Porlamar and the rest of the towns were merely small fishing towns and the only hotel was the Bellavista, built in the 50's by Perez Jimenez.

After finishing High School I lived in Pampatar with some friends in a tent on the beach next to La Caranta for over a year. Working in Porlamar in the new stores. Lots of fun memories from that time. From time to time we helped the fisherman in Pampatar bring in the sardines in huge nets, hundreds of thousands of them. My job was to jump in with a mask and a spear and get the barracuda out of the net along with some dolphins.

I've taken my wife many times to the island over the years and noticed the changes. Is not the same as it used to be. I remember being in Playa El Agua practically alone during the week days. Only a few "ranchitos" managed by some old ladies selling fried fish and tostones or BBQ chicken on top of a tire rim and of course cold Polarcita beers. Nobody was trying to rent you shade or chairs. No construction in site for miles. Pto. Cruz Beach was our private secret beach along with the far away beaches on the north side of Macanao”.

Note to potential home buyers - For the best prices it is better if possible to deal directly with the seller. If you are here on the island and see an area you like, stop and ask people in that neighborhood if there are any houses for sale. Or, in the case of an apartment/condo building, ask the manager or concierge. Many properties that may be available don’t have signs.

It’s fun to drive around and try to spot “Se Vende” signs! They are usually small, sun-faded, hand-lettered, and in very inconspicuous places. Also, tell everyone you meet that you are looking. That’s how we found our condo. No ads in the newspaper, no signs, but a restaurant owner I know knows a doctor that had a condo in the building I liked and the doctor was thinking of selling...

Long-term rentals are difficult to find because most apartments and houses are bought as vacation residences by Europeans and Venezuelan Nationals. Few will rent long-term because they want their holiday homes available to family and friends throughout the year.

However, some have opted to use income from long-term rentals to purchase another vacation home, and these rentals are available...if you search! 

Many people own multiple apartments here. Actually, real estate investments serve as a substitute for a  bank/savings account. If you own real estate it will always be there, and a bank may fail (no FDIC here). Also condo maintenance fees are low. Fees and taxes on a $100,000 condo would probably be less than $500 a year! Real Estate is booming! 18 to 24 months ago, it was a ‘buyer’s market’, but that is rapidly changing.

Margarita Island is still the least expensive island in the Caribbean (especially considering the good infrastructure and general quality of life.) I’ve done some searches on the net comparing properties with similar characteristics for sale here and what is available on other islands, and so far, what you can buy here would cost two to five times the price on other islands, and those other islands may not offer the cultural diversity that makes Margarita so interesting.

I won’t say we have the clearest water or the most beautiful scenery in the Caribbean, although in some cases that may be true. But it’s nice to go to the market and stock up on 20¢ beer and to be able to afford to drive to the market!

If you’re interested in retirement or vacationing in a warm climate with a slower pace, affordable cost of living and health care, and fewer rules and regulations, check my website www.retirecaribbean.com

To contact Scott Click Here

The following is the first article Scott wrote for the magazine:

• Live On Margarita Island On $800 A Month? - Answers To Questions
• Beaches Of Margarita Island - Venezulean Beauty