ISLAND OF PEARLS

When Columbus first came across the islands of now Margarita, Coche and Cubagua in August 1498 it didn´t seem to be a too important find on his exploration tour. Only after the Spanish spent attention to the Indians wearing a lot of pearls they discovered the richness of pearls around these islands.
From this day on the islands of Margarita, Coche and Cubagua became important trading places for exotic goods, pearls, salt, but also slaves. And this made the islands also a target for countless adventurers and pirates that have assaulted and plundered the islands many times. “Costa de las Perlas” and “Golfo de las Perlas” were the names for these islands that appeared on the log books of the early sailors.

The first city was founded 1512 on Cubagua and from this little island southeast of Margarita was it that the colonisation of Venezuela began.