Nueva Esparta, Insular Region, Venezuela

🇻🇪 The Nueva Sparta State, is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. It comprises Margarita Island, Coche, and the largely uninhabited Cubagua. The state has the smallest area, and is located off the north-east Caribbean coast of Venezuela. It is the only insular state of Venezuela. The main island of Margarita has an area of 1,020 km². Its capital city is La Asunción, and the main urban centre is Porlamar.

Economy Trade predominates, due to the condition of Puerto Libre (established in 1971 by presidential decree) and its link with local tourism. The tourist activity has stimulated the construction industry, as evidenced by the existence of hotels, restaurants, holiday homes and entertainment centres, as part of an infrastructure that revalue this area for visitors of both national and international origin. Fishing has allowed the production of: needle, anchovy, tuna, snapper, corocoro, lamparosa, carite, torito, lisa, catfish, cazón, vaquita, horse mackerel, picua and sardine (shellfish); shrimp and lobster (crustacean); clam, squid, chipichipi, guacuco, pearl casing and oysters (mollusks). Agriculture is also seen as a complementary economic activity, especially on the island of Margarita, where the cultivation of eggplant, corn, melon, paprika, pinilla, sweet pepper and tomato stand out, as well as poultry farming, goats and pigs.

In recent years, there has been an increase in the resident populations of the three islands, mainly in Margarita. The Nueva Esparta State has become a place of rest and escape for the inhabitants of the great cities of the centre of the country, being a popular tourist destination of Venezuela.

Main shopping centers • Parque Costazul: The largest and most modern shopping centre on the island and the third largest in the country • Sambil Margarita: it is a shopping centre with a variety of shops and many alternatives for natives and visitors. • La Redoma Shopping Center • La Vela Mall in Porlamar • Rattan Plaza Shopping Center in Pampatar

Economy: Tourist Industry The region, due to its Caribbean beaches, is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Venezuela. The islands have beaches with conditions for surfing, diving, windsurfing, kitesurfing and other water sports, as well as historic colonial towns. In recent years, several projects have been planned to boost tourism, such as the Puerto la Mar Cruise Port, the expansion of the Santiago Mariño Caribbean International Airport, the Punta Ballena Lighthouse (in cooperation with the Venezuelan Navy), among others. On the island, there are several old Spanish fortifications (castles, forts and fortresses), which are considered national heritage.

Coche Island has exceptional conditions for quality selective tourism. To the west of the island the conditions for windsurfing and kiteboarding (strong winds of more than 50 km/h with a sea without waves) are extremely favourable. The effect of strong and continuous breezes on the island can be seen due to the sparse vegetation. On the roads, cycling can be practiced.

On the island, there are high quality hotels that offer tourists all the necessary services for a pleasant stay. In addition, both water and land tours and tours are offered.

Natural heritage • Tetas de Maria Guevara natural monument: it consists of two twin hills located in the centre of Margarita Island, near the La Restinga lagoon, in the Nueva Esparta state in north-eastern Venezuela. These hills are used as a reference point by local fishermen. • Cerro El Copey National Park: protected area located east of Margarita Island, in the highest mountainous region of the Nueva Esparta State in Venezuela. It was created in 1974 with the purpose of protecting an outstanding physiographic feature with an ecosystem comprising several plant formations, high levels of endemism and the only permanent water sources on the island. It is surrounded by desert plains, but has green forests and montane grasslands that feed on the humidity provided by trade winds. • Laguna de la Restinga: located in the Nueva Esparta State in Venezuela. This park forms the union between the eastern and western part of Margarita Island, being located in the municipality of Tubores, This lagoon is mainly made up of mangroves. There is a service of walks around the lagoon in boats with outboard motor (tapaítos), where they take and bring tourists to the beach. • Laguna de Las Marites Natural Monument: declared by decree No. 1.633, dated February 27, 1974. It comprises an area of 3,680 hectares, is located south of Margarita, and is part of the municipalities García, Díaz and Mariño. It is a shallow lagoon and meets the sea through a narrow mouth. It hosts bird species such as gannets and earwigs; previously, caimans and caracaras can also be found here. Many mangroves line the lagoon. • Macanao Peninsula: occupies the westernmost portion of Margarita Island. On November 20, 1962, the beaches, lagoons and mountains of the Isthmus of the Restinga, Bay of Boca de Boca, were declared of public interest.

Culture: Heritage • Basilica of Our Lady of El Valle: Gothic-style Catholic Church located in El Valle del Espiritu Santo, on Margarita Island, her name is in honor of the patron saint of that town and the Venezuelan Navy: the Virgen del Valle. After the San Nicolás de Bari church was founded, it was declared a Minor Basilica of the Nueva Esparta State, on September 8, 1955, from that date its patron celebrations are celebrated; beginning with the descent of the Virgin, on September 8 of each year. • Sanctuary of the Holy Christ of the Good Journey in Pampatar: patron of the Maneiro municipality and the fishermen. • Church of San Nicólas de Bari, in the centre of Porlamar. • Los Robles Church: Built in 1738, it is dedicated to the Virgen de la Pilarica, whose image of gold, according to legend, was donated by the Spanish queen Juana la Loca. • General Museum House in Chief Santiago Marino: located behind the square of the Basilica of El Valle. It is the place where General Santiago Mariño was born. • Diocesan Museum: where the relics donated to the virgin for the favors received and the costumes embroidered with pearls and silver threads by the hands of the devout women of the town are kept with great zeal. • Fort of Santiago de La Caranta: at the other end of Pampatar Bay are the ruins of this fort built between 1586 and 1595. It was destroyed in an attack by Dutch pirates in 1626. • San Carlos de Borromeo Fortress: there is no precise documentation to fix the date when the cult of the Blessed Christ of the Good Journey begins, however; it can be said that even in the year of 1748 when the temple was finished building, the Patron Saint San Carlos de Borromeo was worshiped. Protecting the bay of Pampatar, is this castle, the most important of Margarita Island. Its construction on plans of the military engineer Don Juan Betín, was in charge of Captain Carlos Navarro, who baptizes him. It was built between 1664 and 1684. • Santa Rosa de la Eminencia castle • Francisco Narváez Museum of Contemporary art • Ramón Vásquez Brito House of Culture • Marine Museum of Boca del Río: a non-profit private foundation and sponsored by Polar Group, which has a variety of samples of fish and other marine species, both live and dissected, including turtles, sharks, and others sea animals in special pools • Museo del Mar in Punta de Piedras, collection of archaeological materials from Cubagua and other potentially pertinent materials to be examined. • Museo de La Asunción, collection of materials from Nueva Cádiz de Cubagua is hold there.

Beaches • El Amor Beach, on the Coche Island • Playa El Agua (the most famous and busiest on Margarita Island) • Playa Parguito • Playa Puerto Cruz • El Tirano • Manzanillo Beach • Guacuco Beach (the most popular in the Arismendi Municipality) • Playa El Yaque • Playa Caribe • Boca Victoria Beach • El Manglillo Beach • La Isleta Beach • Moreno Beach: Beach located in a town called Moreno. Name given by the first settlers of the city, descendants of the Moreno family. • El Ángel Beach: It is located in an isolated area between two rocky hills. His name was taken from a naturally sculpted rock that resembled an angel's prayer. • La Caranta Beach: located near the Fort of Santiago de La Caranta • Playa Punta Arenas • Valdez beach • Bella Vista beach • El Morro beach (Concorde).

Parks • El Agua water park: which is the pioneer of its kind throughout Venezuela. • Diverland: a park of mechanical attractions with different alternatives for the enjoyment of adults and children in the Municipality of Maneiro. • Waterland Marine World • Hacienda Macanao • The Kingdom of Musipan (Musipán El Reino), in El Yaque next to the Musipan Villas Hotel.