Isla Margarita is Venezuela's Caribbean playground -- a mountainous island off the northeast coast where white-sand beaches, duty-free shopping, and cheap flights from the mainland have drawn Venezuelan holidaymakers for decades. Foreign visitors are rarer now, but those who make it find an island with real character beyond the resort strips.
The eastern half is where the action is. Porlamar is the commercial hub, loud and busy, while nearby Pampatar is a quieter colonial town built around a deep-water bay and a Spanish fortress. The capital, La Asuncion, sits inland -- a sleepy place of cobblestone streets, a 17th-century cathedral, and the hilltop Castillo de Santa Rosa.
The beaches are what most people come for. Playa El Agua on the northeast coast is the most famous -- four kilometres of white sand with strong waves and a string of beachfront restaurants. El Yaque in the south is one of the Caribbean's top spots for kitesurfing and windsurfing, with steady trade winds and shallow water. The north coast is wilder and less developed, with dramatic rocky scenery.
The island's western half, the Macanao peninsula, is almost empty -- arid hills, fishing villages, and the Laguna de la Restinga, a mangrove-lined lagoon that is a national park. Boat trips through the mangrove channels are a highlight.
