 Windfind
Condos |
| How
far from the beach are the condos? |
|
The
condos are within 50m (150 ft.) of the main beach area. See our island
maps for illustrations.
|
| Is
there a view of the beach from the condos? |
|
The sailing area is visible from the condos, allowing you to check wind
conditions any time. See our photo gallery for
pictures of the views.
|
| How
far from the windsurfing stations are the condos? |
|
A
short walk of about 50 meters (150 ft). All the schools are clustered
together on a short section of beach.
|
| Do
the condos have hot water? |
|
Yes, there is plenty of hot water and excellent water pressure.
|
| Do
the condos have air conditioning? |
|
Yes, each condo is equipped with two window air conditioning units.
|
| Do
you offer airport pickup/drop-off from the condos? |
|
We have a service for airport pickup.
We charge US$5.00/person and US$5.00/person for larger windsurfing
equipment/gear bags.
Taxis are also available at the airport. El Yaque is a 5 minute trip from the
airport. A taxi from the airport will cost you US$10.00 - US$15.00.
|
Margarita
Wind / Sailing Conditions |
| What
is the best time to come to Margarita for good wind? |
|
The windy season stretches from December to August. The low
season is September to November. We have a wind
chart of the average wind speed for more details.
|
| Is it
windier in the morning or afternoon? |
|
There is wind for everyone. Generally it is
windier in afternoon. The mornings with gentler winds are a great time for beginners and for those
practicing their tricks and maneuvers.
|
| What
direction does the wind blow? |
|
The wind is
side / side- on shore with a port tack (wind blows from left to right when
looking out from the beach). See this
map of El Yaque for an illustration.
|
| Do I
need to bring/wear a wet suit or shorty? |
|
Some people like to wear wetsuits for protection against
scrapes and
bruises. The water temperature is always between 27C-28C (80F-83F) and the air
temperature is usually around 30C (86F), so you do not need a wetsuit for
warmth. Many people like to wear a lycra shirt to keep the sun off.
|
| Do I need
to bring/wear booties? |
|
Booties are recommended for beginners although the sea floor is sandy.
|
| I have my
own gear, is it better to bring it or rent? |
|
Most
people find that having a full range of ready-to-go sails and boards that
you never have to rig very appealing. Not surprising, most guests have
preferred the rental option.
If you bring your own gear, the windsurfing schools will let you store it
in their facilities for a small fee so you don't have to cart it back and
forth. You should also check with your airline to see if they will allow
you to bring your boards and if/how much they will charge you.
|
| Is the
water shallow? |
|
It's shallow (waist deep or chest deep) for
about 50-75 meters (150 ft).
|
| My
friend/spouse is just learning, are conditions good for beginners? |
|
All
the schools are well equipped to teach beginners. Generally
speaking, beginners take to the water in the morning (9:30-12 noon) when
conditions are ideal for learning.
|
| Are
there wave sailing conditions? |
|
The water is mainly flat with ocean swells further out. There are rarely breaking
or rolling wave conditions. The steep chop/swells, however, provide some excellent ramps for basic
riding, jumps, and loops if your up to it.
|
| What type
of gear do the rental shops have? |
|
There
are a full range of brands and board sizes to accommodate large or small
sailors. All the major brands are represented: Mistral, Gaastra, Bic,
F2, Seatrend, Neil Pryde, AHD, and J.P. to name a few. Many shops also carry a variety of custom freestyle boards.
|
| How many
hours per day can I sail? |
|
Margarita
winds bring a new meaning to "working morning to night". On a typical day you can
start sailing at around 9 am on a larger slalom board and larger sails. At
around noon you could come in for lunch, wait to see how much the
wind is going to increase then sail solidly on smaller gear until
darkness. Most sailors, having partied late at one of the local beach
bars the night before, are thankful that the best wind starts at around
noon.
|
| Are there
local gear shops in case I forget something? Are the prices reasonable? |
|
There
are a couple of small shops in the local hotels for things like harnesses,
gloves, clothing. Prices for clothing, gloves, most gear are
reasonable. The local shop with everything you need is called
"The SailFast Shop". They have everything from clothing to
boards. They also make and sell the famous, must-have "Sail
Fast, Live Slow" T-Shirt that anyone visiting Margarita must have.
|
| I recently
started kite boarding. Can I rent kite boarding gear in Margarita? |
|
The
majority of windsurfing schools also provide kite gear. Let us know
if you are interested in kite boarding and we can book your gear for you.
|
Money,
Exchange, Travel Tips |
Which
airlines fly to Margarita? Can I fly direct?
What is the cheapest flight? |
|
Airlines
change their routes seasonally. Start by checking out our travel
information page. We have a listing of airlines that fly to Margarita
and Caracas (the other nearby international airport).
|
| Do
you accept credit card payment? |
|
Unfortunately
we do not accept credit cards at this time. Once your booking has been
arranged, deposits for your reservation may be made with a check, money
order, or money wire.
Normally, all payments are made prior
to your arrival, however, if you have made a last-minute booking, you may
pay upon your arrival with either a traveler's check, money order, or
cash.
|
| What
form of money should we carry? |
|
Our
recommendation is to carry a small amount of US cash for cab fare when you
arrive and the remainder in Traveler's Checks. Bring your credit card as back up.
You can use whatever your country's currency is and exchange
it for Venezuelan Bolivars at the exchange house in El Yaque. American
currency can be used in restaurants and shops, however, most retailer do
not provide a competitive exchange rate.
You can pay in most places with your
credit card, however, there can be a surcharge as high as 10%-15%
(Venezuelan Merchant Accounts are charged high commissions by the credit
card issuers).
|
| Should
I bring US cash or is my own countries currency OK? |
|
American money is more versatile as it can
be used for restaurants, shops, and taxis. Margarita is an international
tourist destination so you will be able to exchange your own country's
currency for Venezuelan Bolivars.
|
| Can
I pay for my gear rental with a credit card? |
|
Most
rental shops allow credit card payment, however, there may be a 2%-10%
surcharge. We would recommend using traveler's checks to pay for
your gear rental.
|
| Where
can we exchange money? Where is the best rate? |
|
The
exchange house in El Yaque offers excellent rates. Only the
banks in Porlamar (about 15 minutes away) offer better rates, however,
they only accept credit cards from tourists.
The line-ups
at the banks are notoriously long and slow, so we recommend the local
exchange house.
|
| Do
I need a visitors/tourist visa to enter the Island? |
|
If
you are arriving by plane, you will be issued a tourist card that you must
provide again when you leave the country. Nothing other than your
valid passport is required (passports must be valid 6 months beyond your
arrival date). If arriving by boat, you will require a visa. Please check with your nearest Venezuelan consulate for
official information.
|
Miscellaneous |
| Where
can I buy groceries? |
|
There are 2 small groceries shops in El Yaque which offer basic
supplies (milk, bread, eggs, fruit). A short round-trip cab ride to one of
the large supermarkets in Porlamar will cost you about (US25.00), however,
there you can find just about anything you need.
|
| Where/how
can I rent a car? |
|
We
would recommend booking ahead if you really need a car. You can book your car rental on-line with Hertz
or Budget. Jeep
and car rentals from a few companies are also available in El Yaque.
Expect to pay between US$30.00-$40.00 per day (plus insurance and taxes)
for a small compact car with manual transmission. Discounts of
10%-15% are common for rentals longer than five days. A typical
rental for one week will run around the US$300-$400 range with all charges
included.
|
| Is
there a place where I can access my email? |
|
A
hotel in El Yaque offers email and web access for a small fee. We
recommend setting up a web mail account (e.g., Yahoo
or Hotmail) if you need to keep in
touch while you are away.
|
| Is
kiteboarding/kitesurfing offered in El Yaque? |
|
Yes, there are several windsurfing schools that offer lessons in kite
surfing. We can arrange rental for you. El Yaque is a great place to learn
because of the shallow water.
|
