Travelling by Ferry to Margarita
The Venezuelan mainland ferry ports of Puerto la Cruz, La Guaira and Cumaná serve Margarita via the Main Ferry Terminal located on the Southern sdie of Margarita Island called Punta de Piedras.
Ferry schedules change drastically according to season and demand, even the set schedules are sometimes somewhat flexible as many of the car ferries will leave only when they are completely full. It's recommended to carry photocopies of your Passport, Driving Licence and Car Documents with you and to try to buy your tickets in advance on weekends and during high season.
From Puerto la Cruz on the northern coast of the Venezuelan Mainland to Isla Margaritas' main ferry station Punta de Piedras two companies offer ferries to and from the Island, Conferry (which can carry vehicles), offering two types of ferries, (leaving upto five times a day in high season) the older regular conventional ferries, taking between 3-4 hours each way, and and the more modern "express ferries" which take about 2 hours. Costs for the "conventional ferries" are around (BsF 150 return) per car on most ferries and about (BsF 75 - 80 Tourist Class - Convencional), round trip, per person. The next class up - (Premier Class - on the Convencional Ferry), is about 20 BsF more for adults and 10 BsF more for children and pensioners). The cost to travel on the modern express ferries is about (BsF 300 return) per car and 150 - 160 BSF per person, round trip. The cost difference for passengers is often tied to the "class" of your ticket, splurging for the higher-class VIP fares, (about an extra 110 BsF on top on the Express tariff) will get you a seat in an enclosed and air-conditioned lounge deck.
The other company is Naviarca Grancacique (which is for passengers only). Costs are around (BsF 100 - 150) round trip [adults] per person for the journey (taking just less than two hours) and ferries leave from the Naviarca Terminal. Prices are roughly half price for childern (2-7yrs) and seniors / pensioners.
From Cumaná on the northern coast of the Venezuelan Mainland (several hours east of Caracas) to Punta de Piedras on Margarita Island Naviarca Grancacique leave from Naviarca's Terminal. [BsF 90 round trip].
From La Guaira, on the coast about (30 mins from Caracas). Conferry run a regular express crossing to and from Margarita taking just under 5 hours to or from La Guiara. Because of demand and convenience the express ferry from La Guiara is quite costly, running around 165,000Bs-223,000Bs ($77-$104) per person, round-trip. La Guaira: (0212) 331-2053, 331-2156 it is perhaps suspended check if re-opened.
Ferries also arrive to Margarita and from Trinidad.
Contact:- Conferry (Caracas tel. 0212/709-0000 or 0501/266-33779; www.conferry.com), or Gran Cacique Express (tel. 0800/227-2600 or 0295/239-8339; www.grancacique.com.ve).
Buses from Caracas to :-
If you fly to Puerto La Cruz the nearest airport is in Barcelona [BLA] the capital of the state Anzoategui. which is about a 30-min cab ride away. If you take a cab from the airport make sure you take one of the airport "official cabs" as there are many "piratas" (unofficial) cabs which can be dangerous. Make sure you have your hotel info before you get there, as cab drivers are not too good at suggesting what will be the best hotel for you. Flying in to Puerto La Cruz can be very expensive. Domestic flights from Caracas can go for $150 one way per person for the 40 minute flight. Like all airlines, if you book early and outside of peak holiday times, they can be much cheaper e.g. $55 one way.
Flying to Margarita Direct from Manchester and Gatwick, UK with www.firstchoice.co.uk/flights - Flight Only
Direct Charter Flights to Porlamar [PMV] –
(Del Caribe General Santiago Marino International)
From MAN
Departing Manchester
From GAT
Departing Gatwick
28th Sept 06
Manchester - Back on Oct 12th
27 Sept 06
Gatwick - Back on Oct 11th
11th Oct 06
Manchester - Back on Oct 25th
11 Oct 06
Gatwick - Back on Oct 25th
Flights start again from Manchester in May. Departing twice a month for a two week duration only.
25 Oct 06
Gatwick - Back on Nov 8th
08 Nov 06
Gatwick - Back on Nov 22nd
22 Nov 06
Gatwick - Back on Dec 6th
06 Dec 06
Gatwick - Back on Dec 20th
20 Dec 06
Gatwick - Back on Jan 3rd
03 Jan 07
Gatwick - Back on Jan 17th
17 Jan 07
Gatwick - Back on Jan 31st
31 Jan 07
Gatwick - Back on Feb 14th
14 Feb 07
Gatwick - Back on Feb 28th
28 Feb 07
Gatwick - Back on Mar14th
14 Mar 07
Gatwick - Back on Mar 28th
28 Mar 07
Gatwick - Back on Apr 11th
11 Apr 07
Gatwick - Back on Apr 25th
25 Apr 07
Gatwick - Back on May 12th
10 May 07
Manchester – Back on May 24th
12 May 07
Gatwick - Back on May 26th
24 May 07
Manchester – Back on June 7th
26 May 07
Gatwick - Back on June 9th
07 Jun 07
Manchester – Back on June 21st
09 Jun 07
Gatwick - Back on June 23rd
21 Jun 07
Manchester – Back on July 5th
23 Jun 07
Gatwick - Back on July 7th
05 July 07
Manchester – Back on July 19th
07 July 07
Gatwick - Back on July 21st
19 July 07
Manchester – Back on Aug 2nd
21 July 07
Gatwick - Back on Aug 4th
02 Aug 07
Manchester – Back on Aug 16th
04 Aug 07
Gatwick - Back on Aug 18th
16 Aug 07
Manchester – Back on Aug 30th
18 Aug 07
Gatwick - Back on Sept 1st
30 Aug 07
Manchester – Back on Sep 13th
01 Sep 07
Gatwick - Back on Sept 15th
Flight Only with First Choice includes all exit taxes
Gatwick flights change to Saturdays in May.
Passports and Visas :- Visa Information: No visa required if you are a British Citezen. A tourist card needs to be completed on arrival. You will require a full 10-year British passport valid for at least 6 months after your return to the UK. If you are not a British citizen, you should contact your Embassy for information and advice on the passport and visa requirements of the countries you propose to visit.
Venezuelan Embassy: Consular Section, 56 Grafton Way, London W1T 5DL. Tel: 020 7387 6727. Fax: 020 7383 3253. www.venezuelatuya.com
Please note: This information is accurate as of Mon 09 May 2005. All charges and visa requirements are subject to change. It is the responsibility of all guests to ensure that they have the correct travel documents and we advise you to contact the appropriate Consulate. Unless specified otherwise, any Departure Tax stated is payable per person at the overseas airport at the end of your stay. Departure Tax: If travelling up to 31 Oct 2005, $43 (approx. £27) is payable at the airport on departure from Margarita.
How to get here: There are many Charter Flights directly to Porlamar from USA, Canada, Great Britain, Germany, Netherlands, also with connecting flights from other countries: Sky Service from Toronto, Rayan International from Montreal Air Transat from Toronto. Condor from Frankfurt/Main with connecting flights from Swizerland, Austria and Italy. Martinair from Amsterdam and Kopenhagen. Air 2000 from Manchester. Avensa from Madrid.
You also have the possibility to travel to Margarita through Caracas. American, Delta, United Airlines and Aeropostal fly from Miami for about 300 $ return. KLM, Lufthansa, Air France, Iberia, TAP, Alitalia, British Airways and Avianca fly to Caracas from Europe for about 500 Euro return. The connecting flight Caracas - Porlamar is about 100 Euro return but often not bookable in Europe or Northamerica for the same day. To make things easy we can arrange the ticket Caracas- Porlamar and also our incoming agent can pick you up at the international airport in Caracas and check you in for the flight to Porlamar.
Arrival and Departure: Your passport still needs to be valid for 6 more months. If you are travelling with children, please bring an identification card with the child´s photograph. Upon arrival you will fill in a tourist card which serves as your tourist visa, do not lose the copy of it as you will have to hand it to the customs officer upon departure. You might have to pay an exit tax of approx. US$ 22.- if your airline hasn´t included this fee when you purchased your ticket.
