If you have some free time be sure to explore some of the other little towns and beaches on the island that most tourists don’t get the opportunity to see.
Visit the interesting town of La Asuncion
Take a taxi (or a bus) to Plaza Bolivar in La
Asuncion. This quiet town is actually the capital of
the state (Nueva Esparta) and is located in a valley
making it very fertile and green. Plan to spend a
couple of hours wandering through the museums around
the plaza, where here is one of the most important
religious buildings on the Island The Cathedral of
Our Lady, built in 1.571. the Virgin of La Asunción
is worshiped here, the Cathedral has been declared a
historical city monument (widely believed to be the
second oldest surviving colonial church in the
country), walking amidst the colorfully painted
houses. There is also a very nice Artisans shop on
the corner of the plaza. Inside is a cafe where you
can get some good food. Just outside of La Asunsion
(just follow the signs from the plaza) you will find
the beautiful Castillo de Santa Rosa. The fort is
only about a 15 minute walk from the plaza but is
uphill. An alternative to the walk is to get your
taxi driver to make a stop on your way out of the
city. Although the fort is not spectacular, some old
cannons, ball and chains and the fabulous views make
it worth a visit. Admission is free (although there
is a place for donations, have 1000 Bs available)
and a visit the Castillo de Santa Rosa will not take
you more that 15 or 20 minutes.
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Visit the beautiful
national park of La Restinga
Although tours are available to the park it is
cheaper and incredibly easy to do this trip
independently. Simply take a taxi (or a bus) to La
Restinga and approach on of the many boat drivers
who will take you on either a half hour or hour long
tour of the mangroves. Plan on 2 and a half
hours at the park. This will give you enough time to
take the hour long boat ride (well worth the extra
money!) and spend a bit of time on the beach. This
tour consists of a half hour boat tour after which
your boat driver will drop you off at a fine shell
beach for as long as you choose (make sure to
arrange the pick up time). Although this beach was
interesting and worth the visit, more than an hour
or two would certainly be too long – there are much
better beaches on margarita for both swimming and
suntanning. . The taxi ride from Porlamar takes
about 45 minutes and costs vary. Buses run regularly
from Porlamar and costs are very reasonable. You
will find that the best time to visit the park is
around 2 o’clock in the afternoon as the light is
excellent for photographs. The park closes at 5
o’clock so be certain to leave yourself enough time.
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Watch a spectacular
sunset
Take a taxi to the Fortin de la Galera (free
admission) just north of Juan Griego. This fort is
perched high on a hill and is renowned for its
beautiful view of the sunset. If you arrive around
6pm you should be just in time for a spectacular
view of the panoramic sunset. Be sure to bring a
camera!
Go for a drive
Hire a taxi driver who will take you on a drive of
the north eastern tip of the island near Manzanillo.
Get him/her to stop frequently as there are some
gorgeous look off points that provide spectacular
photo taking opportunities.
Spend an afternoon at
Guacuco beach
This beach is less touristy than Playa El Agua and
is a favorite of the locals. With its crystal waters
and exciting waves.
A lovely way to laze away the day.
Walk up the Guayamuri mountain
At Los Mangos guest house you will be staying close
to the Guayamuri mountain, not the highest one, but
well known as the witch mountain of the island, the
walk is not easy to do, but you will gain a
wonderful view to the caribic and the nicest
beaches, truly a magical view. The rest will
stay with your imagination for a long time.
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