Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Isla Margarita is the Ideal Vacation Destination

Weather
Isla Margarita is located outside of the hurricane belt, placing it in a very comfortable environment which offers warm days and cool nights. This pristine location in the Caribbean provides guests with fairly consistent 80 degree days amongst dramatic mountainous terrain, lush vegetation, flora and fauna, and many spectacular sandy beaches.

Resort Amenities
Caracola Beach and Spa Resort offers three themed restaurants, a nightclub, convention hall with capacity for 2000, mini-market, duty-free high-end retail shopping, salon, state-of-the-art sport and fitness center, luxury spa, beachside activities center, plus four infinity pools, complete with water slides, lazy river, and tropical swim up bar.

Outdoor Activities
• Remarkable golfing locations
• Numerous hiking grounds from mountainous rain forests to sand flats
• High end duty-free shopping at locations such as Tommy Hilfiger, Benetton, and Tiffany’s
• Horseback riding
• Extraordinary scuba diving and snorkeling locations with abundant and diverse underwater life
• Windsurfing (it’s the surfing capital of the world)
• Uninhabited islands for exploring
• National parks, forests, lagoons, and beaches
• Historical forts

Beaches
With over 70 unique beach on Isla Margarita, you are bound to fine the perfect one that suites you. Below are the five must check out beaches:

1. Playa Caribe - It offers a quiet and relaxing atmosphere with quite a few good restaurants along the coastline, plus some nice caves for exploring near the end of the beach.

2. Playa El Agua–This beach offers many activities including several water sports, micro plane rides, concerts, nightlife and many hotels.

3. Playa Parguito –Here you will find some restaurants which open early and serve breakfast, while others open from noon until early evening. If you walk down to the ends of the beach you will find great lookout areas that give a nice overview of the area.

4. Playa El Yaque – This beach attracts people from all over the world to surf, kite, or swim because of the shallow, warm water that extend several hundred meters from the shore.

5. Playa Manzanillo- It is a small beach but never very crowded. It is 900m long and 25m wide and its quiet waters offer an ideal swimming location.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Enjoy Isla Margarita’s Many Outdoor Adventures!

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving
Isla Margarita, home to Caracola Beach and Spa Resort, offers some of the best Caribbean scuba diving and snorkeling locations in the area. The two most popular snorkeling and dive locations close to Isla Margarita are Los Frailes and Isla Cubagua.

Los Frailes is a group of about five small uninhabited rock islands that are ranked as the absolute best diving place around the island. Its location provides the presence of large sea nutrients, which make it a place of great biological diversity. The main attraction at this location is the abundant and diverse underwater life. Los Frailes also offers small platforms, canyons, and smaller caves for exploring.

Isla Cubagua is one of the sister islands of Isla Margarita and is a popular location due to the wreck of a sunken ferry divers can explore. The cars of the ferry are still intact and provide an excellent photo opportunity. This location is truly recommended if guests are looking for adventure.

Horseback Riding
Horseback riding through Isla Margarita is a great way to see and experience the island. There are two public stables on the island; CabaCaribe and Cabatucan.

CabaCaribe is an American run stable located five minutes from Playa el Agua and serves all the major tourist hotels. They offer horses in all different sizes to accommodate all riders, as well as many different types of tours which cater to all experience levels.

Cabatucan, a French establishment, is located on the other end of the island and offers riders with tours along the beaches and the Mountains of Macanao. Cabatucan’s location makes it less crowded because it takes about 45 minutes to get there from most resorts on the island; however, it is well worth the distance. The beaches on this side of the island are always deserted and a gallop along the water is inevitable. For pictures and information, visit their website at http://www.cabatucan.com.

Windsurfing
Caracola Beach and Spa Resort offers guests a multitude of water activities but nothing will ever be more popular in this area then windsurfing. Windsurfing, which got its start on Isla Margarita due to the areas strong, warm winds and warm water, has become a windsurfer’s paradise. Isla Margarita is now recognized as one of the top five windsurfing destinations worldwide and is known by many as the capital of windsurfing.

Fishing
Looking to do a little fishing on your vacation? Think about taking a fishing day tour. The coasts off of Isla Margarita are some of the most frequented destinations for sport fishing in the world. This activity is practiced all through the year and it represents a great challenge for every good fan. The abundance of species such as Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Sail Fish, Wahoo, Tuna, Barracuda, makes this area a true paradise. Fishing zones are only a 30 minutes off shore cruising at normal speed and fishing is good all year-round.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Thinking about traveling overseas? Head to Isla Margarita!

Here are the top 8 reasons Isla Margarita is a True Vacationer’s Paradise

1. Beautiful beaches – Isla Margarita is the home to over 70 unique beaches you will not want to miss. Those that top the list are Caracola Beach, Playa El Agua, Playa El Yaque, and Playa Caribe. Isla Margarita has even been named one of South America’s Top Beach Resort Destinations!

2. Historical cities and landmarks - Isla Margarita is home to many historical forts, churches, and museums. Some of the sites you must check out on your visit are: The Ruins of Caranta Fort, Francisco Narvaez’s Art Museum, and Porlamar Lighthouse.

3. Windsurfer’s paradise - Windsurfing got its start on Isla Margarita due to the areas strong, warm winds and warm water and has since become a windsurfer’s paradise. Isla Margarita is now recognized as one of the top five windsurfing destinations worldwide and is known by many as the capital of windsurfing.

4. Plenty of water activities - The crystal blue waters of the Caribbean Sea offer many water activities including boogie board rentals, ski boat rentals, jet ski rental, water skiing, wake boarding, boat charters, fishing boat rentals, kayaking, parasailing, canoeing, rafting, snorkeling, scuba diving, and so much more!

5. Duty free shopping – Isla Margarita has been exempt of duties and taxes since 1975, thus providing tourists and residents with an excellent opportunity to acquire top brand name goods at no name prices. Be sure to check out the Sambil Shopping Complex, Galerias Fente, Jumbo, and the AB Commercial Center.

6. Adventurous excursions – Excursions on Isla Margarita are definitely the best way to see the island, its surrounding areas, and overall, experience the enchanting beauty of the Caribbean. Be sure to check out these excursions: Los Roques, La Blanquilla, Coche, Cubagua, Araya, Canaima, Delta del Orinoco, and La Gran Sabana.

7. Delicious local restaurants - When visiting Isla Margarita, be sure you have a chance try a few dishes local to the island. Be sure to try Casa Caranta, El Pacífico, or Nikkei.

8. Tropical weather - Temperatures on the island are fairly consistent at 80 degrees, and although located in the Caribbean, it is not in the hurricane belt.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Enjoy the Many Restaurants Near Caracola Beach and Spa Resort

Casa Caranta
Check out Casa Caranta, housed in a beautifully restored colonial-era house in downtown Pampatar. Italy, Asia, and America are the principal inspirations for the regularly changing menu, which is handwritten on a few large chalkboards and brought to your table. Options range from homemade pasta with shrimp and porcini mushrooms, to fresh grouper in a green curry sauce. With live entertainment most nights, this restaurant really turns into a fun meeting place around 10pm each evening.

El Pacífico
This is the best beachside joint of all the restaurants that line the strip of Playa El Agua. Get a table near the large windows overlooking the sea, or live dangerously and dine at a table under one of the tall coconut palms. Start things off with the plato de pescado ahumado (plate of smoked fish) and follow it with the fresh grilled red snapper or langostinos al parchita (jumbo shrimp in passion-fruit sauce).

Nikkei
This stylish restaurant serves up a wide range of traditional and fusion creations from the cuisines of Peru, Japan and a few of other Asian countries. The second-floor dining room is actually a large loft, with walls of solid glass on all sides. You may want to start with a Salad Nikkei, a small bowl of fresh mixed greens and seaweed in a ginger, honey-mustard vinaigrette, where bits of fried salmon skin take the place of croutons. It is recommended that you try to mix and match dishes for a Pan-Asian/Peruvian feast. Don't let the small sushi bar fool you; the sushi here is excellent.

Hard Rock Café
Looking for something a little more familiar? Check out the 5th Hard Rock Cafe to open in the Caribbean!

This 3,280-square-foot, two-story Hard Rock Cafe features an outstanding menu, collectible merchandise, and a world-renowned memorabilia collection for your viewing pleasure. Some of the many pieces of memorabilia on display include items from contemporary stars, as well as items from rock legends, including a costume worn by KISS guitarist Paul Stanley and Carlos Santana’s guitar.

Hard Rock Café Margarita was recently named Café of the Year in the Hard Rock International – Franchise Awards!

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Love to Shop? You’ll Find Plenty of Shopping on Isla Margarita

Plaza Bolivar
In Porlamar, you will find the Plaza Bolivar named after Simon Bolivar, which is the most important public space and Ceremonial Square in Porlamar. Plaza Bolivar is a pedestrian friendly area which offers visitors plenty of ubiquitous shops for exploring. This plaza is also the social center of the city where people meet to hang out, play a game of chess, or provide entertainment to other visitors of the area.

Avenida 4 de Mayo
Caracola Beach and Spa Resort is located near one of the top tourist destination on Isla Margarita. This destination is dominated by two streets: Avenida Santiago and Avenida 4 de Mayo. Avenida 4 de Mayo is populated with boutiques and shopping centers which carry the best lines of all sorts of merchandise including clothing, electronics, cosmetics, perfume, liquor, etc. Many of these items carry exclusive manes like Gucci, Fendi, Cartier, Nike, etc. Avenida 4 de Mayo also houses many international goods, fast food joints, and restaurants.

New Market of Los Conjeros
The New Market of Los Conejeros is a huge shopper’s destination featuring both food and apparel within hundreds of small stalls. On the eastern end of the market visitors will find T-shirts, shorts, towels, swimsuits, and sandals, among many other clothing items that are cheaper here than in the stores. On the western end, visitors will find a lively center for fresh fruits, vegetables, poultry, fish, and dry goods. New Market of Los Conejeros is located on the northwestern border of Porlamar near the corner of Avenida 4 de Mayo and Avenida Santiago Mariño.

Sambil Mall
The Sambil Margarita Shopping Mall or "centro" is the largest retail center on Isla Margarita.

The Sambil Mall is located near the town of Pampatar, just a few miles away from Porlamar, and very close to a large "Rattan Hypermarket" grocery store.

Some of the most notable features of the Sambil Margarita Mall include; a movie theater, a variety of dining options in the food court, a Baby Buggy child care service, various events, and a huge selection of retail stores.

Friday, June 4, 2010

Enjoy Exploring The Major Cities of Isla Margarita

When staying at Caracola Beach and Spa Resort, be sure to check out one, or all, of Isla Margarita’s major cities. Each city is sure to offer its visitors something different.

Porlamar- This is the biggest city on Isla Margarita and is known for its commercial center. It has a wide variety of shops and restaurants, sure to appeal to every taste. Boulevard Guevara, a narrow, store-lined road, is the best place to shop at good prices. The city also has two major beaches: Playa Moreno and Playa Guacuco.

Pampatar- This is the home to most of the largest shopping malls on Isla Margarita, including Sambil Margarita, Rattan Depot, Centro Commercial Avenida Bolivar, and La Redoma. It also houses the Castillo de San Carlos de Borromeo, which was constructed entirely of coral and built on the waterfront of the town center to protect the bay of Pampatar.

La Asuncion- This is the oldest city on Isla Margarita and is the capital of the Federal State of Nueva Esparta. It is also the center of the commercial and manufacturing industries, which include the growing of cotton, sugarcane, coconuts, and cassava.

Juan Griego- This city has small shopping centers and beaches but is well known for the fortress La Galera. La Galera is not far from the center of the city and it is where the fierce battle of independence was fought in the 1820’s.