Isla Margarita
Encyclopedia
Margarita Island is the largest island of the state
of Nueva Esparta
in Venezuela
, situated in the Caribbean Sea
, off the northeastern coast of the country. The state also contains two other smaller islands: Coche and Cubagua
. The capital city of Nueva Esparta is La Asunción
, located in a river valley of the same name in Margarita Island. Primary industries are tourism, fishing and construction. The population of the state is about 440,000.
In 1498, Christopher Columbus
discovered Margarita Island. The local natives, named Guaiqueries, received the conquering Spaniards with open arms unaware that they later would become slaves of their own wealth. Pearls represented almost a third of all New World tribute to the Spanish Crown. Margarita Island had to be fortified against the increasing threat of pirate attacks, and several of these fortifications remain today.
In 1561, the island was seized by Lope de Aguirre
, a notoriously violent and rebellious conquistador
who held the islanders in a grip of terror until he returned to the mainland in an attempt to take Panama
from the Spanish crown.
In 1814, the islanders fought successfully for independence from the Spanish after the collapse of the First Republic of Venezuela. Margarita Island became the first, permanently free territory in Venezuela. That same year, Luisa Cáceres de Arismendi
was detained for over three years in a dark dungeon where she was harassed and abused. The authorities were hoping to put pressure on her husband Juan Bautista Arismendi
, who was fighting for independence. It was on Margarita Island that Simón Bolívar
was confirmed as Commander in Chief of the Venezuelan Republic in 1816. From there he started a nine-year campaign to free Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia from the Spanish Crown.
which also comprises the islands of Coche and Cubagua
. The island is formed by two peninsula
s joined by an isthmus
. It covers an area of 1,020 km². It splits into two sections linked by an 18-km (11-mi) spit of sand. It is 78 km long and its widest side measures roughly 20 km. The climate is very sunny and dry with temperatures from 24 to 37°C.
Most of the island's 420,000 residents live in the more developed eastern part, especially in the city of Porlamar and adjoining city of Pampatar. Others are found in the much smaller city of La Asunción, the capital of the region or Juan Griego. Direct flights from Caracas and other Venezuelan cities, as well as scheduled or charter flights from a number of North American and European cities, ferries from Puerto La Cruz, Cumaná, and La Guaira also travel to the island.
The Macanao peninsula to the west has a central mountain range
in the east-west direction. The highest altitude is 760 m at Pico de Macanao. Several smaller ranges derive from this axis following a north-south orientation with deep valleys between them. The most notable of these valleys is San Francisco in the north-central part of the peninsula. The Paraguachoa peninsula to the East is formed by a mountain range in the north-south direction from Porlamar
to Cabo Negro. The highest peaks are San Juan or Cerro Grande (920 m) and El Copey (890 m). Both peninsulas are connected by La Restinga, an isthmus of low altitude with a lagoon
called La Restinga, where there are two breast shaped hill
s known as Tetas de Maria Guevara
.
, known for its commercial center; it flourishes with shops and good restaurants. About 85,000 people live there during the low season in Porlamar; about 125,000, in the high season. It has two city beaches.
has around 50,000 citizens in its greater area. Most of the larger shopping malls are in its Jurisdiction: Sambil Margarita, Rattan Depot, Centro Comercial AB (Avenida Bolivar), and La Redoma. It has several beaches. It is the seat of the Castillo San Carlos Borromeo constructed approximately from 1664 to 1684.
is the capital of the Federal State of Nueva Esparta
with about 25,000 citizens. It is the seat of the regional government.
is a city of around 45,000 people, it has small shopping centres and beaches. La Galera is a fortress not far off the city centre, where, in the early 1820s, a fierce battle for independence was fought.
Tourism on Margarita Island is increasing year on year. The breathtaking scenery, excellent hotels and nightlife and duty-free shopping are all attracting foreigners. Margarita Island can usually be reached by ferry or by airplane, as the Santiago Mariño
International Airport is located 25 kilometers away from the city of Porlamar
. Its status as a duty-free port and proximity to the mainland make it one of the top vacation spots for Venezuelans. Vacationers crowd the island especially during Christmas
time, Easter
week, and from July to mid-September. Venezuelan tourists come on shopping sprees; whiskey, cheese, chocolate, and electrical appliances, are among the goods that can be purchased less expensively than on the mainland. Also, many retired people choose Margarita as an ideal, peaceful dwelling place..It's also the most wanted shopping location of all venezuela. The city of pampatar has the biggest malls in the island, including the sambil mall, one of the biggest in venezuela, with 250 stores of luxury shopping and low-cost shopping.
There are at least 50 unique and magnificent margarita beaches which are scattered along 106 miles of coastline. Its location as an island in the Caribbean sea offers lots of beaches to explore which range from crowded to solitary and most of them virgin. Playa El Agua
, in the north, is the most popular with 4 km of fine sand. Playa El Yaque
is internationally known as an excellent location for windsurfing. Playa Parguito
, Playa Caribe
, and Playa Punta Arenas
are also popular beaches. Many resorts cater to the international, Caribbean
-loving crowd, especially from European countries. The beach of Playa Puerto Cruz
is one of the most popular with tourists.
Margarita Island is the largest island of the state
of Nueva Esparta
in Venezuela
, situated in the Caribbean Sea
, off the northeastern coast of the country. The state also contains two other smaller islands: Coche and Cubagua
. The capital city of Nueva Esparta is La Asunción
, located in a river valley of the same name in Margarita Island. Primary industries are tourism, fishing and construction. The population of the state is about 440,000.
In 1498, Christopher Columbus
discovered Margarita Island. The local natives, named Guaiqueries, received the conquering Spaniards with open arms unaware that they later would become slaves of their own wealth. Pearls represented almost a third of all New World tribute to the Spanish Crown. Margarita Island had to be fortified against the increasing threat of pirate attacks, and several of these fortifications remain today.
In 1561, the island was seized by Lope de Aguirre
, a notoriously violent and rebellious conquistador
who held the islanders in a grip of terror until he returned to the mainland in an attempt to take Panama
from the Spanish crown.
In 1814, the islanders fought successfully for independence from the Spanish after the collapse of the First Republic of Venezuela. Margarita Island became the first, permanently free territory in Venezuela. That same year, Luisa Cáceres de Arismendi
was detained for over three years in a dark dungeon where she was harassed and abused. The authorities were hoping to put pressure on her husband Juan Bautista Arismendi
, who was fighting for independence. It was on Margarita Island that Simón Bolívar
was confirmed as Commander in Chief of the Venezuelan Republic in 1816. From there he started a nine-year campaign to free Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia from the Spanish Crown.
which also comprises the islands of Coche and Cubagua
. The island is formed by two peninsula
s joined by an isthmus
. It covers an area of 1,020 km². It splits into two sections linked by an 18-km (11-mi) spit of sand. It is 78 km long and its widest side measures roughly 20 km. The climate is very sunny and dry with temperatures from 24 to 37°C.
Most of the island's 420,000 residents live in the more developed eastern part, especially in the city of Porlamar and adjoining city of Pampatar. Others are found in the much smaller city of La Asunción, the capital of the region or Juan Griego. Direct flights from Caracas and other Venezuelan cities, as well as scheduled or charter flights from a number of North American and European cities, ferries from Puerto La Cruz, Cumaná, and La Guaira also travel to the island.
The Macanao peninsula to the west has a central mountain range
in the east-west direction. The highest altitude is 760 m at Pico de Macanao. Several smaller ranges derive from this axis following a north-south orientation with deep valleys between them. The most notable of these valleys is San Francisco in the north-central part of the peninsula. The Paraguachoa peninsula to the East is formed by a mountain range in the north-south direction from Porlamar
to Cabo Negro. The highest peaks are San Juan or Cerro Grande (920 m) and El Copey (890 m). Both peninsulas are connected by La Restinga, an isthmus of low altitude with a lagoon
called La Restinga, where there are two breast shaped hill
s known as Tetas de Maria Guevara
.
, known for its commercial center; it flourishes with shops and good restaurants. About 85,000 people live there during the low season in Porlamar; about 125,000, in the high season. It has two city beaches.
has around 50,000 citizens in its greater area. Most of the larger shopping malls are in its Jurisdiction: Sambil Margarita, Rattan Depot, Centro Comercial AB (Avenida Bolivar), and La Redoma. It has several beaches. It is the seat of the Castillo San Carlos Borromeo constructed approximately from 1664 to 1684.
is the capital of the Federal State of Nueva Esparta
with about 25,000 citizens. It is the seat of the regional government.
is a city of around 45,000 people, it has small shopping centres and beaches. La Galera is a fortress not far off the city centre, where, in the early 1820s, a fierce battle for independence was fought.
Tourism on Margarita Island is increasing year on year. The breathtaking scenery, excellent hotels and nightlife and duty-free shopping are all attracting foreigners. Margarita Island can usually be reached by ferry or by airplane, as the Santiago Mariño
International Airport is located 25 kilometers away from the city of Porlamar
. Its status as a duty-free port and proximity to the mainland make it one of the top vacation spots for Venezuelans. Vacationers crowd the island especially during Christmas
time, Easter
week, and from July to mid-September. Venezuelan tourists come on shopping sprees; whiskey, cheese, chocolate, and electrical appliances, are among the goods that can be purchased less expensively than on the mainland. Also, many retired people choose Margarita as an ideal, peaceful dwelling place..It's also the most wanted shopping location of all venezuela. The city of pampatar has the biggest malls in the island, including the sambil mall, one of the biggest in venezuela, with 250 stores of luxury shopping and low-cost shopping.
There are at least 50 unique and magnificent margarita beaches which are scattered along 106 miles of coastline. Its location as an island in the Caribbean sea offers lots of beaches to explore which range from crowded to solitary and most of them virgin. Playa El Agua
, in the north, is the most popular with 4 km of fine sand. Playa El Yaque
is internationally known as an excellent location for windsurfing. Playa Parguito
, Playa Caribe
, and Playa Punta Arenas
are also popular beaches. Many resorts cater to the international, Caribbean
-loving crowd, especially from European countries. The beach of Playa Puerto Cruz
is one of the most popular with tourists.
Margarita Island is the largest island of the state
of Nueva Esparta
in Venezuela
, situated in the Caribbean Sea
, off the northeastern coast of the country. The state also contains two other smaller islands: Coche and Cubagua
. The capital city of Nueva Esparta is La Asunción
, located in a river valley of the same name in Margarita Island. Primary industries are tourism, fishing and construction. The population of the state is about 440,000.
In 1498, Christopher Columbus
discovered Margarita Island. The local natives, named Guaiqueries, received the conquering Spaniards with open arms unaware that they later would become slaves of their own wealth. Pearls represented almost a third of all New World tribute to the Spanish Crown. Margarita Island had to be fortified against the increasing threat of pirate attacks, and several of these fortifications remain today.
In 1561, the island was seized by Lope de Aguirre
, a notoriously violent and rebellious conquistador
who held the islanders in a grip of terror until he returned to the mainland in an attempt to take Panama
from the Spanish crown.
In 1814, the islanders fought successfully for independence from the Spanish after the collapse of the First Republic of Venezuela. Margarita Island became the first, permanently free territory in Venezuela. That same year, Luisa Cáceres de Arismendi
was detained for over three years in a dark dungeon where she was harassed and abused. The authorities were hoping to put pressure on her husband Juan Bautista Arismendi
, who was fighting for independence. It was on Margarita Island that Simón Bolívar
was confirmed as Commander in Chief of the Venezuelan Republic in 1816. From there he started a nine-year campaign to free Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia from the Spanish Crown.
which also comprises the islands of Coche and Cubagua
. The island is formed by two peninsula
s joined by an isthmus
. It covers an area of 1,020 km². It splits into two sections linked by an 18-km (11-mi) spit of sand. It is 78 km long and its widest side measures roughly 20 km. The climate is very sunny and dry with temperatures from 24 to 37°C.
Most of the island's 420,000 residents live in the more developed eastern part, especially in the city of Porlamar and adjoining city of Pampatar. Others are found in the much smaller city of La Asunción, the capital of the region or Juan Griego. Direct flights from Caracas and other Venezuelan cities, as well as scheduled or charter flights from a number of North American and European cities, ferries from Puerto La Cruz, Cumaná, and La Guaira also travel to the island.
The Macanao peninsula to the west has a central mountain range
in the east-west direction. The highest altitude is 760 m at Pico de Macanao. Several smaller ranges derive from this axis following a north-south orientation with deep valleys between them. The most notable of these valleys is San Francisco in the north-central part of the peninsula. The Paraguachoa peninsula to the East is formed by a mountain range in the north-south direction from Porlamar
to Cabo Negro. The highest peaks are San Juan or Cerro Grande (920 m) and El Copey (890 m). Both peninsulas are connected by La Restinga, an isthmus of low altitude with a lagoon
called La Restinga, where there are two breast shaped hill
s known as Tetas de Maria Guevara
.
, known for its commercial center; it flourishes with shops and good restaurants. About 85,000 people live there during the low season in Porlamar; about 125,000, in the high season. It has two city beaches.
has around 50,000 citizens in its greater area. Most of the larger shopping malls are in its Jurisdiction: Sambil Margarita, Rattan Depot, Centro Comercial AB (Avenida Bolivar), and La Redoma. It has several beaches. It is the seat of the Castillo San Carlos Borromeo constructed approximately from 1664 to 1684.
is the capital of the Federal State of Nueva Esparta
with about 25,000 citizens. It is the seat of the regional government.
is a city of around 45,000 people, it has small shopping centres and beaches. La Galera is a fortress not far off the city centre, where, in the early 1820s, a fierce battle for independence was fought.
Tourism on Margarita Island is increasing year on year. The breathtaking scenery, excellent hotels and nightlife and duty-free shopping are all attracting foreigners. Margarita Island can usually be reached by ferry or by airplane, as the Santiago Mariño
International Airport is located 25 kilometers away from the city of Porlamar
. Its status as a duty-free port and proximity to the mainland make it one of the top vacation spots for Venezuelans. Vacationers crowd the island especially during Christmas
time, Easter
week, and from July to mid-September. Venezuelan tourists come on shopping sprees; whiskey, cheese, chocolate, and electrical appliances, are among the goods that can be purchased less expensively than on the mainland. Also, many retired people choose Margarita as an ideal, peaceful dwelling place..It's also the most wanted shopping location of all venezuela. The city of pampatar has the biggest malls in the island, including the sambil mall, one of the biggest in venezuela, with 250 stores of luxury shopping and low-cost shopping.
There are at least 50 unique and magnificent margarita beaches which are scattered along 106 miles of coastline. Its location as an island in the Caribbean sea offers lots of beaches to explore which range from crowded to solitary and most of them virgin. Playa El Agua
, in the north, is the most popular with 4 km of fine sand. Playa El Yaque
is internationally known as an excellent location for windsurfing. Playa Parguito
, Playa Caribe
, and Playa Punta Arenas
are also popular beaches. Many resorts cater to the international, Caribbean
-loving crowd, especially from European countries. The beach of Playa Puerto Cruz
is one of the most popular with tourists.
Isla de Margarita - Government Site
Casa Perla B&B El Yaque Isla Margarita
States of Venezuela
Venezuela is divided into 23 states , 1 Capital District and the Federal Dependencies that consist of a large number of Venezuelan islands...
of Nueva Esparta
Nueva Esparta
Nueva Esparta State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. It comprises Margarita Island, Coche, and the largely uninhabited Cubagua.The state is the smallest one in area, and is located off the northeast Caribbean coast of Venezuela. It is the only insular state of Venuezuela...
in Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, situated in the Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
, off the northeastern coast of the country. The state also contains two other smaller islands: Coche and Cubagua
Cubagua
Cubagua or Isla de Cubagua is the smallest and least populated of the three islands constituting the Venezuelan state of Nueva Esparta, after Isla Margarita and Coche. It is located 16 km north of Araya Peninsula, the closest mainland area....
. The capital city of Nueva Esparta is La Asunción
La Asunción
La Asunción is a city in Venezuela. The capital of Nueva Esparta state, it lies on the Isla Margarita in the Caribbean Sea, off the South American mainland.Owing to its settlement by Spain in 1524, many colonial buildings still remain....
, located in a river valley of the same name in Margarita Island. Primary industries are tourism, fishing and construction. The population of the state is about 440,000.
History
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
discovered Margarita Island. The local natives, named Guaiqueries, received the conquering Spaniards with open arms unaware that they later would become slaves of their own wealth. Pearls represented almost a third of all New World tribute to the Spanish Crown. Margarita Island had to be fortified against the increasing threat of pirate attacks, and several of these fortifications remain today.
In 1561, the island was seized by Lope de Aguirre
Lope de Aguirre
Lope de Aguirre was a Basque Spanish conquistador in South America. Nicknamed El Loco, 'the Madman', Aguirre is best known for his final expedition, down the Amazon river, in search of the mythical El Dorado...
, a notoriously violent and rebellious conquistador
Conquistador
Conquistadors were Spanish soldiers, explorers, and adventurers who brought much of the Americas under the control of Spain in the 15th to 16th centuries, following Europe's discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus in 1492...
who held the islanders in a grip of terror until he returned to the mainland in an attempt to take Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
from the Spanish crown.
In 1814, the islanders fought successfully for independence from the Spanish after the collapse of the First Republic of Venezuela. Margarita Island became the first, permanently free territory in Venezuela. That same year, Luisa Cáceres de Arismendi
Luisa Cáceres de Arismendi
María Luisa Cáceres Díaz de Arismendi was a heroine of the Venezuelan War of Independence.-The beginning of the war:...
was detained for over three years in a dark dungeon where she was harassed and abused. The authorities were hoping to put pressure on her husband Juan Bautista Arismendi
Juan Bautista Arismendi
Juan Bautista Arismendi was a Venezuelan patriot and general of the Venezuelan War of Independence. He is buried in the National Pantheon of Venezuela.Arismendi was born in Isla Margarita in 1775...
, who was fighting for independence. It was on Margarita Island that Simón Bolívar
Simón Bolívar
Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Ponte y Yeiter, commonly known as Simón Bolívar was a Venezuelan military and political leader...
was confirmed as Commander in Chief of the Venezuelan Republic in 1816. From there he started a nine-year campaign to free Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia from the Spanish Crown.
Geography
Located in the Caribbean Sea between latitudes 10°52'N and 11°11'N and longitudes 63°48'W and 64°23'W, it belongs to the State of Nueva EspartaNueva Esparta
Nueva Esparta State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. It comprises Margarita Island, Coche, and the largely uninhabited Cubagua.The state is the smallest one in area, and is located off the northeast Caribbean coast of Venezuela. It is the only insular state of Venuezuela...
which also comprises the islands of Coche and Cubagua
Cubagua
Cubagua or Isla de Cubagua is the smallest and least populated of the three islands constituting the Venezuelan state of Nueva Esparta, after Isla Margarita and Coche. It is located 16 km north of Araya Peninsula, the closest mainland area....
. The island is formed by two peninsula
Peninsula
A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. In many Germanic and Celtic languages and also in Baltic, Slavic and Hungarian, peninsulas are called "half-islands"....
s joined by an isthmus
Isthmus
An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas usually with waterforms on either side.Canals are often built through isthmuses where they may be particularly advantageous to create a shortcut for marine transportation...
. It covers an area of 1,020 km². It splits into two sections linked by an 18-km (11-mi) spit of sand. It is 78 km long and its widest side measures roughly 20 km. The climate is very sunny and dry with temperatures from 24 to 37°C.
Most of the island's 420,000 residents live in the more developed eastern part, especially in the city of Porlamar and adjoining city of Pampatar. Others are found in the much smaller city of La Asunción, the capital of the region or Juan Griego. Direct flights from Caracas and other Venezuelan cities, as well as scheduled or charter flights from a number of North American and European cities, ferries from Puerto La Cruz, Cumaná, and La Guaira also travel to the island.
The Macanao peninsula to the west has a central mountain range
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
in the east-west direction. The highest altitude is 760 m at Pico de Macanao. Several smaller ranges derive from this axis following a north-south orientation with deep valleys between them. The most notable of these valleys is San Francisco in the north-central part of the peninsula. The Paraguachoa peninsula to the East is formed by a mountain range in the north-south direction from Porlamar
Porlamar
Porlamar is the largest city on Isla Margarita, Nueva Esparta State in Venezuela. It was founded on the southeast coast in 1536, less than 40 years after Christopher Columbus first sailed through. Porlamar was a quiet fishing village until the arrival of air travel...
to Cabo Negro. The highest peaks are San Juan or Cerro Grande (920 m) and El Copey (890 m). Both peninsulas are connected by La Restinga, an isthmus of low altitude with a lagoon
Lagoon
A lagoon is a body of shallow sea water or brackish water separated from the sea by some form of barrier. The EU's habitat directive defines lagoons as "expanses of shallow coastal salt water, of varying salinity or water volume, wholly or partially separated from the sea by sand banks or shingle,...
called La Restinga, where there are two breast shaped hill
Breast shaped hill
A breast-shaped hill is a mountain in the shape of a human breast. Such anthropomorphic geographic features are to be found in different places of the world and in some cultures they were revered as the attributes of the Mother Goddess, like the Paps of Anu, named after Anu, an important goddess of...
s known as Tetas de Maria Guevara
Tetas de Maria Guevara
Tetas de Maria Guevara are twin hills located in central Isla Margarita, near La Restinga lagoon, Venezuela.These hills are used as a landmark by local fishermen. They were declared a Natural Monument in 1974. The western hill, the highest, is only 75 m high, but they stand out in the surrounding...
.
Porlamar
The biggest city on Margarita island is PorlamarPorlamar
Porlamar is the largest city on Isla Margarita, Nueva Esparta State in Venezuela. It was founded on the southeast coast in 1536, less than 40 years after Christopher Columbus first sailed through. Porlamar was a quiet fishing village until the arrival of air travel...
, known for its commercial center; it flourishes with shops and good restaurants. About 85,000 people live there during the low season in Porlamar; about 125,000, in the high season. It has two city beaches.
Pampatar
Is one of the largest towns on the island . PampatarPampatar
Pampatar is a city on Isla Margarita, Nueva Esparta State, Venezuela. It is located at around .Pampatar lies 10 km northeast of Porlamar....
has around 50,000 citizens in its greater area. Most of the larger shopping malls are in its Jurisdiction: Sambil Margarita, Rattan Depot, Centro Comercial AB (Avenida Bolivar), and La Redoma. It has several beaches. It is the seat of the Castillo San Carlos Borromeo constructed approximately from 1664 to 1684.
La Asunción
La AsunciónLa Asunción
La Asunción is a city in Venezuela. The capital of Nueva Esparta state, it lies on the Isla Margarita in the Caribbean Sea, off the South American mainland.Owing to its settlement by Spain in 1524, many colonial buildings still remain....
is the capital of the Federal State of Nueva Esparta
Nueva Esparta
Nueva Esparta State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. It comprises Margarita Island, Coche, and the largely uninhabited Cubagua.The state is the smallest one in area, and is located off the northeast Caribbean coast of Venezuela. It is the only insular state of Venuezuela...
with about 25,000 citizens. It is the seat of the regional government.
Juan Griego
Juan GriegoJuan Griego
Juan Griego is a city on the northern side of Isla Margarita, and is the most northern port in Venezuela. It has a population of 28,256 inhabitants and is capital of the Marcano municipality of the Nueva Esparta state.-History:...
is a city of around 45,000 people, it has small shopping centres and beaches. La Galera is a fortress not far off the city centre, where, in the early 1820s, a fierce battle for independence was fought.
Tourism
Del Caribe International General Santiago Marino Airport
Santiago Mariño Caribbean International Airport is a commercial airport located near Porlamar, the largest city on Isla Margarita, an island in state of Nueva Esparta in Venezuela....
International Airport is located 25 kilometers away from the city of Porlamar
Porlamar
Porlamar is the largest city on Isla Margarita, Nueva Esparta State in Venezuela. It was founded on the southeast coast in 1536, less than 40 years after Christopher Columbus first sailed through. Porlamar was a quiet fishing village until the arrival of air travel...
. Its status as a duty-free port and proximity to the mainland make it one of the top vacation spots for Venezuelans. Vacationers crowd the island especially during Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
time, Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
week, and from July to mid-September. Venezuelan tourists come on shopping sprees; whiskey, cheese, chocolate, and electrical appliances, are among the goods that can be purchased less expensively than on the mainland. Also, many retired people choose Margarita as an ideal, peaceful dwelling place..It's also the most wanted shopping location of all venezuela. The city of pampatar has the biggest malls in the island, including the sambil mall, one of the biggest in venezuela, with 250 stores of luxury shopping and low-cost shopping.
There are at least 50 unique and magnificent margarita beaches which are scattered along 106 miles of coastline. Its location as an island in the Caribbean sea offers lots of beaches to explore which range from crowded to solitary and most of them virgin. Playa El Agua
Playa El Agua
Playa El Agua is the most famous tourist development on Margarita Island. El Agua is 2.5 miles long, 30m wide, gold sand lined with huge palm trees that give shelter to numerous restaurants that offer their service directly to chairs located in the fine sand. The boulevard at Playa El Agua...
, in the north, is the most popular with 4 km of fine sand. Playa El Yaque
Playa El Yaque
Playa El Yaque is internationally known as one of the seven best locations in the world having ideal conditions for windsurfing and kitesurfing, attracting enthusiasts from all over the world, especially from Europe...
is internationally known as an excellent location for windsurfing. Playa Parguito
Playa Parguito
Playa Parguito it is situated in the Southeast end of Isla Margarita. The beach is approximately 1000 m long and about 20 m wide...
, Playa Caribe
Playa Caribe
Playa Caribe is a beach situated a few minutes north of Juan Griego, at a small bay on the west coast of Isla Margarita. It is a fairly popular beach nearly a mile long with several restaurants and foodstands. Playa Caribe is an exposed beach break with moderate waves. - External links :*...
, and Playa Punta Arenas
Playa Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas is the most western tip of Margarita Island, it's a fine white sand beach and home for many of the local fishermen. The fishermen's huts extend along a beach which leads to a sandy point which gives its name to both the village and the beach....
are also popular beaches. Many resorts cater to the international, Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
-loving crowd, especially from European countries. The beach of Playa Puerto Cruz
Playa Puerto Cruz
Playa Puerto Cruz is a roughly 1 km long beach located near Pedro Gonzalez in Isla Margarita, Venezuela. Located on Playa Puerto Cruz is the lighthouse of Punta Zaragoza, mounted on top of one of the two hills enclosing the Island. Until the winter of 2004 a small wooden tower stood on the beach...
is one of the most popular with tourists.
Margarita Island is the largest island of the state
States of Venezuela
Venezuela is divided into 23 states , 1 Capital District and the Federal Dependencies that consist of a large number of Venezuelan islands...
of Nueva Esparta
Nueva Esparta
Nueva Esparta State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. It comprises Margarita Island, Coche, and the largely uninhabited Cubagua.The state is the smallest one in area, and is located off the northeast Caribbean coast of Venezuela. It is the only insular state of Venuezuela...
in Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, situated in the Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
, off the northeastern coast of the country. The state also contains two other smaller islands: Coche and Cubagua
Cubagua
Cubagua or Isla de Cubagua is the smallest and least populated of the three islands constituting the Venezuelan state of Nueva Esparta, after Isla Margarita and Coche. It is located 16 km north of Araya Peninsula, the closest mainland area....
. The capital city of Nueva Esparta is La Asunción
La Asunción
La Asunción is a city in Venezuela. The capital of Nueva Esparta state, it lies on the Isla Margarita in the Caribbean Sea, off the South American mainland.Owing to its settlement by Spain in 1524, many colonial buildings still remain....
, located in a river valley of the same name in Margarita Island. Primary industries are tourism, fishing and construction. The population of the state is about 440,000.
History
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
discovered Margarita Island. The local natives, named Guaiqueries, received the conquering Spaniards with open arms unaware that they later would become slaves of their own wealth. Pearls represented almost a third of all New World tribute to the Spanish Crown. Margarita Island had to be fortified against the increasing threat of pirate attacks, and several of these fortifications remain today.
In 1561, the island was seized by Lope de Aguirre
Lope de Aguirre
Lope de Aguirre was a Basque Spanish conquistador in South America. Nicknamed El Loco, 'the Madman', Aguirre is best known for his final expedition, down the Amazon river, in search of the mythical El Dorado...
, a notoriously violent and rebellious conquistador
Conquistador
Conquistadors were Spanish soldiers, explorers, and adventurers who brought much of the Americas under the control of Spain in the 15th to 16th centuries, following Europe's discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus in 1492...
who held the islanders in a grip of terror until he returned to the mainland in an attempt to take Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
from the Spanish crown.
In 1814, the islanders fought successfully for independence from the Spanish after the collapse of the First Republic of Venezuela. Margarita Island became the first, permanently free territory in Venezuela. That same year, Luisa Cáceres de Arismendi
Luisa Cáceres de Arismendi
María Luisa Cáceres Díaz de Arismendi was a heroine of the Venezuelan War of Independence.-The beginning of the war:...
was detained for over three years in a dark dungeon where she was harassed and abused. The authorities were hoping to put pressure on her husband Juan Bautista Arismendi
Juan Bautista Arismendi
Juan Bautista Arismendi was a Venezuelan patriot and general of the Venezuelan War of Independence. He is buried in the National Pantheon of Venezuela.Arismendi was born in Isla Margarita in 1775...
, who was fighting for independence. It was on Margarita Island that Simón Bolívar
Simón Bolívar
Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Ponte y Yeiter, commonly known as Simón Bolívar was a Venezuelan military and political leader...
was confirmed as Commander in Chief of the Venezuelan Republic in 1816. From there he started a nine-year campaign to free Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia from the Spanish Crown.
Geography
Located in the Caribbean Sea between latitudes 10°52'N and 11°11'N and longitudes 63°48'W and 64°23'W, it belongs to the State of Nueva EspartaNueva Esparta
Nueva Esparta State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. It comprises Margarita Island, Coche, and the largely uninhabited Cubagua.The state is the smallest one in area, and is located off the northeast Caribbean coast of Venezuela. It is the only insular state of Venuezuela...
which also comprises the islands of Coche and Cubagua
Cubagua
Cubagua or Isla de Cubagua is the smallest and least populated of the three islands constituting the Venezuelan state of Nueva Esparta, after Isla Margarita and Coche. It is located 16 km north of Araya Peninsula, the closest mainland area....
. The island is formed by two peninsula
Peninsula
A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. In many Germanic and Celtic languages and also in Baltic, Slavic and Hungarian, peninsulas are called "half-islands"....
s joined by an isthmus
Isthmus
An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas usually with waterforms on either side.Canals are often built through isthmuses where they may be particularly advantageous to create a shortcut for marine transportation...
. It covers an area of 1,020 km². It splits into two sections linked by an 18-km (11-mi) spit of sand. It is 78 km long and its widest side measures roughly 20 km. The climate is very sunny and dry with temperatures from 24 to 37°C.
Most of the island's 420,000 residents live in the more developed eastern part, especially in the city of Porlamar and adjoining city of Pampatar. Others are found in the much smaller city of La Asunción, the capital of the region or Juan Griego. Direct flights from Caracas and other Venezuelan cities, as well as scheduled or charter flights from a number of North American and European cities, ferries from Puerto La Cruz, Cumaná, and La Guaira also travel to the island.
The Macanao peninsula to the west has a central mountain range
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
in the east-west direction. The highest altitude is 760 m at Pico de Macanao. Several smaller ranges derive from this axis following a north-south orientation with deep valleys between them. The most notable of these valleys is San Francisco in the north-central part of the peninsula. The Paraguachoa peninsula to the East is formed by a mountain range in the north-south direction from Porlamar
Porlamar
Porlamar is the largest city on Isla Margarita, Nueva Esparta State in Venezuela. It was founded on the southeast coast in 1536, less than 40 years after Christopher Columbus first sailed through. Porlamar was a quiet fishing village until the arrival of air travel...
to Cabo Negro. The highest peaks are San Juan or Cerro Grande (920 m) and El Copey (890 m). Both peninsulas are connected by La Restinga, an isthmus of low altitude with a lagoon
Lagoon
A lagoon is a body of shallow sea water or brackish water separated from the sea by some form of barrier. The EU's habitat directive defines lagoons as "expanses of shallow coastal salt water, of varying salinity or water volume, wholly or partially separated from the sea by sand banks or shingle,...
called La Restinga, where there are two breast shaped hill
Breast shaped hill
A breast-shaped hill is a mountain in the shape of a human breast. Such anthropomorphic geographic features are to be found in different places of the world and in some cultures they were revered as the attributes of the Mother Goddess, like the Paps of Anu, named after Anu, an important goddess of...
s known as Tetas de Maria Guevara
Tetas de Maria Guevara
Tetas de Maria Guevara are twin hills located in central Isla Margarita, near La Restinga lagoon, Venezuela.These hills are used as a landmark by local fishermen. They were declared a Natural Monument in 1974. The western hill, the highest, is only 75 m high, but they stand out in the surrounding...
.
Porlamar
The biggest city on Margarita island is PorlamarPorlamar
Porlamar is the largest city on Isla Margarita, Nueva Esparta State in Venezuela. It was founded on the southeast coast in 1536, less than 40 years after Christopher Columbus first sailed through. Porlamar was a quiet fishing village until the arrival of air travel...
, known for its commercial center; it flourishes with shops and good restaurants. About 85,000 people live there during the low season in Porlamar; about 125,000, in the high season. It has two city beaches.
Pampatar
Is one of the largest towns on the island . PampatarPampatar
Pampatar is a city on Isla Margarita, Nueva Esparta State, Venezuela. It is located at around .Pampatar lies 10 km northeast of Porlamar....
has around 50,000 citizens in its greater area. Most of the larger shopping malls are in its Jurisdiction: Sambil Margarita, Rattan Depot, Centro Comercial AB (Avenida Bolivar), and La Redoma. It has several beaches. It is the seat of the Castillo San Carlos Borromeo constructed approximately from 1664 to 1684.
La Asunción
La AsunciónLa Asunción
La Asunción is a city in Venezuela. The capital of Nueva Esparta state, it lies on the Isla Margarita in the Caribbean Sea, off the South American mainland.Owing to its settlement by Spain in 1524, many colonial buildings still remain....
is the capital of the Federal State of Nueva Esparta
Nueva Esparta
Nueva Esparta State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. It comprises Margarita Island, Coche, and the largely uninhabited Cubagua.The state is the smallest one in area, and is located off the northeast Caribbean coast of Venezuela. It is the only insular state of Venuezuela...
with about 25,000 citizens. It is the seat of the regional government.
Juan Griego
Juan GriegoJuan Griego
Juan Griego is a city on the northern side of Isla Margarita, and is the most northern port in Venezuela. It has a population of 28,256 inhabitants and is capital of the Marcano municipality of the Nueva Esparta state.-History:...
is a city of around 45,000 people, it has small shopping centres and beaches. La Galera is a fortress not far off the city centre, where, in the early 1820s, a fierce battle for independence was fought.
Tourism
Del Caribe International General Santiago Marino Airport
Santiago Mariño Caribbean International Airport is a commercial airport located near Porlamar, the largest city on Isla Margarita, an island in state of Nueva Esparta in Venezuela....
International Airport is located 25 kilometers away from the city of Porlamar
Porlamar
Porlamar is the largest city on Isla Margarita, Nueva Esparta State in Venezuela. It was founded on the southeast coast in 1536, less than 40 years after Christopher Columbus first sailed through. Porlamar was a quiet fishing village until the arrival of air travel...
. Its status as a duty-free port and proximity to the mainland make it one of the top vacation spots for Venezuelans. Vacationers crowd the island especially during Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
time, Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
week, and from July to mid-September. Venezuelan tourists come on shopping sprees; whiskey, cheese, chocolate, and electrical appliances, are among the goods that can be purchased less expensively than on the mainland. Also, many retired people choose Margarita as an ideal, peaceful dwelling place..It's also the most wanted shopping location of all venezuela. The city of pampatar has the biggest malls in the island, including the sambil mall, one of the biggest in venezuela, with 250 stores of luxury shopping and low-cost shopping.
There are at least 50 unique and magnificent margarita beaches which are scattered along 106 miles of coastline. Its location as an island in the Caribbean sea offers lots of beaches to explore which range from crowded to solitary and most of them virgin. Playa El Agua
Playa El Agua
Playa El Agua is the most famous tourist development on Margarita Island. El Agua is 2.5 miles long, 30m wide, gold sand lined with huge palm trees that give shelter to numerous restaurants that offer their service directly to chairs located in the fine sand. The boulevard at Playa El Agua...
, in the north, is the most popular with 4 km of fine sand. Playa El Yaque
Playa El Yaque
Playa El Yaque is internationally known as one of the seven best locations in the world having ideal conditions for windsurfing and kitesurfing, attracting enthusiasts from all over the world, especially from Europe...
is internationally known as an excellent location for windsurfing. Playa Parguito
Playa Parguito
Playa Parguito it is situated in the Southeast end of Isla Margarita. The beach is approximately 1000 m long and about 20 m wide...
, Playa Caribe
Playa Caribe
Playa Caribe is a beach situated a few minutes north of Juan Griego, at a small bay on the west coast of Isla Margarita. It is a fairly popular beach nearly a mile long with several restaurants and foodstands. Playa Caribe is an exposed beach break with moderate waves. - External links :*...
, and Playa Punta Arenas
Playa Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas is the most western tip of Margarita Island, it's a fine white sand beach and home for many of the local fishermen. The fishermen's huts extend along a beach which leads to a sandy point which gives its name to both the village and the beach....
are also popular beaches. Many resorts cater to the international, Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
-loving crowd, especially from European countries. The beach of Playa Puerto Cruz
Playa Puerto Cruz
Playa Puerto Cruz is a roughly 1 km long beach located near Pedro Gonzalez in Isla Margarita, Venezuela. Located on Playa Puerto Cruz is the lighthouse of Punta Zaragoza, mounted on top of one of the two hills enclosing the Island. Until the winter of 2004 a small wooden tower stood on the beach...
is one of the most popular with tourists.
Margarita Island is the largest island of the state
States of Venezuela
Venezuela is divided into 23 states , 1 Capital District and the Federal Dependencies that consist of a large number of Venezuelan islands...
of Nueva Esparta
Nueva Esparta
Nueva Esparta State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. It comprises Margarita Island, Coche, and the largely uninhabited Cubagua.The state is the smallest one in area, and is located off the northeast Caribbean coast of Venezuela. It is the only insular state of Venuezuela...
in Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, situated in the Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
, off the northeastern coast of the country. The state also contains two other smaller islands: Coche and Cubagua
Cubagua
Cubagua or Isla de Cubagua is the smallest and least populated of the three islands constituting the Venezuelan state of Nueva Esparta, after Isla Margarita and Coche. It is located 16 km north of Araya Peninsula, the closest mainland area....
. The capital city of Nueva Esparta is La Asunción
La Asunción
La Asunción is a city in Venezuela. The capital of Nueva Esparta state, it lies on the Isla Margarita in the Caribbean Sea, off the South American mainland.Owing to its settlement by Spain in 1524, many colonial buildings still remain....
, located in a river valley of the same name in Margarita Island. Primary industries are tourism, fishing and construction. The population of the state is about 440,000.
History
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
discovered Margarita Island. The local natives, named Guaiqueries, received the conquering Spaniards with open arms unaware that they later would become slaves of their own wealth. Pearls represented almost a third of all New World tribute to the Spanish Crown. Margarita Island had to be fortified against the increasing threat of pirate attacks, and several of these fortifications remain today.
In 1561, the island was seized by Lope de Aguirre
Lope de Aguirre
Lope de Aguirre was a Basque Spanish conquistador in South America. Nicknamed El Loco, 'the Madman', Aguirre is best known for his final expedition, down the Amazon river, in search of the mythical El Dorado...
, a notoriously violent and rebellious conquistador
Conquistador
Conquistadors were Spanish soldiers, explorers, and adventurers who brought much of the Americas under the control of Spain in the 15th to 16th centuries, following Europe's discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus in 1492...
who held the islanders in a grip of terror until he returned to the mainland in an attempt to take Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
from the Spanish crown.
In 1814, the islanders fought successfully for independence from the Spanish after the collapse of the First Republic of Venezuela. Margarita Island became the first, permanently free territory in Venezuela. That same year, Luisa Cáceres de Arismendi
Luisa Cáceres de Arismendi
María Luisa Cáceres Díaz de Arismendi was a heroine of the Venezuelan War of Independence.-The beginning of the war:...
was detained for over three years in a dark dungeon where she was harassed and abused. The authorities were hoping to put pressure on her husband Juan Bautista Arismendi
Juan Bautista Arismendi
Juan Bautista Arismendi was a Venezuelan patriot and general of the Venezuelan War of Independence. He is buried in the National Pantheon of Venezuela.Arismendi was born in Isla Margarita in 1775...
, who was fighting for independence. It was on Margarita Island that Simón Bolívar
Simón Bolívar
Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Ponte y Yeiter, commonly known as Simón Bolívar was a Venezuelan military and political leader...
was confirmed as Commander in Chief of the Venezuelan Republic in 1816. From there he started a nine-year campaign to free Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia from the Spanish Crown.
Geography
Located in the Caribbean Sea between latitudes 10°52'N and 11°11'N and longitudes 63°48'W and 64°23'W, it belongs to the State of Nueva EspartaNueva Esparta
Nueva Esparta State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. It comprises Margarita Island, Coche, and the largely uninhabited Cubagua.The state is the smallest one in area, and is located off the northeast Caribbean coast of Venezuela. It is the only insular state of Venuezuela...
which also comprises the islands of Coche and Cubagua
Cubagua
Cubagua or Isla de Cubagua is the smallest and least populated of the three islands constituting the Venezuelan state of Nueva Esparta, after Isla Margarita and Coche. It is located 16 km north of Araya Peninsula, the closest mainland area....
. The island is formed by two peninsula
Peninsula
A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. In many Germanic and Celtic languages and also in Baltic, Slavic and Hungarian, peninsulas are called "half-islands"....
s joined by an isthmus
Isthmus
An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas usually with waterforms on either side.Canals are often built through isthmuses where they may be particularly advantageous to create a shortcut for marine transportation...
. It covers an area of 1,020 km². It splits into two sections linked by an 18-km (11-mi) spit of sand. It is 78 km long and its widest side measures roughly 20 km. The climate is very sunny and dry with temperatures from 24 to 37°C.
Most of the island's 420,000 residents live in the more developed eastern part, especially in the city of Porlamar and adjoining city of Pampatar. Others are found in the much smaller city of La Asunción, the capital of the region or Juan Griego. Direct flights from Caracas and other Venezuelan cities, as well as scheduled or charter flights from a number of North American and European cities, ferries from Puerto La Cruz, Cumaná, and La Guaira also travel to the island.
The Macanao peninsula to the west has a central mountain range
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
in the east-west direction. The highest altitude is 760 m at Pico de Macanao. Several smaller ranges derive from this axis following a north-south orientation with deep valleys between them. The most notable of these valleys is San Francisco in the north-central part of the peninsula. The Paraguachoa peninsula to the East is formed by a mountain range in the north-south direction from Porlamar
Porlamar
Porlamar is the largest city on Isla Margarita, Nueva Esparta State in Venezuela. It was founded on the southeast coast in 1536, less than 40 years after Christopher Columbus first sailed through. Porlamar was a quiet fishing village until the arrival of air travel...
to Cabo Negro. The highest peaks are San Juan or Cerro Grande (920 m) and El Copey (890 m). Both peninsulas are connected by La Restinga, an isthmus of low altitude with a lagoon
Lagoon
A lagoon is a body of shallow sea water or brackish water separated from the sea by some form of barrier. The EU's habitat directive defines lagoons as "expanses of shallow coastal salt water, of varying salinity or water volume, wholly or partially separated from the sea by sand banks or shingle,...
called La Restinga, where there are two breast shaped hill
Breast shaped hill
A breast-shaped hill is a mountain in the shape of a human breast. Such anthropomorphic geographic features are to be found in different places of the world and in some cultures they were revered as the attributes of the Mother Goddess, like the Paps of Anu, named after Anu, an important goddess of...
s known as Tetas de Maria Guevara
Tetas de Maria Guevara
Tetas de Maria Guevara are twin hills located in central Isla Margarita, near La Restinga lagoon, Venezuela.These hills are used as a landmark by local fishermen. They were declared a Natural Monument in 1974. The western hill, the highest, is only 75 m high, but they stand out in the surrounding...
.
Porlamar
The biggest city on Margarita island is PorlamarPorlamar
Porlamar is the largest city on Isla Margarita, Nueva Esparta State in Venezuela. It was founded on the southeast coast in 1536, less than 40 years after Christopher Columbus first sailed through. Porlamar was a quiet fishing village until the arrival of air travel...
, known for its commercial center; it flourishes with shops and good restaurants. About 85,000 people live there during the low season in Porlamar; about 125,000, in the high season. It has two city beaches.
Pampatar
Is one of the largest towns on the island . PampatarPampatar
Pampatar is a city on Isla Margarita, Nueva Esparta State, Venezuela. It is located at around .Pampatar lies 10 km northeast of Porlamar....
has around 50,000 citizens in its greater area. Most of the larger shopping malls are in its Jurisdiction: Sambil Margarita, Rattan Depot, Centro Comercial AB (Avenida Bolivar), and La Redoma. It has several beaches. It is the seat of the Castillo San Carlos Borromeo constructed approximately from 1664 to 1684.
La Asunción
La AsunciónLa Asunción
La Asunción is a city in Venezuela. The capital of Nueva Esparta state, it lies on the Isla Margarita in the Caribbean Sea, off the South American mainland.Owing to its settlement by Spain in 1524, many colonial buildings still remain....
is the capital of the Federal State of Nueva Esparta
Nueva Esparta
Nueva Esparta State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. It comprises Margarita Island, Coche, and the largely uninhabited Cubagua.The state is the smallest one in area, and is located off the northeast Caribbean coast of Venezuela. It is the only insular state of Venuezuela...
with about 25,000 citizens. It is the seat of the regional government.
Juan Griego
Juan GriegoJuan Griego
Juan Griego is a city on the northern side of Isla Margarita, and is the most northern port in Venezuela. It has a population of 28,256 inhabitants and is capital of the Marcano municipality of the Nueva Esparta state.-History:...
is a city of around 45,000 people, it has small shopping centres and beaches. La Galera is a fortress not far off the city centre, where, in the early 1820s, a fierce battle for independence was fought.
Tourism
Del Caribe International General Santiago Marino Airport
Santiago Mariño Caribbean International Airport is a commercial airport located near Porlamar, the largest city on Isla Margarita, an island in state of Nueva Esparta in Venezuela....
International Airport is located 25 kilometers away from the city of Porlamar
Porlamar
Porlamar is the largest city on Isla Margarita, Nueva Esparta State in Venezuela. It was founded on the southeast coast in 1536, less than 40 years after Christopher Columbus first sailed through. Porlamar was a quiet fishing village until the arrival of air travel...
. Its status as a duty-free port and proximity to the mainland make it one of the top vacation spots for Venezuelans. Vacationers crowd the island especially during Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
time, Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
week, and from July to mid-September. Venezuelan tourists come on shopping sprees; whiskey, cheese, chocolate, and electrical appliances, are among the goods that can be purchased less expensively than on the mainland. Also, many retired people choose Margarita as an ideal, peaceful dwelling place..It's also the most wanted shopping location of all venezuela. The city of pampatar has the biggest malls in the island, including the sambil mall, one of the biggest in venezuela, with 250 stores of luxury shopping and low-cost shopping.
There are at least 50 unique and magnificent margarita beaches which are scattered along 106 miles of coastline. Its location as an island in the Caribbean sea offers lots of beaches to explore which range from crowded to solitary and most of them virgin. Playa El Agua
Playa El Agua
Playa El Agua is the most famous tourist development on Margarita Island. El Agua is 2.5 miles long, 30m wide, gold sand lined with huge palm trees that give shelter to numerous restaurants that offer their service directly to chairs located in the fine sand. The boulevard at Playa El Agua...
, in the north, is the most popular with 4 km of fine sand. Playa El Yaque
Playa El Yaque
Playa El Yaque is internationally known as one of the seven best locations in the world having ideal conditions for windsurfing and kitesurfing, attracting enthusiasts from all over the world, especially from Europe...
is internationally known as an excellent location for windsurfing. Playa Parguito
Playa Parguito
Playa Parguito it is situated in the Southeast end of Isla Margarita. The beach is approximately 1000 m long and about 20 m wide...
, Playa Caribe
Playa Caribe
Playa Caribe is a beach situated a few minutes north of Juan Griego, at a small bay on the west coast of Isla Margarita. It is a fairly popular beach nearly a mile long with several restaurants and foodstands. Playa Caribe is an exposed beach break with moderate waves. - External links :*...
, and Playa Punta Arenas
Playa Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas is the most western tip of Margarita Island, it's a fine white sand beach and home for many of the local fishermen. The fishermen's huts extend along a beach which leads to a sandy point which gives its name to both the village and the beach....
are also popular beaches. Many resorts cater to the international, Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
-loving crowd, especially from European countries. The beach of Playa Puerto Cruz
Playa Puerto Cruz
Playa Puerto Cruz is a roughly 1 km long beach located near Pedro Gonzalez in Isla Margarita, Venezuela. Located on Playa Puerto Cruz is the lighthouse of Punta Zaragoza, mounted on top of one of the two hills enclosing the Island. Until the winter of 2004 a small wooden tower stood on the beach...
is one of the most popular with tourists.
Isla de Margarita - Government Site
Casa Perla B&B El Yaque Isla Margarita