Venezuela: The Return of Margarita.
- September 11, 2026
By Julia Henríquez
Photos: Demian Colman
With the announcement of this new Copa Airlines destination in Venezuela, Margarita returns to the international tourism scene with its shine undiminished, as locals work full steam ahead to welcome visitors. With three weekly flights starting November 26, the island will connect with the rest of the Americas through the Hub of the Americas in Panama City. Pack your bags, finalize your itinerary, and come enjoy the Pearl of the Caribbean. The entire island awaits you with open arms.
Margarita, between sand, sea and sunsets.
A pair of lounge chairs gleam beneath generous beach umbrellas in the middle of a broad white-sand beach facing a
turquoise sea. The ocean breeze tugs at my skirt and hat and threatens my cocktail, served in an enormous coconut shell. The scene repeats itself in Guacuco, Parguito, El Yaque, El Agua… How many beaches does a place need to earn the right to be called the Pearl of the Caribbean? I believe Margarita meets every requirement—not only because its waters endured centuries of pearl harvesting and still yield pearls today, but also because of the abundance, breadth, and softness of its sands, its colorful coral reefs, its extraordinary sunsets, and the exceptional warmth of its people.
Who is waiting for you, and where, on this island ready to open itself to the world once again?
If we begin with the beaches, we have to highlight the beach clubs and boutique hotels that surround them. The atmosphere with lively DJ, Zen gardens, massage areas, eye-catching cocktails, and excellent cuisine offers the ideal setting to relax between dips in the sea or exhilarating kite surfing flights. in seawing.
Porlamar y Pampatar: entre historia y modernidad.
In Porlamar and Pampatar, the island’s commercial hubs, you will find restaurants showcasing an outstanding culinary scene, world-class hotels
and shopping centers with major brands and indoor entertainment. You can also enjoy 360-degree views from the top of the lighthouse and a personal encounter with history at San Carlos de Borromeo Castle. Walk through the fort and hear the story of the courageous Luisa Cáceres de Arismendi, whose whispers still seem to inhabit its stone walls, recalling those who fought for independence.
Between Salt, Reflections, and Tradition.
At the Pampatar salt flats, the salt workers will tell you about life among pink lagoons that create plays of light and reflect the clouds on the horizon. There you will also find an entire community devoted to making all kinds of products with pink salt, so you can take a little piece of the island straight to your kitchen.
On Cubagua Island, just 45 minutes from Margarita’s port, it is Richard, Ronny, and their team’s turn to pamper you. Against a gradient of deep blues, they will treat you to cocktails, games, diving, cabins that seem to float on the horizon, and Johana’s exquisite seaside massages.
Nueva Cádiz, where the history of pearls began.
On the other side, in Nueva Cádiz, the first colonial city in South America, you will be invited to walk along the footprint of the ancient city in the middle of the desert. Let yourself be carried away by the history of the Guaiquerí people, the original inhabitants of these lands were expert free divers who hunted for pearls on a single breath. Discover the beginnings of the precious-pearl industry that made the island famous, and then, back on Margarita Island, visit the artisans who work these treasures into jewelry and handcrafted ornaments.
In Nueva Cádiz, the history of pearls lives on-from the guaiqueríes who harvested them by free-diving to the artisans who transform them into jewelry today.
Laguna del Morro, nature reborn.
At Morro Lagoon, Alfredo Lemoa will have the kayaks ready to invite you out for a paddle as the sun begins to descend toward the horizon and birds flutter above the mangroves. Lemoa has spent years protecting the mangrove ecosystem and developing a water-cleanup plan that is already bearing fruit. Among pelicans, frigatebirds, and flamingos, the Cassiopea jellyfish is returning—an indicator of balance that reflects the water’s recovery and, of course, signals that the lagoon is ready to welcome you.
Where gastronomy and culture meet
Carlos Guerra, of Guillermina restaurant and La Bodega de Pablo, will be preparing the historic house, where culture, cuisine, and fine rum set the rhythm. Here, traditional seafood dishes are elevated into sophisticated creations, sourced with respect for endangered species and fishing closures: a socially and environmentally responsible dining experience. Visit on special evenings, when the house garden becomes a showcase for local musicians, a stage devoted to preserving Margarita’s culture and supporting young talent.
In La Asunción, the island’s political center, colorful murals, historic homes, and the unmissable Santa Rosa Castle will catch your eye. It was there that the Spanish ultimately transferred the heroine Luisa Cáceres de Arismendi in a desperate attempt to defeat the independence fighters. Be sure to visit the Basilica of Our Lady of the Valley, home of the Virgen del Valle, the island’s patron saint.
Margarita, from the mangrove to the stars
At the center of the island, La Restinga awaits you, a national park that combines a 17-kilometer beach with a lagoon surrounded by 18 hectares of mangroves. Climb aboard a boat and travel through the romantic channels formed by red, white, and black mangroves. Here, the landscape is painted deep green in scenes straight out of a love story: boats glide across the lagoon as fish leap on the water’s surface, seabirds dance in the air, and corals and starfish shimmer beneath the clear water.
At night, Downtown’s restaurants are ready to serve you dinner under the stars, with Caribbean music in the background. Try dishes inspired by Arab, Asian, French, Italian, and Mediterranean cuisines—clear traces of the migrations that shaped Margarita’s rich culture. The sea breeze embraces the night, and music fills the air with that Caribbean rhythm that invites you to keep enjoying yourself.
To end on a high note, Fortín de la Galera in Juan Griego awaits you with one of those sunsets that remain in a traveler’s soul long after returning home. Above all, everyone who has built and preserved this paradise is waiting for you here; its greatest treasure is its own people. Let yourself be carried away by the islanders’ smiles, their ever-welcoming and gracious spirit, and their eagerness to reveal a pearl that has long remained hidden from outsiders but is now ready to shine again.
Margarita may hide for a time, like the sun on the horizon, but her radiance always finds a way to return.
Take a seat on the stone walls and watch as the perfect ball of fire disappears below the horizon. It is almost a metaphor for the island itself: the sun reminds us that it may hide for a while, but it never truly goes away. That mystical twilight reminds us that there is always a return—the triumphant return for which Margarita Island is now ready.
On Margarita Island, our partners in this adventure, Gilda and Emilio of BTravel, are also ready to welcome you and help organize your journey alongside our now friends, Jesús and Sandra.
Where to stay?
- Hotel Dynasty: for a stay in the heart of Porlamar, close to shopping centers and restaurants.
- Hotel H2O: for a more personal and exclusive experience at Playa El Agua, one of the island’s most iconic beaches.
- Hotel Sunsol Ecoland: for an all-inclusive family vacation. It offers a little bit of everything that makes Margarita special, all in one place.
Where to eat?
- Guayoyo Café: to watch the sunset by the sea.
- Kokua Beach Club: to enjoy a “coco loco” by the sea at Playa El Yaque, with comfort, style, and excellent service.
- Guillermina Restaurant and Bodeguita de Pablo : to enjoy a thoughtful dinner and a great rum tasting.
- Porta Rosa Restaurant: to try some of the best pizzas on the island.
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