Holidays in Margarita

An introduction to Margarita

You can't help but feel Margarita's cherry-picked the best of the Caribbean. It's as if Mother Nature took on the role of bartender and rattled up one killer cocktail. First she took Barbados' beaches, the aquamarine seas of the Cayman Islands and the lush slopes of St Lucia. A dash of Havana, a squeeze of Jamaica and a good old shake later and Margarita was born – with a frosting of South America to finish things off. The Latino trimming comes courtesy of Venezuela. Just 25 miles from the mainland, this paradise isle actually belongs to this Hispanic giant. So what you get here is a two-for-one kind of affair. One day you're living out those Caribbean fantasies, lazing the day away in a hammock, sipping fresh coconut milk. The next, flying over jungle on an Amazon adventure to the Angel Falls. Relaxation and once-in-a-lifetime experiences are doled out in equal measure in these parts. But stellar beaches and David Attenborough moments aside, Margarita's got plenty more up its sleeve. Head to Pampatar and walk along the battlements of the old Spanish fort. Drive up to the small, sleepy town of La Asuncion and take a peek inside the 16th-century cathedral. Or maybe find a shady spot in Plaza Bolivar and watch hulking sedans from the 70's glide past. Perhaps the best thing about Margarita is its pared back simplicity. The hotels are good but not glam, and parts of the island still have that endearing ramshackle feel you tend to get in the Caribbean. But that's all part of the charm. Granted, you can get flashier islands that in the cocktail stakes would come with umbrellas, sparklers and the proverbial cherry on top. But like its namesake drink, this zesty little number doesn't need to show off. Margarita's an understated classic. But be warned though – one taste is never enough… …

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