Margarita Island

Isla Margarita is the largest island in Venezuela, lying 38 km off the northeastern coast. It has the infrastructure of a proper tourist destination — airport, resort hotels, and a reliable ferry connection from Puerto La Cruz — without the overdevelopment of more heavily marketed Caribbean islands.

El Yaque beach on the south coast has established itself as one of the world's premier kite surfing spots: flat water lagoon, consistent trade winds from November through April, and a community of international riders who have made it their annual base. Beginners take lessons here; experts set records.

The island divides naturally into the arid western half (Macanao Peninsula, rugged and largely undeveloped) and the greener, more populated eastern half where most beaches, restaurants, and posadas are concentrated. La Restinga National Park, a mangrove lagoon in the middle of the island, is the ecological centrepiece.