Playa El Yaque

Venezuela

Playa El Yaque was originally a fishing village and beach on Margarita Island situated on the south side of Island about 3 km from the airport. It has become one of Margarita Island's busiest tourist destinations.

While Spanish is the main language in Venezuela, it is easy to find someone who speaks English, French, German, Italian and even Russian in Playa el Yaque. If you have trouble finding someone, just ask at your hotel or any car rental agency and they should be able to direct you to someone to assist. The way to ask in Spanish is "Necesito alguien que habla...(insert language you need)."

There is beach access all along Av Mario Oliveros (the main road). Watching the wind and kite surfing is an adventure to those relaxing on the beach. The girls like watching the muscles and the guys like watching the skimpy bikini clad girls. It is also a popular family beach due to the fine white sand and shallow water.

It has become popular to pack a cooler with ice, beer, your favorite spirits, spending the day on the beach getting hammered. There is beach service all along the beach where one can rent beach chairs and a sun umbrella for the day. Many of the local bars and restaurants offer you drinks meal delivered to you where you are stationed on the beach. They bring a table with short legs and position it so you don't even have to get up.

  • Campello Center Certified Kite and Windsurf School, Hotel Paradice Addition, +58 295 988-4837. Run by Ricardo Campello, three-time free style world champion. Equipped with the latest JP Neilpryde kit, from beginner to freestyle/wave boards and a variety of sails.
  • Estredo Wind Surfing, el Yaque Club, +58 412 356-7221. Run by Gollito Estredo, four times world champion in freestyle.
  • Ipanema Beach Bar, +58 295 263-9127. 10AM-1AM. Sushi available direcly on the beach.
  • Margarita Xtreme Kite Center, +58 412 359-7030. Opened in November 2000 and since then teaching thousands of travellers to stand up and ride. Private or group instruction. Weekly trips to Coche. Wakeboarding, kayaking and boogie boards also available.
  • Planet Allsports, Windsurf Paradise Hotel, +58 295-263-8416. Offers international windsurfing and kitesurfing instruction in 6 countries
  • Sky Rider Certified Kite School, Jump & Jibe Hotel, +58 295 263-8818. The Skyriders kiteboarding centre is equipped with the latest gear from North Kiteboarding.

Campello Center Certified Kite and Windsurf School, Hotel Paradice Addition, +58 295 988-4837. Run by Ricardo Campello, three-time free style world champion. Equipped with the latest JP Neilpryde kit, from beginner to freestyle/wave boards and a variety of sails.

Estredo Wind Surfing, el Yaque Club, +58 412 356-7221. Run by Gollito Estredo, four times world champion in freestyle.

Ipanema Beach Bar, +58 295 263-9127. 10AM-1AM. Sushi available direcly on the beach.

Margarita Xtreme Kite Center, +58 412 359-7030. Opened in November 2000 and since then teaching thousands of travellers to stand up and ride. Private or group instruction. Weekly trips to Coche. Wakeboarding, kayaking and boogie boards also available.

Planet Allsports, Windsurf Paradise Hotel, +58 295-263-8416. Offers international windsurfing and kitesurfing instruction in 6 countries

Sky Rider Certified Kite School, Jump & Jibe Hotel, +58 295 263-8818. The Skyriders kiteboarding centre is equipped with the latest gear from North Kiteboarding.

If you need cash there is only one ATM/Cash Point in town. It is on Av Mario Oliveros and not well marked. It is directly between Posada La Mar and Gringo Rent A Car. It only dispenses Bolivares and you will be billed at the government exchange rate for non-essential goods.

  • ATTI Restaurant, Calle Principal, Las Colinas, +58 295 263-9850. from 5PM. Known for their "Dragon of El Yaque": pieces of tenderloin steak with fresh vegetables and ginger, flamed in front of you.
  • Beach Bar & Restaurant, Av Mario Oliveros (steps from the sea. 10AM -1AM. Beach Bar is a beach bar, restaurant and club where you will be able to get cocktails, eat, enjoy an unforgettable day/night on the beach on original furniture while listening to DJ music of different types.
  • Café Local - Thai Food. Thai cuisine, fresh fish, seafood and meat dishes available.
  • Canoa, Av Mario Oliveros (end of the road on the beach, +58 295 264-4695.
  • Enrico, Av Mario Oliveros. A pizzeria that serves thin crust pizza, Italian pasta dishes and seafood dishes. For those who like their food hot, ask for Enrico’s specially prepared olive oil.
  • Fuerza 6. Fuerza 6 Restaurant in the Center of El Yaque is one of the Villages restaurants with most tradition. The person behind Fuerza 6 restaurant is Senora Gaby, who came to Margarita about 15 years ago as part of a Chilean Windsurf Club and just stayed in El Yaque, a year later opened the Fuerza 6. Serving chicken, fish and typical Venezuelan food, its the walls are covered with Magazine articles and Images of worlds Windsport heroes.
  • La Chiva Loca Restaurant, Av Mario Oliveros (on the beach, +58 412 353-0069. Ask the menu in Russian if needed
  • Mare Mare, +58 295 263-5260. Local and international food specializing in fresh fish and seafood.
  • Mobu's Pizza and Pasta. Tables are under a churuatta, with lively background music playing.
  • Rosa Venti da Roccio. Run by Italians, open every evening for dinner. The varied menu offers pastas, pizza meat, fish and chicken. The breakfast buffet includes; fruit juices, coffee, tea, milk, hot chocolate, a variety of breads, butter, jams, cereals, fresh fruits, cheese, ham, cakes, eggs to order, omelettes and pancakes.
  • Sharks, Av Mario Oliveros (beach front, opposite el Yaque club. Breakfast buffet hours are 8AM-10:30AM.. open all day for the happy hour and an early dinner. It is known for cocktails, fresh fish, a local specialty called tostones, Mexican night, Venezuelan night and Hamburger night where you get as many burgers as you can shovel in.
  • Yaque Paradise Beach Restaurant, Av Mario Oliveros (beach front. Located behind el Yaque Paradice Hotel on the beach, serving seafood, beef and chicken prepared local style.

ATTI Restaurant, Calle Principal, Las Colinas, +58 295 263-9850. from 5PM. Known for their "Dragon of El Yaque": pieces of tenderloin steak with fresh vegetables and ginger, flamed in front of you.

Beach Bar & Restaurant, Av Mario Oliveros (steps from the sea. 10AM -1AM. Beach Bar is a beach bar, restaurant and club where you will be able to get cocktails, eat, enjoy an unforgettable day/night on the beach on original furniture while listening to DJ music of different types.

Café Local - Thai Food. Thai cuisine, fresh fish, seafood and meat dishes available.

Canoa, Av Mario Oliveros (end of the road on the beach, +58 295 264-4695.

Enrico, Av Mario Oliveros. A pizzeria that serves thin crust pizza, Italian pasta dishes and seafood dishes. For those who like their food hot, ask for Enrico’s specially prepared olive oil.

Fuerza 6. Fuerza 6 Restaurant in the Center of El Yaque is one of the Villages restaurants with most tradition. The person behind Fuerza 6 restaurant is Senora Gaby, who came to Margarita about 15 years ago as part of a Chilean Windsurf Club and just stayed in El Yaque, a year later opened the Fuerza 6. Serving chicken, fish and typical Venezuelan food, its the walls are covered with Magazine articles and Images of worlds Windsport heroes.

La Chiva Loca Restaurant, Av Mario Oliveros (on the beach, +58 412 353-0069. Ask the menu in Russian if needed

Mare Mare, +58 295 263-5260. Local and international food specializing in fresh fish and seafood.

Mobu's Pizza and Pasta. Tables are under a churuatta, with lively background music playing.

Rosa Venti da Roccio. Run by Italians, open every evening for dinner. The varied menu offers pastas, pizza meat, fish and chicken. The breakfast buffet includes; fruit juices, coffee, tea, milk, hot chocolate, a variety of breads, butter, jams, cereals, fresh fruits, cheese, ham, cakes, eggs to order, omelettes and pancakes.

Sharks, Av Mario Oliveros (beach front, opposite el Yaque club. Breakfast buffet hours are 8AM-10:30AM.. open all day for the happy hour and an early dinner. It is known for cocktails, fresh fish, a local specialty called tostones, Mexican night, Venezuelan night and Hamburger night where you get as many burgers as you can shovel in.

Yaque Paradise Beach Restaurant, Av Mario Oliveros (beach front. Located behind el Yaque Paradice Hotel on the beach, serving seafood, beef and chicken prepared local style.

  • El Yaque News (online edition). An online publication devoted solely to Playa el Yaque.

El Yaque News (online edition). An online publication devoted solely to Playa el Yaque.