My girlfriend and I are planing a month long vacation/escape from reality in April and May. We have narrowed our locations down to Bonaire and Margarita.
I am an intermediate sailor, she is a beginner. We are very laid back, non-partiers looking for a place to enjoy the tropics, relax and SAIL.
Any input anyone could provide on either location would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Michael.
Bonaire or Margarita
Moderator: MK
Two great choices but if you only plan to pick one I would recommend Bonaire. It is a great place to learn because the water is so shallow and the wind is not as strong. My wife and I have gone to Bonaire more and she just loves the sailing there. Last year she claimed she got more sailing in a few hours in Bonaire than a whole week at the other destinations we have been to. If you don't make your jibe you simply stand up and don't have to take a lot of time and energy to water start.
On our trip to Margarita the wind was great all day every day but when I was on a 4 range sail they did not have small enough rigs for my wife. Margarita is a larger island to explore and Bonaire is much more layed back and almost no night life. If you are into scuba diving Bonaire is a must. Diving has been the main reason we go to Bonaire and the windsurfing is a bonus. Bonaire does not have many long wide great beaches because most of the island shoreline is right on the edge of the coral reef. Margarita has some nice beaches away from all the windsurfing.
Bonaire and Margarita are not that far away from each other and since you have a month you may want to go to both. We have traveled from Bonaire to Margarita and at the time it only cost about $75 more that just going to Bonaire. It may help to speek spanish so you know when to get off the plane. If you spend 2 - 3 weeks in Bonaire your windsurfing skills may want the greater challenge of Margarita.
Check out the destinations part of this site to see if Bonaire & Margarita are mentioned.
Have fun and let us know how the trip went.
On our trip to Margarita the wind was great all day every day but when I was on a 4 range sail they did not have small enough rigs for my wife. Margarita is a larger island to explore and Bonaire is much more layed back and almost no night life. If you are into scuba diving Bonaire is a must. Diving has been the main reason we go to Bonaire and the windsurfing is a bonus. Bonaire does not have many long wide great beaches because most of the island shoreline is right on the edge of the coral reef. Margarita has some nice beaches away from all the windsurfing.
Bonaire and Margarita are not that far away from each other and since you have a month you may want to go to both. We have traveled from Bonaire to Margarita and at the time it only cost about $75 more that just going to Bonaire. It may help to speek spanish so you know when to get off the plane. If you spend 2 - 3 weeks in Bonaire your windsurfing skills may want the greater challenge of Margarita.
Check out the destinations part of this site to see if Bonaire & Margarita are mentioned.
Have fun and let us know how the trip went.
Margarita may not be best choice
I had tickets to Margarita for Feb. 3rd but due to the strikes, murders, fuel shortages, etc, we decided to switch to Belize. You can't know what will be the political/economic situation when you plan to go but I figured it would be easier to go somewhere without the problems. We chose Belize for non-windsurfing reasons.
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My wife and I went to Bonaire last May & loved it. It is a great place for intermediate & beginner windsurfers. We also loved the island. It is very laidback & visited mostly by scuba divers. I was also looking into Margarita but chose Cabarete for this years trip due to the political situation in Venezuela which could have effects on Margarita. Bonaire is a Dutch island with many European rather than Spanish influences. I would be going back there if they had more kiting. We really had a great time there.
The biggest drawback about Bonaire is the fact that you have to stay about 20 minutes away from the windsurfing area. We got used to the drive, and actually liked to get away from the beach. It is very hot and always windy. Bonaire is a desert island, not tropical.
I would not recommend staying at Eden Beach Resort, (Sailboard Vacations puts people in there). We had a bad experience there. If you get to the point of picking a place to stay we checked out many of the places while we were there, and could give you some advice.
The biggest drawback about Bonaire is the fact that you have to stay about 20 minutes away from the windsurfing area. We got used to the drive, and actually liked to get away from the beach. It is very hot and always windy. Bonaire is a desert island, not tropical.
I would not recommend staying at Eden Beach Resort, (Sailboard Vacations puts people in there). We had a bad experience there. If you get to the point of picking a place to stay we checked out many of the places while we were there, and could give you some advice.
WARNING! Biased Personal Opinions Ahead!
Margarita is a perfect for all but the advanced wave sailor! I have seen dozens of newbie windsurfing folks try it for the first time at Margi! It is ideal for a beginer, as
the wind is side-on, and the water is shallow for 100-200 yds out, with a nice sandy bottom. You can stay in the bay and never have to water-start, if you don't want to!
When ready, venture out a bit farther to get some excellent bump and jump 2-5 ft waves! There is no shore break from the small 4-8inch waves on the inside, which also
makes it easy to get in and out of the water with equipment.
My wife, Connie, and I went there the first time 7 years ago because she wanted a place where she would not be afraid to learn more, with shallow water to make it
easy. She loved it, and we have been going back ever since, as it has been the most constant windy location I have visited in the Carribean, and the conditions are there
for most every level of wind-surfer! A great place for a beginer to learn to wind-surf, and awesome for the rest of us!
The non-windsurfing activities include, island tour, rainforest trekking, surfing on one of several beaches, free port shopping, gambling at local casino's, ultralight
flights, parasailing, and the usual resturants and dance clubs. The small village of El Yaque is the windsurfing center, and is located on the windy desert side of the
island. This means you need to take a short taxi ride or tour bus to do most of the above activities. The enviroment is like New Mexico, or Arizona, dry, cati, scrub
brush, and a few palm trees. So it is not tropical, but more desert-like. I mention this, as some think it is similar to carribean islands farther north, which have a more
tropical rainforest enviroment. 11 degrees above the equator, bring sunscreen!
If you want to explore farther, several low cost flights from the island airport, can take you to some truly beautiful sights to explore in Venezuela! I would reccomend
Los Roques as a sight to see! It's a park, consisting of several islands off the coast of S. America, near aruba, with azure clear waters and excellent fising, snorkeling and
diving! Or take a flight to the mainland for jungle tours on the Orinoco River, or visit the worlds largest waterfall, Angel falls! Plenty to explore beyond wind-surfing!
Compared to the more affluent caribean islands, Margi is a bit more rustic. The rules are the same as a trip to Mexico. Don't drink tap water, bottled water only, as the
municipal water supply is not treated with clorine, like here in the US, or the higher cost Caribean islands. Primary language is Spanish, if you know some it's very
helpfull to get better prices and make friends, but most speak some english as well. Rooms are simple and functional. Food is great, yet few options in the town of El
Yaque for 5 star fine dining, but a short 20 min taxi ride brings you to some of the best dining I've had, at the fancy resturaunts in the big town of Porlamar. We spend
almost 100% of our time in El Yaque the last couple years, as the convienience and great food in town can lure you to never leave! There is about 8 different resturants in
town, I haven't had a bad experience at any of 'em. Great oven fired pizzas, chicken, sandwiches, burgers, and seafood! Plenty to choose from!
Lodging, and gear should be arranged ahead of time, as each shop is limited to 20-40 sailors at a time, for the equipment they have. I have seen some arrange to use
stuff while there, but the reserved sailors get priority, and this can be a problem for intermediate sailors, to get the board/sail desired, when it starts to blow in the
afternoon! Price is highest at the shop beach desk, so arangements ahead of time are often much cheaper. Beginners can usually get access to equipment anytime.
I have always used Vela Windsurfing for all equipment, and lodging. They have all the new boards and sails every year, so you can try the very current stuff, (before
you buy something at home!) They have an excellent insurance program as well, for those of us interested in huge jumps, and the breakage of equipment that can
sometimes occur on a 15-20 foot crash landing! I know the owners of the Vela site at Margarita, Tom and Kathy Mastbaum. Super-great folks! They have a excellent
daily free clinics, beginner lessons for $, super helpful staff, and create a fun and social atmosphere! The Vela site is: http://www.velawindsurf.com Check it out, great info
and a few photos. Just click on the Margarita link for, local wind conditions and BS from the owner Tom!
With Vela you can choose lodging at the Beach Hotel, or Casa Rita. The Beach Hotel is, as it suggests, right on the beach. Beachside rooms look out on the ocean, and
its just a few stairs from your room to the beach and windsurf center located on the ground floor of the hotel! The Vela center is about 100ft from the water, so it is a short
trip with your selected equipment from the center to the beach! The disadvantage, is the occasional beach party with live band could keep you awake late, if your not
down on the beach dancing!
Connie and I really love the Casa Rita, it's about a 1/4mi from the beach, up on top a hill overlooking the beach scene. The rooms are bigger, with full balcony,
optional hammock, and surrounded with gardens of palms and tropical plants. It's a long walk, but only twice a day, and it's very tranquill for sleeping at night. Also, the
cost is less than the Beach Hotel! Both offer continental breakfast each morning, buffet style, and beach chairs for a nominal fee.
There are at least 6-10 additional places you could stay in Margi, Casa Viento, Sharks, Windsurf Paridise, to name a few. Most include windsurfing equipment from
one of the local surf shops in a package deal. Not much experience here, just word of mouth from other guests. Check the links in the original posting for other shops.
To get to Margarita, you need to fly in to the Porlamar airport (PMV, airport designation). There have been charter flights to Polamar, but none in the last couple years.
I think air-transat had a charter out of Canada, but even that might not be running. A charter straight to Porlamar is the best, but there is a standard flight system out of
Mami, Fl to get there.
The airline is Aeropostal, (http://www.aeropostal.com) and they fly from Miami each week day, around 9AM and 11AM to the Caracas airport. Then there is a connecting
flight from Caracas to Porlamar, each weekday, around 1PM and 3PM, same thing on the return. This requires a stop-over in the Maquetia It. Airport, commonly refered
to as the Caracas Airport, to disembark, get your bags, and haul 'em outside from the international airport, to the domestic airport 250yds away. Then check-in, and wait
for the connecting flight, a bit of a bummer. This is preferred to staying overnight as you will have to get transportation to any hotel. If you need to do this, specify a stay
near the airport, not 40-60 miles away in Caracas.
I have to mention, with the unrest on the mainland large cities right now, I would steer clear of Caracas. But be assured, the location of the airport on the shoreline side
of the mountain range on the north coast of Venezuela, physically and economicaly isolates it from the mainland problems reported in Caracas. I was vacationing, and
came thru the airport last year during the military coup to overthrow Chavez, there was no problems at all, in fact you could not tell anything so major was even happening
in the country, from the way all was run at the airport. Similar reports from other clients staying at Vela, indicate the same for this year; no problem traveling thru the
Caracas airport!
Once on the island of Margarita, it is served by a free port and an international airport, and has had no problem maintaining all good and services without interruption.
Reports from the Vela website show no problems for supplies and services in Margarita, so don't let the hype on TV freak you out to travel.
Margarita is a perfect for all but the advanced wave sailor! I have seen dozens of newbie windsurfing folks try it for the first time at Margi! It is ideal for a beginer, as
the wind is side-on, and the water is shallow for 100-200 yds out, with a nice sandy bottom. You can stay in the bay and never have to water-start, if you don't want to!
When ready, venture out a bit farther to get some excellent bump and jump 2-5 ft waves! There is no shore break from the small 4-8inch waves on the inside, which also
makes it easy to get in and out of the water with equipment.
My wife, Connie, and I went there the first time 7 years ago because she wanted a place where she would not be afraid to learn more, with shallow water to make it
easy. She loved it, and we have been going back ever since, as it has been the most constant windy location I have visited in the Carribean, and the conditions are there
for most every level of wind-surfer! A great place for a beginer to learn to wind-surf, and awesome for the rest of us!
The non-windsurfing activities include, island tour, rainforest trekking, surfing on one of several beaches, free port shopping, gambling at local casino's, ultralight
flights, parasailing, and the usual resturants and dance clubs. The small village of El Yaque is the windsurfing center, and is located on the windy desert side of the
island. This means you need to take a short taxi ride or tour bus to do most of the above activities. The enviroment is like New Mexico, or Arizona, dry, cati, scrub
brush, and a few palm trees. So it is not tropical, but more desert-like. I mention this, as some think it is similar to carribean islands farther north, which have a more
tropical rainforest enviroment. 11 degrees above the equator, bring sunscreen!
If you want to explore farther, several low cost flights from the island airport, can take you to some truly beautiful sights to explore in Venezuela! I would reccomend
Los Roques as a sight to see! It's a park, consisting of several islands off the coast of S. America, near aruba, with azure clear waters and excellent fising, snorkeling and
diving! Or take a flight to the mainland for jungle tours on the Orinoco River, or visit the worlds largest waterfall, Angel falls! Plenty to explore beyond wind-surfing!
Compared to the more affluent caribean islands, Margi is a bit more rustic. The rules are the same as a trip to Mexico. Don't drink tap water, bottled water only, as the
municipal water supply is not treated with clorine, like here in the US, or the higher cost Caribean islands. Primary language is Spanish, if you know some it's very
helpfull to get better prices and make friends, but most speak some english as well. Rooms are simple and functional. Food is great, yet few options in the town of El
Yaque for 5 star fine dining, but a short 20 min taxi ride brings you to some of the best dining I've had, at the fancy resturaunts in the big town of Porlamar. We spend
almost 100% of our time in El Yaque the last couple years, as the convienience and great food in town can lure you to never leave! There is about 8 different resturants in
town, I haven't had a bad experience at any of 'em. Great oven fired pizzas, chicken, sandwiches, burgers, and seafood! Plenty to choose from!
Lodging, and gear should be arranged ahead of time, as each shop is limited to 20-40 sailors at a time, for the equipment they have. I have seen some arrange to use
stuff while there, but the reserved sailors get priority, and this can be a problem for intermediate sailors, to get the board/sail desired, when it starts to blow in the
afternoon! Price is highest at the shop beach desk, so arangements ahead of time are often much cheaper. Beginners can usually get access to equipment anytime.
I have always used Vela Windsurfing for all equipment, and lodging. They have all the new boards and sails every year, so you can try the very current stuff, (before
you buy something at home!) They have an excellent insurance program as well, for those of us interested in huge jumps, and the breakage of equipment that can
sometimes occur on a 15-20 foot crash landing! I know the owners of the Vela site at Margarita, Tom and Kathy Mastbaum. Super-great folks! They have a excellent
daily free clinics, beginner lessons for $, super helpful staff, and create a fun and social atmosphere! The Vela site is: http://www.velawindsurf.com Check it out, great info
and a few photos. Just click on the Margarita link for, local wind conditions and BS from the owner Tom!
With Vela you can choose lodging at the Beach Hotel, or Casa Rita. The Beach Hotel is, as it suggests, right on the beach. Beachside rooms look out on the ocean, and
its just a few stairs from your room to the beach and windsurf center located on the ground floor of the hotel! The Vela center is about 100ft from the water, so it is a short
trip with your selected equipment from the center to the beach! The disadvantage, is the occasional beach party with live band could keep you awake late, if your not
down on the beach dancing!
Connie and I really love the Casa Rita, it's about a 1/4mi from the beach, up on top a hill overlooking the beach scene. The rooms are bigger, with full balcony,
optional hammock, and surrounded with gardens of palms and tropical plants. It's a long walk, but only twice a day, and it's very tranquill for sleeping at night. Also, the
cost is less than the Beach Hotel! Both offer continental breakfast each morning, buffet style, and beach chairs for a nominal fee.
There are at least 6-10 additional places you could stay in Margi, Casa Viento, Sharks, Windsurf Paridise, to name a few. Most include windsurfing equipment from
one of the local surf shops in a package deal. Not much experience here, just word of mouth from other guests. Check the links in the original posting for other shops.
To get to Margarita, you need to fly in to the Porlamar airport (PMV, airport designation). There have been charter flights to Polamar, but none in the last couple years.
I think air-transat had a charter out of Canada, but even that might not be running. A charter straight to Porlamar is the best, but there is a standard flight system out of
Mami, Fl to get there.
The airline is Aeropostal, (http://www.aeropostal.com) and they fly from Miami each week day, around 9AM and 11AM to the Caracas airport. Then there is a connecting
flight from Caracas to Porlamar, each weekday, around 1PM and 3PM, same thing on the return. This requires a stop-over in the Maquetia It. Airport, commonly refered
to as the Caracas Airport, to disembark, get your bags, and haul 'em outside from the international airport, to the domestic airport 250yds away. Then check-in, and wait
for the connecting flight, a bit of a bummer. This is preferred to staying overnight as you will have to get transportation to any hotel. If you need to do this, specify a stay
near the airport, not 40-60 miles away in Caracas.
I have to mention, with the unrest on the mainland large cities right now, I would steer clear of Caracas. But be assured, the location of the airport on the shoreline side
of the mountain range on the north coast of Venezuela, physically and economicaly isolates it from the mainland problems reported in Caracas. I was vacationing, and
came thru the airport last year during the military coup to overthrow Chavez, there was no problems at all, in fact you could not tell anything so major was even happening
in the country, from the way all was run at the airport. Similar reports from other clients staying at Vela, indicate the same for this year; no problem traveling thru the
Caracas airport!
Once on the island of Margarita, it is served by a free port and an international airport, and has had no problem maintaining all good and services without interruption.
Reports from the Vela website show no problems for supplies and services in Margarita, so don't let the hype on TV freak you out to travel.