A Nice, Quiet Spring Break on Margarita Island

Florida and Cancun may be popular spring break locations for rowdy students looking for a crazy good time and perhaps a 30 second spot in a Girls Gone Wild video, but what if you want to just relax in the warm sand and sun without beer spilled on you everywhere you go?

If you are such a person and want to try something different, Margarita Island, Venezuela, may be the perfect vacation spot. It offers many all-inclusive resorts and all of the same amenities as other Caribbean islands, but with a smaller budget.

It is perfectly hot on Margarita Island and great for suntanning. There is never a cold day during spring break season, and the nights are comfortably warm. It is also not overly humid (I normally have breathing problems in high humidity but I was fine); if you look up at the night sky, you may find a perfect circular rainbow wrapped around the moon.

Margarita Island is an island off mainland Venezuela. Because of this, you don't have to worry about political unrest as it usually does not affect the island. On the other hand, it is best to stick to all-inclusive resorts on this island, just to be on the safe side.

When I went with a couple of friends a few years ago, we were advised to take taxi cabs if we ventured off the resort. One night, two of my friends decided to go out (while I fended for myself when two romantically-inclined Portugese guys decided to serenade me with a guitar and improvised songs); they told me afterward that the cabs were not particularly safe and that they had to hang onto the doors to keep them from opening during the ride, so even if you take a taxi cab, remember to stay alert.

However, generally there is no need to worry, because the resorts arrange excursions that will take you wherever you want to go. Every staff member I encountered was kind and friendly. The excursion companies also know what they are doing.

Playa El Aqua is a beautiful beach on the northeast side of the island. It is the most popular beach on Margarita Island. Be sure to find a nice resort on Playa El Aqua. There are many restaurants and shops in this area, and unlike most other parts of the island, there is actually nightlife here . You are fine as long as you stay in well-lit areas with the crowds at night.

Playa Caribe has a few resorts, but you need to be careful as the beach is not as sandy or calm as Playa El Aqua. I was standing calf deep in water once and got knocked over by a huge wave, which resulted in almost losing top and bottom of my swim wear, getting rug-burn like rashes from being dragged across the beach by the wave and the discovery of sand in my bikini a year later, after multiple washes! While I thought it was hilariously fun, I don't think most people would have enjoyed that.

A common excursion is a tour around the island, which includes visiting a few towns such as Porlamar, Pampatar, and Juan Griego, colonial churches, local markets, and La Restinga Lagoon National Park where you might find seahorses.

Punta Arenas has a beautiful quiet beach with soft sand that is at the western-most point of Margarita Island. It was drizzling at the time that I was there, but nonetheless, the beach here is so serene; those of us who didn't care about the slightly chilly temperature went for a swim. The waves are gentle and the water is shallow; it is perfect for anyone who isn't confident in his swimming ability but loves the ocean.

Be sure to do the Jeep Safari tour, which is exciting and fun. You meet other tourists that way and see parts of the island where there is no road.

Overlooking the island and watching the sunset on Fortin de la Galera in Juan Griego is the perfect way to end an island tour excursion.

Another excursion that I highly recommend is a day trip to Coche Island. A catamaran, staffed with wonderfully knowledgeable people, takes you there speedily. If the weather cooperates, which it normally does earlier in the day, the catamaran may stop in the middle of the ocean for an incredible swimming or snorkeling session. You can wear life jackets if you are not a strong swimmer.

On Coche Island, you can play on the beautiful white beach or do various water sports. You can buy fresh oysters from local vendors, at your own risk, of course, but they looked absolutely delicious and you really can't get oysters fresher than right out of the ocean. A man who offered me some of his oysters had no stomach problem afterward, and I can't give a direct review of the oysters because he ate them all! That was how good they must have been!

The highlight of Coche Island for me was a visit to a salt mine. The water is warm and shallow here and you float better because of the salt content in the shallow water. You don't visit for the salt or water though, but the mud underneath. Once you dig your hands under the surface, you can scoop up the mud and rub it all over your body; it is supposed to be great for your skin. Everyone goes back to the beach afterward and washes off the mud in the ocean.

There are jellyfish in the water here and I got stung by one, although no one else did. I might have been lucky though, the sting didn't even cut into the skin and I was only red and feeling sporadic mini shocks for the rest of the day.

The only time I don't recommend Margarita Island is if your spring break is during Easter week (for students from Northridge California State University and Louisiana State University, among a few others) if you intend to drink at all. Due to too many drinking and driving accidents during this week, there is a country-wide alcohol ban during Easter week. We heard rumours that most all-inclusive resorts ignore the ban, but it sort of dampens the mood when the military marches in, guns in hands, to check -- unless you really love a man in uniform, that is.

Margarita Island is by no means a "perfect paradise", but it is interesting and fits in a student budget for those who enjoy good-natured fun and actually like vacations that aren't perfect. Personally, I think the little quirks and odd situations that I encountered on Margarita Island made the trip perfectly imperfect and one of my most memorable vacations ever.