Hello,
I have lived on Isla de Margarita for four years. I am an American. It is a very nice island and there are lots of attractions here. Probably the nicest thing about the port you will be coming to is the fact that there are local artisans and a free beach here. You can enjoy it all without paying to go anywhere. During the last cruise season there were 98 venders at the port. This is the first time they have had ships coming through the summer so I am not sure how many venders there will be but I am sure you will have plenty to occupy your time. When you disembark from the ship, if you go around to your right along the beach, there are chairs and a shallow calm sea to enjoy.
The shopping is tax free and the legal currency exchange is 1900 bolivars to one US dollar. They just have the one monetary unit so the exchange is quite simple. You can spend US dollars without exchanging them at the port or there is a currency exchange there if you prefer. There are taxis and tour busses at the port to take you to Porlamar, the main large city, full of stores for shopping. You can go to Macanoa which is on the other end of the island and is a national park with endangered species on it. It is more desert like. There is one beach, La Restinga on Macanao where you can rent a boat ride.
The main thing I have heard is that the taxi and bus drivers run on what we call Venezuelan time. You might get an ulcer wondering if you will get back to your ship in time. That is the nice thing about staying at the port and shopping, and enjoying the beach there.
The people here are very friendly and helpful.
Hope you have a wonderful cruise. Lots of the venders at the port speak English.
Gustavo hand paints scenes on t shirts and does a wonderful job. He speaks good English. Jesus is a silversmith and have silver jewelry at reasonable prices. He speaks excellent english.
