Playa El Yaque

El Yaque is a shallow bay on the southern side of Margarita where the trade wind blows across the water almost every afternoon, flat and side-onshore, over sand that stays waist-deep a long way out. That combination made it one of the best-known windsurfing and kitesurfing places in the Americas from the 1990s, and the village behind the beach exists almost entirely for it, with schools, board rental and repair shops along the sand.

What you'll find

• The wind - steady side-onshore trades blowing most afternoons in season.
• The shallow flats - waist-deep water a long way out, ideal for learning.
• The schools - windsurf and kite instruction and rental along the beach.
• The evening scene - the beach bars that fill when the wind drops.

When to go

December to June is the windy season, with the strongest and most reliable wind between January and April. The wind builds through the day and blows hardest in the afternoon. It drops off in the autumn.

What to expect

Wind is seasonal and the autumn months can be flat, which leaves little to do. The beach is narrow and crowded with equipment. The village is functional rather than attractive.

Nearby

La Restinga is north, and Porlamar is east.

Key facts