Snorkeling & Scuba Diving

As this is the Caribbean, count on some good snorkeling and scuba diving on and around Isla de Margarita. Conditions immediately around the island can be a little too rough and murky. Two of the more popular dive sites close to Margarita are Los Frailes, a group of small rock islands about 11km (7 miles) offshore that are good for both snorkeling and scuba, and the Cueva el Bufón, a small cave near Pampatar thought to be a hiding place for pirate loot that can only be visited with scuba gear. Off Isla Cubagua, you can dive the wreck of a sunken ferry, with intact cars still aboard.

Snorkel trips average between $40 and $65 per person for a full-day tour with lunch, and scuba tours cost between $65 and $95 for a two-tank dive trip. Contact Atlantis Diving Center (tel. 0295/249-1325) or Ecobuzos (tel. 0295/262-8255; www.ecobuzos.com).