Isla Margarita travel guide

Fondly known as the 'Pearl of the Caribbean', Isla Margarita is part of the Neuva Esparta state, which comprises three islands off the north coast of Venezuela, Coche and Cubagua being its neighbours. Dotted with palm-fringed beaches, crystal clear azure waters and vast sugary white beaches juxtaposed by high mountains, Isla Margarita is a favourite attraction for most tourists who travel to Venezuela.

With year-round sunshine, a tropical climate, a laid-back atmosphere and oozing with distinct character, Isla Margarita offers world-class scuba diving opportunities, kayaking, windsurfing and hiking. Being two islands joined by a stretch of sand where the breathtaking Restinga Lagoon National Park lies, Isla Margarita is home to more than just rugged and natural beauty.

Boasting a duty-free status, many travellers from far and wide come here on shopping sprees, while the capital of La Asunción features magnificent colonial Spanish architecture dating back to the 1500s. Visit the Macanao peninsula in the west for some of the most pristine isolated beaches in the Caribbean, eat a coconut ice-cream while relaxing on one of Margarita's sandy white beaches, or sip on your favourite cocktail at a local beach bar while the sun goes down.