them the grade of gas you want and point to the one you want and say full. Or you can try saying sin plomo to the attendants it means unleaded and say "full sin plomo por favor". It's easy to pay since you can see it on the pump and give the attendant the correct amount of bolivars.
Renting a car is not essential, but it does make it easier around Margarita. Budget (tel. 0800/283-4381 or 0295/269-1047; www.budget.com.ve), Hertz ( www.hertz.com), and Margarita Rentals (tel. 0295/263-2711) all have offices at the airport. Also Losan Motors is a car dealership here on the island but also has car rentals. At the moment they are offering a small car for about bs 83,000 per day with insurance included. The more days you have the car rental for, the cheaper the total fee will be. Budget offers a smaller Chevorlet for about bs 102,000 per day. Rental pick up can be as early as 7:00 am. Returns have to be at the same time the next day or on the day you decide to finish using the car. It costs $30 to $70 per day to rent a car.
Losan Motors- Isla de Margarita - Main Office Porlamar (0295) 263.9420 / 8:00 a.m.til 12:00 p.m. then from 2:00 p.m. til 6:00 p.m.
Also if you're at the airport in Margarita you can choose from several car rental places to choose from. City Rentals offers the cheapest but great service I think and there is a new car rental place called Bakho's... higher priced cars but of course they offer luxury cars to rent. They are new on the island and they even offer free transportation in their brand new limousine from the airport to their car rental store in Porlamar. Here's their site url: http://www.bakhosrental.com the store is located in Los Robles area in Margarita.
