Isla de Margarita

The island in the southern Caribbean Sea was discovered the 15th of August in 1498 by Cristopher Columbus during his trip to Santo Domingo. In 1500, the first settlement was established here in South America and since then the island was under Spanish administration. The Margaritenos were enslaved by the Spaniards to the extremely dangerous pearling, which gave  the island its name (Margarites  -> Pearl).  Simon Bolivar, after him the still valid currency Bolivar is named, liberated  Venezuela and the Island of Margarita in 1821 from the Spaniards.

In the early nineties, the island was rediscovered by the wind surfers. Since then, the Watersport tourism grows in El Yaque,  Windsurfing and Kitesurfing Contest are held and the best Windsurfers in the world use this special Spot for their Training. Therefore, the truly high Freestyle  level is not particularly surprising. A few are here matured into World Cup level, already three Worldchampions grew up in El Yaque and the young Margaritenos are just waiting for their chance.

The Island of Margarita is devided in two parts. The Margarita part is the green section, with impressive Flora and Fauna while the Macanao part is mostly covered in sand, the desert part of the Island but always worth a Trip. Beautiful Villages and Beaches, the Museo del Mar and the Laguna la Restinga, which connects the two Island parts, are really worth being seen and visited.