A journey into Margarita Island:

    Arriving in Margarita after your flight from Caracas, you will probably find yourself in a taxi on your way to Porlamar. The first section of the city that you will see is somewhat run-down: rusty apartments huddled closely together on the city limits.

    As you enter the city itself, you will encounter lively streets filled to the brim with shops, homes, and people. The crowded atmosphere does not detract from the easy-going, friendly native feel.

    If you travel east on Calle Igualdad or Calle Zamora, you will encounter several pedestrian shopping areas, before coming to the Hotel Bella Vista. Here the streets suddenly become much more spacious and less packed, and snazzy, touristy stores appear. Visitors line the street of this tourist section, and there are fewer residents going about their business. This part of the city has two main stretches: Avenida Santiago Mariño and Avenida 4 de Mayo. Both of these streets are crammed with shops selling international items, and restaurants. There are many high-end shops that give this area a classy, stylish feel. You can find brands such as Nike, Ralph Lauren, Polo, Finlandia, and Lindt, here. This may be a relaxing beach destination, but it is still a snazzy one, particularly in this neighborhood.

    If you follow Avenida 4 de Mayo east you will end up in Pampatar, and the north-east part of the Island, where you can find Margarita’s most excellent beaches. There is also a huge mall called Sambil, great for shoppers, nicely decorated and a large variety of goods. There is also a big suppermarket called SIGO with many imported goods...it's really nice. At night Pampatar offers a series of good restaurants and bars,

The most visited beaches are about 30 kilometers away from Porlamar. The most popular ones are Playa Parguito (with great waves for surfers), Playa El Agua, the longest beach of the island (great for people watching during the day and full with restaurants, and a decent night life) but according to many visitors the most beautiful beaches are Playa Puerto Cruz (quiet waves during the first six months of the year and rough from July until November) and Playa Caribe, located very close to an important town called Juan Griego (where the conquerors fortresses and castles are located). If you are up for more deserted beaches you should head to the Macanao Peninsula, which offers nice beaches almost untouched, horse riding and jeep safari tours.