Margarita Island

Every time I can, I visit Margarita Island in Nueva Esparta State, Venezuela.

Today, you can take a plane from different parts around the globe directly to this tropical island without stopping in Caracas.

From Anzoategui State, in Puerto la Cruz, you can go to Margarita by ferry in 3 or 4 hours (it all depends which Ferry, I recommend you to use the Express (3 hrs or less), it's cleaner, secure and faster.

I usually stay for 3-4 days and you can visit every corner of the island, plus the neighbors such as Cubagua and Coche. Naturally, you'll find lots of beaches and every one of them are different and perfect for every one. My favorite one is El Yaque (close to the airport and ferry port), although it's pretty windy but it's a great spot to practice sports such as Kite and Wind surf. From there, you can take a boat to Coche Island. At El Yaque, you can find small hotels but perfect to stay and relax, restaurants along the beach, a pizzeria, few stores. It's a small town that makes you fee away from everything. Even at night, especially during the weekends or holidays, a great party takes place by few deejays at the beach, so forget about shoes, join the party in your swimming suit! 

If you rent a car, however you can find a taxi everywhere (always try to get them from the hotel or a mall), take a trip around the island. I did it once and it was amazing to see a lot of the beaches, gorgeous views and great places to stop and take a picture. Remember how cheap the gas is in Venezuela!

Other beaches to visit, El Agua and Parguito, the party will begin at the beach during the highest season (specially during Holy week and carnival). There are very pleasant hotels by El Agua beach, plus restaurants in front of the beach, and little stores perfect to buy souvenirs for family and friends that are missing out the fun in Margarita Island!

Pampatar another place you can't miss to go. Restaurants where you can enjoy a fun time with friends or a romantic moment with that special one. Plus there's a fort where you can enjoy the gorgeous view to the bay.

Close to Pampatar, Sambil mall will invite you buy from its stores, from local to international brands. Remember Margarita is taxes free!

In Juan Griego, you'll find another fort on top of the hill, and take a walk around the stores in town. Since Margarita is located in the Caribbean sea, there are a lot of forts to visit, each one with different history.

Late in the afternoon, walk by 4 de Mayo and Santiago Mariño. Lots of stores, vendors by the sidewalk where you can find handicrafts and more from locals.

Naturally, Margarita not only brings you the best during the day, the night life is full of energy wherever you go! Visit the beautiful place of Kamy Beach (yes, right by the beach!). One of my favorite places to visit is an English pub 'The British Bulldog' at Centro Comercial Costa Azul. Live music every night with great local bands, in English or Spanish, it is a great place to hang out. If feel like going to a chill out place, I really like spending some time in Yaque Beach, where they have few lounges by the beach.

Remember to watch Acceso Total's video about Margarita and Coche Island! What are you waiting for to book your trip?? :)

Keep clean the beaches and places you visit!

Florida Keys

All you need is a car to drive from Miami and enjoy a great time in the Florida Keys!

If you have enough time, take it easy then! Drive early in the morning from Miami through the US1 south. Doesn't matter where you look, it's a breathtaking view.

The first Key to meet, Key Largo. Stop by the Bass Pro Shop and enjoy the beautiful scenery while shopping. In Key Largo you'll find John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, where you can enjoy a relaxing day at the beach, camp for the weekend, rent a boat or enjoy scuba diving in the first underwater park created in USA! Amazing things you can't find anywhere else, such as the Christ of the Abyss.

Keep going until Islamorada. Acceso Total 29's favorite place to visit is right there, Holiday Isle! Enjoy a yummy lunch in front of the ocean and don't forget to try the Pina Coladas and the famous Key Lime Pie! And why not renting a wave-runner? Feel closer to the clear waters!

Close to Holiday Isle, you'll find Theater of the Sea. Watch and swim with dolphins, sea lions, sting rays and more beautiful animals from the sea.

Next to visit, Marathon. Before crossing the famous 7 miles bridge, stop by the Dolphin Research Center and know more about those amazing and beautiful animals. And later enjoy the sun at Sombrero Beach. 


Take a walk at the entrance of the 7 miles bridge, wonderful place for pictures.

After the long bridge, you'll meet the Lower Keys where Bahia Honda State Park is located. More beautiful beaches to see and enjoy!

Drive carefully, you might see adorable Key Deers on the way to Key West!

Welcome to Key West! Even when it's a small city, you'll never get bored because there's always something to see and do! From bars, live music, excellent restaurants, rides by trolleys around the city or you might even rent a scooter and go around the key on your own!.

Get to know the Southernmost Point in USA, only 90 miles from Cuba!.

One thing I really want to do: take a tour to visit Dry Tortugas National Park.

What I love the most? By the end of the afternoon, take a walk by Duval Street. Party never stops there! However, before the party, enjoy the sunset with live entertainment and vendors by the dock!

I never have a bad time while visiting Key West! Love it! You won't regret of visiting!

Enjoy the road trip through the Florida Keys www.accesototal29.blogspot.com You can also check it out with English subtitles here


Keep it clean! ;)

South Florida

South Florida... my 2nd home... There's always something to do! From Miami Beach to Las Olas Blvd. in Ft. Lauderdale.

Take a walk by the famous street in South Beach (known by locals as SoBe): Ocean Dr. You will feel as walking at one of the Hollywood films (Scarface, The birdcage, Bad Boys, There's something about Mary...) Exotic cars, famous restaurants, Deco style hotels, stores open until 2am (some of them) and the most gorgeous and sexy people from around the globe in one place! If you're lucky enough, you might even walk into a celebrity or through a film set! How many have I seen?! Or take a picture next to Casablanca's car and Humphrey Bogart.

In South Beach, Collins and Washington Av. are very well known by its stores plus the awesome nightlife. You can find lots of restaurants, pubs, variety of night clubs as Mansion where you might even party with Paris Hilton, Matt Damon or Vin Diesel!

SoBe is so sexy and HOT that there's a World Erotic Art Museum in Washington Av.

Close to the South Miami Beach, in Downtown Miami take a walk at Bayside, a shopping mall, there's always a show at night by the marina. Remember Will Smith's video 'Miami' at the end of the song? There are restaurants, stores and bars in front of the bay. At Bayside, you can also enjoy a tour that'll take you to where celebrities live and around the famous canals, by the day or night. A very tourist spot!

Miami, melting pot of culture as I call it, you can find diverse restaurants where you can experience a latin breakfast, an Italian lunch and then a Greek dinner. All in one city, authentic Mexican, Spanish, Venezuelan, French, Turkish, Brazilian cuisine. You want it, you'll find it. 

Family time? Visit Miami Sea Aquarium in Key Biscayne or Miami Metro Zoo to the South by the US1.


Ft. Lauderdale is part of South Florida, another beautiful city to visit. If feel like driving while getting to know the area, I love going from South Beach driving north by A1A to Dania Beach. Gorgeous beaches along the way, stores, malls, and lots of bridges with a great view for amazing pictures. So roll the windows down and enjoy the time!

Live it up few hours by the beach in Ft. Lauderdale and across the street you'll find restaurants and stores. Then, get dress for the night and have dinner at Las Olas Blvd at any of the restaurants in the area. Very romantic too!

Only few minutes by car from Ft. Lauderdale beach, visit the Hard Rock Cafe & Casino in Hollywood. More than 20 restaurants, night clubs, bars and stores open until late.

Don't forget to get to know more about the Seminoles! From Miami, take the famous Calle 8 and go north until you reach to the Everglades. They have different spots where you can take a ride on an Air Boat, listen to the stories of the area, watch an alligator show and get to know more about their history!

And remember to keep clean the city and respect the nature. Also, check out Acceso Total 29's video about Miami Beach, Miami and Ft. Lauderdale (last 2, in Spanish only)

Gran Sabana

FINALLY!! I was waiting for that moment a long time ago! After 4 of my friends and I decided to go to Canaima National Park for a week, I couldn't wait any longer. I've seen pictures from friends and family and La Gran Sabana looked so gorgeous that I was dying to go there. But, naturally, being there is not the same as looking at a picture or even videos. The experience of driving through those beautiful views, looking at the Tepuys so close to me, breathing nature, it was something that I have to do again and again... and again! So, when are we going again?? :)

The trip was amazing, first because of crew (great friends) and of course the whole time that we spent in Bolivar State.

We drove for about 5 hours from Lecheria, Anzoategui to Puerto Ordaz, Bolivar. The only thing we needed to worry about, was getting the gas tank full every time we could. After El Tigre, Anzoategui; there were no gas station for a long time.

There is a very beautiful part on the way to Puerto Ordaz that we felt we were in Canada or something like it. For about 15 minutes, we drove through a Pine Forest. It was something that at least in Venezuela we haven't seen before. Neither of us! Just amazing!

We kept driving and arrived at Bolivar State. How did we know? We needed to pass by the Orinoco River and the newest bridge over the river made us stop and take pictures.

One thing I have to add, the roads in Bolivar state are in great conditions! *clap clap for another state in Venezuela!* Great for road trips!

We wanted to go to La Llovizna in Puerto Ordaz, so we can add it to our Acceso Total video, but we found out that the whole city needs its own video! So anytime soon we'll be visiting that city again.

From Puerto Ordaz to the entrance of La Gran Sabana it was going to be another 6 hours. So we decided to spend the night in Guasipati, only 3 hrs away from Puerto Ordaz. A small town. We didn't like the hotel where we spent the night, but of course, we weren't waiting for a 5 star resort. It was pretty messy and from 1-5 of cleanliness, maybe a 2 1/2. But I guess all the hotels by that area were going to be the same, besides it's just to spend the night. So, don't mind about it! Just lock yourself in by night!

Next morning, we find the only place where we can had breakfast and it was good! Yummy 'pastelitos' and passion fruit juice! ;) The name of the place Joy Full, can't miss it cuz it's on the route you've been for hours! :) 

Gotta keep going on the road!

After few hours we finally arrived at La Piedra de La Virgen where they welcomed us to La Gran Sabana! (well, it was just a sign that said so) The drive from there to our next stop is the worst! I mean, the road is not damage at all, but a LOT of curves in a very narrow way. Uh, another thing I have to add, there are a lot of security (National Guards) on the way, I guess that's a good thing.

Once we were over those curves, the view in front of us was delightful! We stopped at the Soldado Pionero. From there you can have a nice 1st look at one of the Tepuys (far view, but good). That stop is not of a big deal, but just the beginning of a great trip ahead! So keep your cameras with you all the way!

On the way to Santa Elena de Uairen (the last city before crossing to Brazil), there are a lot of amazing places to stop and enjoy nature! Falls, rivers, streams, and just the entire way made us keep the cameras out to take pictures and capture great clips. Seriously, do not miss any second!

Some of the spots where we took a walk or it's just great for a picture: Kama Meru, Rapidos de Kamoiran, Quebrada de Jaspe and Soroape. Of course, there are a lot more, but hopefully next trip I'll get to know more :) (I'm not kidding, when are we going?? :) hehe)

To cross everything to Santa Elena de Uairen, it's about 3 hours without stopping, but of course you will want to stop everywhere! Just remember to keep the gas tank full! (see below to know where we pump it and we were fine!)

In Santa Elena de Uairen, we stayed at Ruta Salvaje and they even have plans for different things you can do while visiting La Gran Sabana. We went rafting with them! So much fun! We walked inside a water fall, water was cold, but worthy! And we also did with them paragliding so we can have a better view to show you at Acceso Total! and well... it's always fun to do those kind of things!

And without a doubt, you can't stay in La Gran Sabana and forget to spend some time during the night watching the stars! I think we saw about 7 shooting stars :) and even the milky way was noticeable!

In less than 30 minutes from Santa Elena, we were visiting Brazil! Well, a very tiny spot of the country. We went to the border line and took some pics with both flags and then we had lunch at the small town in Brazil. It's not a big place and it's not beautiful, but at least we ate 'churrasco' and had 'caipirinhas'.

TIPS for gas:
This is very important if you're doing a road trip to Santa Elena de Uairen.
If coming from Puerto La Cruz, at El Tigre: full tank. There's nothing until you get to Puerto Ordaz.
Pump it again in Puerto Ordaz. Doesn't matter how much you have in the tank, do it!
At Km 88 (San Isidro) after El Dorado, Pump it again! it's the last one for the next 80km ahead (or so)
At Rapidos de Kamoiran they have a gas station, plus a small place to eat. This is the only place for gas on the road before Santa Elena. 
In Santa Elena, there are 2 gas station, it all depends on the car's tag to know which one to use. But ask first because usually (or at least during high season as we went) tourists can go first. 

Enjoy our 2 videos special about La Gran Sabana only at accesototal29.blogspot.com :)

Respect the nature and keep it clean!