You Must Visit These Places on Isla Margarita

Cities:

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.

Excursions:

Los Roques- The clear, calm waters and white sand beaches will surround you in this true paradise. The National Park of Los Roques is comprised of more than 350 islands and a number of coral banks, keys, and small desolate islands for enjoying and exploring.

La Blanquilla- Here you will be able to swim under cliffs and find backwaters of interior beaches whose pearly white sands and clear waters have made this destination a must see site. You will also find the perfect cliffs for wall diving in this area.

Cubagua- Thanks to the influence of a nearby ocean trench, the water of the bay stays in the upper 60s to low 70s year round and it is still possible to find oysters here. Ruins from the past can be found on the eastern side and provide guests with a perfect opportunity to explore the history of Cubagua.

Canaima- This is one of the more impressive tourist destinations around the area. The Canaima lagoon is fed by several small waterfalls, and all of which can be enjoyed from a Curiara (a long canoe) to provide you with a closer view. Something really surprising about this area is the color of the water and the sand. Due to the abundance of minerals, the water takes on red color and the sand is a beautiful light pink, because of the presence of quartz.

Restaurants:

Casa Caranta- Housed in a beautifully restored colonial-era house in downtown Pampatar, this creative restaurant is a must stop on any visit to Isla Margarita. 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. With live entertainment most nights, this restaurant really gets going after 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 palm trees.

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. It is recommended that you try to mix and match dishes for a Pan-Asian/Peruvian feast.