THE LURE Eight miles south of Margarita lies Coche island with unspoilt turquoise blue waters and nearly constant trade winds. Barely seven miles long and four miles wide, the island is sparsely inhabited by fishermen yet draws watersports fans looking for uncrowded conditions and tropical beaches.
THE CONDITIONS: Coche has been the venue for the opening stop for the PKRA tour for the last few years and remains a solid favourite with most of the competitors. Super-flat waters from the offshore and constant winds all day long create insane freestyle conditions. In terms of perfect conditions, this really is one of the top five spots in the world. There is rescue cover, too.
WIND & WEATHER: Air temperature averages 27°C/81°F all year, peaking in September at 31°C/88°F. At night, the temperature only drops four or five degrees
WATER: The general conditions don't get much better than here and it's no wonder people return for their kiting fix year after year with average water temperatures of 24°C/76°F.
ACCOMMODATION: There's not as much choice on Coche, but there are three star hotels right on the spot and posadas a little further away. On the food side of things, the Paradise Hotel serves sushi and international cuisine and there are also a couple of other restaurants. No nightlife really though, unless organised by the hotel in high season around December, January and February.
AIRPORTS: Porlamar (PMV) : Five minutes from El Yaque Caracas (CCS): Then fly from Caracas to Porlamar, Margarita, Los Roques or Coche. Alternatively fly to Caracas, get a bus to Puerto La Cruz and get a ferry to Margarita. You can get to Coche by ferry from Punta de Piedras or by boat charter from La Isleta or El Yaque.
GETTING ABOUT: Hire cars aren't an option. It's ferries, taxis, planes, scooters or your legs in these parts. There are flights to from Caracas or Margarita.
