La Isla Margarita, is situated 38 km north east of the mainland of Venezuela and far off the of most Atlantic tropical storms. There are lots of beaches to explore, and the ones on the Macanao side are much less visited.
The average temperature is 27 degrees Celsius and the annual rainfall averages 27 inches, so the island is largely arid with some verdant, tropical areas.
Margarita Island has a populataion of about 300,000, mostly living in and around the capital of La Asuncion on the eastern side of the island. You will find lots of shopping here - in Sambil (upscale mall) and in the streets of Porlamar.
Macanao Peninsula (western side of the island is less populated and not as attractive to tourist development because water is scarce. There is some wildlife - deer, goats and hares in the mountainous interior. Fishermen use the beaches for sport or to earn a living.
Margarita is a contradiction of a Caribbean island blended with big city living. Meaning, you go to the virgin island of Blanquilla (across from Margarita) one day and on the next, shop in one of the most diverse and upscale malls in the world. A great destination for a family with diverse requests. A good place to live for someone looking for island living with all the amenities of a civilized enviornment.
The trendy city of Pampatar boasts some of the most chic and exclusive restaurants and bars. Even the most snobbish visitor will be satisfied. The sporty type has their pick of wakeboarding, surfing, sailing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, horsebackriding, tennis, golf and more. Water enthousiasts have snorkling, diving and deep see fishing. Nature lovers have a diverse flora & fauna.
It is not the most beautiful of Caribbean islands, but it probably has the most diversity, the people are extremely congenial, the beaches are beautiful, the nightlife fun and you will never feel worried that you can't get what you need here....
Prices used to be very low on hotels, restaurants and activities but Margarita, very recently, has gotten in par with the lesser priced Caribbean islands. So Margarita is affordable but no longer extremely cheap.
Visit the Margarita Island Forum here on TripAdvisor for information.
