WELCOME TO MARGARITA ISLAND, THE PEARL OF THE CARIBBEAN

Margarita Island (Spanish: Isla Margarita or Isla de Margarita) is the largest island of the Nueva Esparta state in Venezuela. It is located in the Caribbean Sea, off the northeastern coast of the country. The state also contains two other smaller islands: Coche and Cubagua. The capital is La Asunción, located in a river valley of the same name. Primary industries are tourism, fishing and construction.

On behalf of the Local Organising Committe of TIES 2010, the Conference Organizing Company Eviatour C.A. will work together with its partners Macite C.A. and Sheila Gourmet C.A to ensure the best reminiscence on your stay in Venezuela.

Eviatour and Macite C.A. will help the participants in organising the best choice of FLIGHTS, ACCOMODATION and TOURS since the very start of planning their travel to TIES 2010 in Margarita Island, Venezuela. See our SPECIAL OFFER all inclusive offer (flight, accommodation and halfday tour¡)

Eviatour and Sheila Gourmet C.A. will help in organizing an exciting SOCIAL PROGRAM that let the participants to know the latin roots of Venezuela.

Fill the Application Form after selecting your choice of services or contact moc.liamg@ruotaive for details.

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Historical overview

Margarita Island land was the land of the indigenous group guaiqueríes before the Spanish colonization and was named by them Paraguachoa (place of plentiful fish). Guaiqueries were friendly and hospitable and dedicated to fishing. Some of them were agriculturists, and took advantage of the fertility of their valleys by cultivating their alimentary products. They also obtained important benefits from the sea products they were able to find on their fishing journeys.

The Guaiqueries were, in addition, skilful sailors, reaching the Orinoco River in their canoes and all the coasts of East and Center Venezuela making product exchanging operations with another indigenous groups. Their government was led by “Caciques” (Indian leaders) like “Charaima”, who was native of the Island and who gave his name to the “Morro de Charaima” today known as the city of Porlamar, and to the Valley of Charaima known in the present time as the “Valle del Espíritu Santo” (Valley of The Holy Spirit).

The Venezuelan written history began in Margarita Island, after Christopher Columbus sailed along the eastern coast of Venezuela on his third voyage in 1498. The Guaiqueríes received the conquering Spaniards with open arms unaware that they later would become slaves of their own wealth. They were forced to extract thousand of tons of “ostras” (oysters) that provided the Spanish Crown with a substantial rent, turning the Margarita island into a much appreciated jewel: “The Pearl of the Caribbean”. Margarita Island had to be protected against the increasing threat of pirate attacks and thus, some fortresses and castles were built strategically. Several of these fortresses remain today.

In 1814, the islanders fought successfully for independence from the Spanish after the collapse of the First Republic of Venezuela. Margarita Island became the first, permanently free territory in Venezuela. It was on Margarita Island that Simón Bolívar was confirmed as Commander in Chief of Venezuela in 1816. From there he started a nine-year campaign to release Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia from the Spanish Crown.

Gastronomical overview

The Margarita Island gastronomy is a synthesis of sea traditions, combining the Legacy of Guaiqueríes peculiarities and Iberic influences. Therefore this legacy is evident in the “criollo” food of Margarita Island overshadowing all dishes. The main basic ingredients, in the preparation of the most popular based on the rich local fish and seafood, are the onoto (achiote or red colorant used by the indians), garlic, onions, pepper, Margarita Tomatoes, sweet chile and coriander. Accompanying dishes are Plantains and two specialties made of corn flour Breads (arepa raspada) and a Polenta-like made of corn (Funche). Another important accompanying dishes coming from indigenous origin of Venezuela are cassava bread, boiled or fried cassava, meshed green plantain (bola de plátano), fried plantains slices green (patacones) or sweet (tajadas). While Europeans contributed a multitude of ingredients – wines, saffron, wheat flour, almonds, cheese, alcaparras, nuts, origan, olive oil, in Margarita there is also a culinary repertoire of African and Asian influences using preparation techniques and spices that today constitute the richness of the Caribbean Food.

The most outstanding Margarita dishes are: Pastel or Cuajado de chucho (a delicate egg based pastry with seabass shredded fish), the delicious variety of fish or sea-food soups in particular hervidos or sancochos made with fresh fish and local vegetables such as cassava, yam, green bananas, pumpkins, garnished with coriander, garlic, sweet chile, consomés or creams of fish and seafood are also common soups (crema de guacuco is an specialty), Fried or Barcacued fish with avocado salad and plantains, Fish filled with sea-food (Sierra rellena), talkary de chivo (gout meat cooked in a sauce spiced with coconut and curry powder). An Eastern variant of the typical Venezuelan dish (Black Beans, plain Rice, Shredded Beef, Fried Sweet plantains) substitute Shredded Beef by Shredded Seabass. As in every Venezuelan house, it is found a typical barbecue of beef, chicken, fish or seafood accompanying with cassava and local sauces of avocado and chilli.

Ecogeographical overview

Oriented from east to west, Margarita Island has a total area of 934 km2. The island is made up of two regions joined by an isthmus. The eastern part is the largest, where there is a massive mountain chain with a high peak, the Cerro Copey, at 910 m altitude. The mountain: Cerro Copey is surrounded by mid-height peaks separated by depressions and valleys.

The western part of the island is the Peninsula of Macanao, where there is a chain of mountains oriented from east to west, and reaching their highest altitude at Cerro Macanao, with an altitude of 740 meters. Between these regions there is an extended coastal plain that forms several sandy beaches, dunes, and salt deposits.

Protected areas have been created in Margarita Island around the most notable ecosystems: Cerro Copey National Park, Cerro Matasiete, and Guayamurí Natural Monument. They cover the major area of forest found in the island. La Restinga National Park (18,862 ha) covers mangroves, some arid areas around it, and portions of the northern Macanao peninsular coasts. Laguna de Las Marites Natural Monument protects other portions of mangroves and it surrounds Las Tetas de María Guevara Monument, (which also covers a small portion of dry lands around it).

Venezuela is among the ten countries with the highest biodiversity in the world, both in the terrestrial and the marine environment. The Caribbean zone of the Venezuelan coast is very diverse in geological and topographical features. It has approximately 3,964 km of continental coastline of which 68% fronts the Caribbean Sea and 21%, the Atlantic Ocean. Margarita Island belongs to the eastern upwelling region of the Caribbean, that ranges from the east of the Paria Peninsula to Mochima Bay. It is characterized by shallow continental shelf with coarse sandy bottoms and rocky shores among other Caribbean ecosystems including sandy beaches, seagrass beds, coral reefs, coastal lagoons, soft bottom communities and mangrove forests. High primary and secondary production of the area is due to seasonal upwelling fronts.

Littoral xerophytic thorn scrubs are low to mid-height communities (0,5–5m) of variable density. The communities are characterized from open, to very closed. There are strongly armed columnar cacti and spiny shrubs. These communities develop above rocks and sandy subtracts, adjacent to the beaches, between 50–100 m in altitude.

Flora of the Cerro Copey and adjacent mountains is very similar to that of the Cordillera de la Costa montane forest. As in other montane ranges, the distribution of vegetation follows an altitudinal zonification. Between 200–500/600, relatively dense semi-deciduous low to mid forest (10–25 m) is present. Submontane evergreen forest, betweens 500–750/800 m, are of low to mid (10–20m) density with 1–2 layers. They have a well developed understorey and abundant epiphytes and palms. An interesting montane evergreen shrub is made up of low shrubby-herbaceous vegetation from 1–3 m height, present above 750 m.

Excluding the Cerro Copey montane forest, the species composition of these ecoregions is common to other xerophytic regions of the Caribbean. This ecoregion is considered very important in terms of conservation, because it constitutes a refuge for a number of restricted range species that exploit very specific habitats along them.

The peninsula of Macanao and the tip of the Araya peninsula are considered as key areas for threatened birds in the Neotropics. Many sandy beaches along the eastern portion of Margarita and Macanao Peninsula, are permanent or occasional reproduction sites for the loggerhead (Curette caretta), and Green turtles (Chelonia midas).

The Parque Nacional Laguna de la Restinga includes a complex system of marine and coastal wetlands of considerable ecological and scenic importance. The complex of canals and lagoons is separated from the sea by a barrier (restinga) dominated by halophytes influenced by the subsoil of sand and seashells. The mangroves cover more than 1,058 hectares (one of the largest areas of mangrove in the Lesser Antilles), composed of four species of mangroves. Below the surface of the water, there are beds of phanerogams primarily of the two genera Thalassia and Diplanthera. Mangroves grow in shallow water and in transitional zones reached by the influence of the tides. They help to retain sediment and nutrients and prevent coastal erosion. There are four species of mangrove: mangle rojo (Rhizophora mangle), exposed to open water and occupying 45.9 per cent of the lagoon; mangle negro (Avicenia germinans), covering 40 per cent in the interior patches behind the mangle rojo; mangle de botoncillo (Conocarpus erectus), in sand in 14 per cent of the area; mangle blanco (Laguncularia racemosa), a lot less prevalent and covering only 0.1 per cent of both habitats in a few areas.

On the Island of Margarita, ten subspecies of endemic birds have been recorded of which at least seven are found within La Restinga national park which is the principal or exclusive habitat for three of them. These include the _ángaro (Aratinga acuticaudata neoxena), a Psittaciformes seriously threatened with extinction with a population of less the 110 specimens: the polla de mangle (Rallus longorostris margaritae); and chienguechera (Butorides striatus robinsoni). There is also the cotorra margariteña

(Amazona barbadensis) whose population is a greater percentage of the total bird population than the other seven populations known of this species. The national park is the most important part of the island for aquatic birds, several species of which are threatened such as the garza paleta (Ajaia ajaja) and the togogo (Phoenicopterus ruber). The importance of this area as a resting and feeding place for migratory birds has been well documented. Among the reptiles are the sea turtles such as tortuga verde (Chelonya midas), tortuga parape (Erectmochelys imbricata) and caguamo (Caretta caretta).