General Information
Margarita Island forms, along with Coche and Cubagua, the most
developed tourist area of the country, Nueva Esparta State.
Located at about 38 km north of the mainland and with an area of about 1150
km², Nueva Esparta State is bounded by Sucre State to the South, and by
the Caribbean Sea to the North, East, and West.
Margarita, the so-called Pearl of the Caribbean, is bathed by the Caribbean
Sea and it enjoys twelve months of splendorous tropical sun. Its geography
combines all the necessary elements to delight unforgettable and pleasant vacations.
The hospitality and naturalness of its people, together with a formidable hotel
infrastructure, make this island the best tourist destination in the Caribbean.
• Population : 300,000 inhabitants.
• Currency : The bolivar is the legal currency. There are bills with
the following denominations: 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000 and 50,000
bolivars.
• Currency restrictions : Foreign currency exchange transactions must
be performed to the official exchange rate at banks and money-exchange offices.
• Credit Cards : Credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club and
American Express, as well as traveler checks, are accepted in almost every
store, restaurant, hotel, bar and nightclub.
• Tips : Restaurant, bar, and club bills include a 10% service charge;
however, it is a custom to compensate for a good service by tipping waiters
and waitresses, tourist guides, hotel maids and porters. An adequate tip may
well be over 5% of the total bill.
· Water: Tap water is not recommended for human consumption; it is best
to turn to mineral or filtered water.
• Transportation : Public transportation in Margarita may take you to
any place around the island at a very reasonable price; however, it is a very
slow means when moving from one town to another since stops are not respected
and the driver may well stop at any time and place a passenger asks him to.
It is recommended to use the hotel taxi service.
• Electricity : In margarita, like for the rest of the country, the electricity
works with a 110 voltage.
