← Culture & towns
La Asunción and Santa Rosa castle
The island’s colonial capital, with its sixteenth-century cathedral and hilltop castle.
- Best time
- Morning
- Area
- East coast
- Duration
- 2–3 h
La Asunción is the state capital and Margarita’s best-preserved historic centre: a square with enormous trees, colonial houses and a cathedral among the oldest in Venezuela. Above the town sits Santa Rosa castle, with the famous dungeon where Luisa Cáceres de Arismendi was held prisoner. From the walls you see the whole valley with Matasiete behind it.
- Fort
- Church
- History
- Viewpoint
East coast
AdventureCanyon abseiling
Ropes, green water and stone walls in the island’s wet interior.
- Morning
- 4–6h
- Demanding
- Abseiling
- Uncrowded
AdventureJet ski across the bay
Half an hour at full throttle over turquoise water, fort in the background.
- Afternoon
- 1–2h
- Easy
- Jet ski
- Family
AdventureSunrise paddleboarding
A sea flat as glass and pelicans fishing beside you.
- At sunrise
- 1–2h
- Easy
- Paddleboard
- Sunrise