Margarita attracts with its beaches, night life and commercial activities, its forts and colonial architecture and the kindness of its people. We invite you now to learn about and to meet those who cultivate this tradition.

Get off the main roads that lead to beaches and hotels for a while. Take a ride along those places that still preserve what once has been an important attraction of this beautiful place: its kind and servical people, warm and colorful  architecture and the oportunity to take home as a souvenir a beautiful handcrafted piece, made by the artesan,

We start in La Asunción,  a graceful and old town, coverd by lush trees shading and refreshing it. In its heart there is Plaza Bolívar, the Cathedral, a sober and simple colonial building. In the upper part of the valley is Santa Rosa Castle, built in the XVI century by the Spaniards to defend the town against pirate attacks. From there you may see the entire valley, from La Fuente to Sabana de Guacuco, a little settlement interesting to us due to its local handcraft.
 

Sabana de Guacuco: just 4 km from La Asunción. In the entrance of some houses you may see the beautiful basquets, made since remote times. The name of the round basquets is Mara; they were used to transport fresh fish, bread and crops from the fields along with other products. Its bottom is concave to help balance it for those who carry it on top of the head. The smaller basquets without handles are used to transport sweets and candy. The small basquet (Mara) was used as measuring unit on the island. People were used to ask for a mara of salt or sardines.
The artisand of the maras traditionally are men, but nowadays some women started to carry on this traditon. The basquets are made entirely by vegetal material.


Santa Ana:  Taking the road again, we head north- to Santa Ana, cosy village colled the Garden of Margarita because of its trees and graceful little  plazas.
This village is reknown for the fabrication of hammocks, an activity practiced by women since inmemorable times. The hammock made in Santa Ana is a kind of net; the conquerors called them hanging beds. Their beauty and complexity depends on the artisan. There are hammocks with towsels or without them, white, of serveral colors, con geometrical patterns and even with your name on it if you wish so.



La Vecindad:  is only a few minutes from Santa Ana.  Here another kind of hammock is made. The hammock from La Vecindad is made of a compact, woven fabric. You still may watch the women in front of their ancient wooden looms weaving hammocks.Traditionally the hammocks are straight (white), bolted (with coloured stripes) and of cotton (different colours in each strip).  The hammocks are still made as in ancient times, beacaus the tecniques and intruments are passed down from generation to gereration.



El Cercado:  In this village you may see the women producing pottery, sittin on the ground and  making the typical pottery without potter´s wheel.Si nos, only with experience, skill and creativity they produce numerous useful and decorative objects.
The clay is taken form Cerro de la Cruz and clasified by color. It is stepped on to turn it into dust, cleaned and combined with the adecuate proportions of water.


El Maco: Very close to El Cercado you will find El Maco. Here we may watch close up the processing and working of leather. It is curious and fun to watch the collective work, where men, women and children share the daily worik. Some tan , others cut, sew and glue until the product is finished. Suit cases, belts, saddles, tabacco boxes, sandals and shoes are made in this village. 

El Valle de Pedrogonzález:  Further north we reach Pedro Gonzalez, ancient port kown by the Guquiería indians as Arimacoa. Here the famous mapires are made. Mapires are bags made from woven palm leafs. They have been used for ever to carry all kinds of things. First step is to cut the tender palmsrpouts in the mountains of the island. This traditionally is a chore for men. Women take care of the weaving and fabricating a variety of beautiful and practical and hand bags

San Juan Bautista: Is said to be home to the best jewelers of the Island. Acutally there are some shops close to the plaza where you may buy anything from traditional jewellery to the most audacious work in nacar. San Juan is also known for its hats. Those are made from the sprouts of the datil palm.

Juangriego, Macanao o Coche:  In these villages  you will find scale models of the boats you see in the bays and beaches. These models are made by old fishermen.

Another expression of the artistry is the Gastronomy on Margarita Island, supreme example for creativity.