Pampatar makes a good base for the eastern half of Margarita: the colonial capital of La Asunción, the fortress of Santa Rosa, and the basilica at El Valle del Espíritu Santo are all within twenty minutes by car.
La Asunción — the colonial capital of the island, with its 16th-century cathedral, the Santa Rosa de la Eminencia castle on the hill behind, and a quieter atmosphere than the seaside resort towns. The Matasiete battlefield, where the patriots stopped a royalist advance in 1817, is nearby.
El Valle del Espíritu Santo — home to the Basilica of Our Lady of the Valley, the patron of the eastern Caribbean fishermen and the destination of the largest religious pilgrimage on the island each September.
Cerro El Copey National Park — the island's highest mountain (985 m) and a national park of cloud forest reachable by a short paved road from El Valle. A clear day gives views all the way to the mainland.