Property on Margarita Island, Venezuela

Buying property on Margarita Island is relatively straightforward for overseas investors. Entry is via a 3 month entry stamp, available to most nationalities. Margarita also possesses duty free status enacted in 1975.

The island is perhaps most famous for its beaches – many virgin. The largest, Playa El Agua is located in the north with over 4 km of fine sand. Playa El Yaque, on the southern tip of the island is internationally famous for its excellent windsurfing conditions. The east end of Margarita Island has considerable resort development. The west end of Margarita Island is the Macanao Peninsula, an undeveloped region with mountains in the interior and ringed by sandy beaches. Here wild deer, goats and hares roam the mountainous interior and the sandy beaches are mainly visited by the local fishermen.

With a population of just under one half million people, most live in the eastern part where the capital of Asuncion and the shoppers paradise of Porlamar are located. Just four towns are larger than 25,000 inhabitants. Porlamar, Pampatar, La Asuncion and Juan Griego are the largest towns with populations growing by 50% during high season.

The Restinga Lagoon national Park is Margarita’s prime tourist attraction. It was decreed National Park in 1974 and covers an area of 18,850 hectares. The area serves as a refuge for many bird life, pelicans, great white heron, cormorant, hawk, scarlet and white ibis.

The climate of Margarita Island is semi-arid with little rainfall. The island boasts over 320 days of sunshine per year, with temperatures ranging from 26ºC (78ºF) in January to 31ºC (88ºF) in September.

Flights to Maragrita are via Caracas international airport or by modern ferries from Puerto La Cruz Cumaná and La Guaira.