Margarita attractions and other activities

Here is Margarita attractions and other activities list for those who travels with a non windsurfing/kitesurfing spouse or wishes to take a sailing brake on a particular day. If you are on Coche island, take a ferry back to Margarita. All attractions and other major activities are there.

Please, be a compassionate traveler! Do NOT use the service of Shark and Dolphin Swims Programs. The capture and transportation process causes the death of thousands of these animals before they reach the aquariums and water parks. Also the average life span of a dolphin in the wild is 45 years; yet half of all captured dolphins die within their first two years of captivity. The survivors last an average of only 5 years in captivity Truth Behind The "Swim-With-Dolphins" Industry

Cerro El Copey National Park is Margarita’s tallest hill (1000 m) located on the eastern side of Margarita Island. It was created in 1974 to protect an outstanding landscape and the island's only permanent water source. In spite of its low elevation northeastern winds carry enough humidity to maintain evergreens, dry forests and shrubs. There is a great variety of flora and wild life to explore in this fascinating natural area. While average annual rainfall on the rest of the island is less than 400 mm, the park receives between 600 and 1,000 mm, depending on the altitude. The average annual temperature inside the park is up to 9 °C below that of the rest of the island. You can take a mountain road that leads to the top giving you spectacular views of the whole island and even Venezuela’s mainland. There is no entrance fees but make sure you have a four wheel drive before going to the top.

If you are a nature lover head over to La Restinga National Park. This 10,700-hectare park includes mangroves, marshland, sandbar, and coral-sand beaches making a natural land bridge between the two islands that today are Isla de Margarita. A visit to the park usually involves a boat tour through the mangroves, followed by some beach time on the 10km (6-mile) stretch of beach that forms the isthmus uniting the two sides of Margarita.

The bird-watching is excellent in the mangroves, and the park's beach is renowned for its supply of seashells. To reach La Restinga, take a taxi or the Línea La Restinga por puesto out of Porlamar. At the park entrance you'll have to pay a 45¢ (25pesos) entrance fee and then walk to the nearby pier, where there are scores of boats waiting to take you on a tour. The boats charge $7-$16 per person, depending on the size of your group. The trip through the mangroves usually lasts between 30 minutes and 1 hour, at which point you will be left at the beach. Have the boatman wait, or arrange a firm pickup time and place for your return to the pier.

Los Roques is a Marine National Park which is located approximately 320 km (200 miles) off the north coast of Venezuela. Few places on the planet can offer human eyes such an extraordinary beauty as this National Park! It is also known as the Venezuela’s Maldives. The beaches and the snorkeling are simply out of this world. You can take a small domestic flight to the El Gran Roque island (aeroport code: LRV) in the Los Roques archipelago from Margarita and stay for a day or two there. We recommend to go on your own rather than with local tour agensies. There is often a cattle-car feel to their operation, and the price is hefty. Once on the El Gran Roque island you can easily arrange a snorkeling or diving in one of the local dive shops. Local fishermen will take you to any island you want and pick you up at the time you want for a little fee. Read more about Los Roques here

Angel Falls is the world's highest waterfall, with a height of 979m (3,212ft). The waterfall is so high that it is impossible to get the entire site into a camera’s viewfinder. It is located in the Canaima National Park, in the Gran Sabana region of Venezuela. The mist can be seen a mile away. (The fictional "Paradise Falls" in the 2009 Pixar film Up was inspired by Angel Falls.) Canaima National Park streches along south-eastern Venezuelian border between Guyana and Brazil. The sheer cliffs and waterfalls, including Angel Falls form a spectacular landscape. The scenery is breathtaking. It is absolutly worth seeing! The journey to Canaimia has to be made by light aircraft from Porlamar airport. Once you land you have a short walk to a lagoon with a magnificent view of the waterfalls and then a boat takes you to the trek into the jungle. It is like a journey into the lost world with nothing but jungle and mountains surrounding you.

This tour you will have to do with one of the local agencies. It costs $640 per person, children are roughly half price. The rates are slightly lower during the low season. Some tours offer overnight camping at the base of the falls.

Conditions immediately around the island can be a little too rough and murky.

Los Frailes, a group of small rock islands about 11km (7 miles) offshore are good for both snorkeling and scuba. Also Cueva el Bufón, a small cave near Pampatar thought to be a hiding place for pirate's loot; can only be visited with scuba gear.

Off Isla Cubagua, you can dive the wreck of a sunken ferry, with intact cars still aboard. Snorkel trips average between US$40 to $65 per person for a full-day tour with lunch, and scuba tours cost around $65 for a two-tank dive trip. Two major scuba centers on the island are Atlantis Diving Center and Ecobuzos.

If the swell is right, you can find ridable surf on the island. Playa Parguito, just south of Playa El Agua, and El Tirano, a little farther south, are the principal surf spots on Margarita island. The entrance to the surfing beach Playa Parguito is located about 2½ km (about 1½ miles) south towards Porlamar from Playa El Agua. In the corner where most of the activity is located the waves get large enough to attract surfers. You can access Playa Parguito either by bus from Porlamar or Playa El Agua or simply driving there if you got a rental car. There is a road to the north of the village, of El Tirano with a large sign at the entrance.

Take a drive to see colonial era architecture of Pampatar and La Asuncion. Pampatar is picturesque and calm. Founded in 1535 Pampatar still retains much of its colonial-era flavor and architecture. The main attraction here is the Castillo de San Carlos Borromeo , a 17th-century fort with thick stone walls and bronze cannons that once protected the town and harbor from foreign and pirate attacks. The fort is open Monday through Saturday; admission is free. Across from the fort, you'll find the Iglesia de Santísimo Cristo del Buen Viaje , an old church of great importance to the sailors and fishermen of Margarita. At the eastern end of the harbor are the ruins of the Fortín de la Caranta, which offers excellent views of the town and bay.

La Asunción located inland from Pampatar is the capital of the island and of the entire state of Nueva Esparta. The city's church, La Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, is said to be the oldest in Venezuela. A few minutes from the center of town is Castillo de Santa Rosa, another of the island's historic and battle-worn forts.

This history and architecture tour will take half a day to full day depending on how much time you are willing to spend at each site.

Parque El Agua is a fairly extensive and well-maintained water park with an assortment of pools, slides, and rides. The park is open daily from 10am to 5pm. Admission is US $21 for adults and US $16 for children. Located at Avenida 31 de Julio, El Cardón, on the way to Playa El Agua.

Diverland is a combination amusement park and water park, with a wide range of attractions and rides. You'll find typical amusement park rides, such as Ferris wheels and roller coasters, as well as go-karts.

The park also has dolphin and sea-lion shows, as well as a swim-with-the dolphins program. Captive animals are forced to live in artificial, stressful, cramped conditions, away from their family and friends. For example, dolphins in the wild may travel many miles a day foraging for food, socializing with pod mates, or exploring their vast underwater world. These natural instincts are completely stifled in captivity, causing a great deal of stress to the animals and consequently a much shorter life. Please, be a compassionate traveler! Do not use the service of Dolphin Swims Program or any other similar program that hold these wild animals in captivity.

Admission is $9.30 for adults and $4.65 for children for unlimited use of the rides and pools.

Margarita attractions and other activities.