04|03|11 +++ EL YAQUE TRAVEL REPORT JAN 2011
In January 2011 I got the chance to visit El Yaque, leaving with Condor from Frankfurt airport. I arrived the night before and used evening check-in of Condor, which is recommendable when travelling with your own equipment. I spent the night at the Steigenberger Hotel in Langen, which takes about 15 minutes by airport shuttle (free). At a temperature of -10°C we started in time from Frankfurt to arrive around 10 hours later in Porlamar at a temperature of +28°C. There was bright sunshine when Marta, our nice and reliable transfer lady, picked me up at the airport. After a 10 minutes drive we arrived in El Yaque.
For the first two nights I stayed at Hotel Atti. There was a warm and nice welcome of Oliver, the hotel manager, and he offered me to stay in one of the very nice and spacious Comfort Rooms. The hotel includes one of the best restaurants on the island on the roof terrace. The view over El Yaque and the bay is impressive - not just for the romantic sunsets. Also the breakfast will be served here, which offers a variety of fruits, juices, bread, jam, cheese and ham. There is a bar at the restaurant where you find a variety of nice cocktails. 
The walking distance to the beach and our Club Mistral & Skyriders Centers takes just a few minutes. In my opinion, this hotel is perfect for people who are looking for a relaxing and calm atmosphere in the garden with palm trees and swimming pool. Furthermore you find a well equipped gym on the ground floor of the hotel next to the garden. Oliver is in his office nearly every day in the morning and in the afternoon to answer all questions and help you with whatever issues.
On my first day in El Yaque I visited El Yaque Paradise Hotel where you find our Club Mistral Center on the ground floor. Over a few steps you reach the nice and big terrace where breakfast is served daily. The rooms are nice but functionally furnished. The location directly at the center and on the beach is just perfect. From your balcony you can check the wind or watch the surfers on the water. 
The third day, I moved to Hotel Jump & Jibe. Dario also offered me a nice Superior Room with balcony and best view over the garden, our Skyriders Center and the beach. The rooms are tastefully and individually equipped in different colors. There is a fridge and a TV in all rooms. The apartment also offers a kitchen and a living area. For breakfast you find yourself on a nice terrace in the middle of the garden. The variety is big and you can choose between different fruits like pineapple, papaya or melons, cake, bread, tea or coffee. Directly in front of the hotel you find our Skyriders Center – perfect for those who prefer to stay as close to the center and the beach as possible. 
After 2 days I moved to Posada Rancho Delfin. This hotel is a bit hidden in the back of El Yaque. It is a very beautiful and lovely accommodation. With only 6 rooms it provides a very familial and personal atmosphere. The furniture is modern and the rooms are bright and friendly. All rooms provide a fridge, safe and TV. When you look for a quiet and private atmosphere and a personal service this is your place to stay. Zuly takes very good care of her guests. For breakfast she serves different dishes every day for example pancakes, scrambled eggs or whatever you want. 
I also visited Posada Yemaya. This accommodation is also a very personal and nice little hotel. The rooms are spacious and well equipped with fridge, safe and flat screen TV. There are just 10 rooms with either a terrace or balcony with hammock. The breakfast is served on a little terrace on the first floor with best views over El Yaque. In the big garden you find a swimming pool to have a refresh from sun bathing. The walking distance to the Centers and the beach is about 5 minutes. It's a good location for those who want to relax away from the busy beach life.
The last night I stayed at Hotel Surf Paradise. The newly renovated surfer's hotel looks really great. The rooms are modern and very tastefully and newly furnished with fridge and a flat screen TV in all the rooms. The Penthouse on the top level of the hotel offers 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a modern kitchen with living area. You enjoy stunning views of the beach and the sea from the balcony. On the ground floor you find the reception, a chill-out lounge, the restaurant, swimming pool and a terrace with deck chairs. Next to the pool there is a massage place where you can relax after an exhausting day on the water. The breakfast buffet offers a great variety of fruits, bread, hot and cold dishes. 
Besides visiting all the hotels there was of course time for windsurfing. The wind was not the best during this week but for my level it was perfect. The Club Mistral Center at the El Yaque Paradise hotel is very spacious and offers a great range of boards and sails. The team around our center manager Javier is very helpful and tries to offer a nice and enjoyable time on the water and in El Yaque for all our guests.
It was just great for me to participate in the classes with Federico and I really improved my skills.
The spot is perfect for beginners and intermediate windsurfers. At the beginning you need to get used to the choppy water but there is shallow water nearly all over the spot with sandy ground. The wind blows sideshore, which makes it easy and safe to practice. There are more people on the beach and in the water on the weekends, as the locals take their time to come to the beach, too. Just be careful and watch out for them – they won’t move!
Just a few meters from the Club Mistral Center there is our Skyriders Center in front of the Hotel Jump & Jibe. It is located in a nice and calm, green garden with palm trees. Our Team here are Benny, Ramona, Andy and Tina. The kitesurf area is at the top end of the beach and you need to walk over there and relaunch the kite here to get ready and on the water. Sometimes it can be a bit difficult to relaunch the kite there because of the wind conditions. For the lessons our team takes the boat to go out and practice the bodydrag in deep water where you find a lot of space and not many people. For independent kitesurfers, who rent equipment with us, our team organizes excursions to Coche Island - depending on the wind forecast.
Furthermore our Club Mistral and Skyriders Teams provide you with all information and want you to enjoy El Yaque! Once a week they organise a welcome drink at one of the center, dinner together with the team and the guests or BBQ on the beach.
The town El Yaque itself is a nice, little place with 2 supermarkets, Internet Café, hairdresser and beautician, 2 surf shops, hotels, and many delicious restaurants and bars. On the beach close to our Club Mistral & Skyriders Center are plenty of nice bars to take a break from the surfing day. There are also deck chairs to rent for a few bugs per day to take a longer break or just to chill under the palm trees. Most of the bars offer a good variety of food, from big meals to small snacks. For the evenings, you'll find plenty of restaurants for dinner or enjoy the cocktails in the bars. Just ask our team, they always know what is best for food and drinks. For non-surfing people or for days without wind you find good alternatives. You can take the boat to go to Coche Island and spend a day there or visit the market in Porlamar. There are trekking tours to the back-country with a local guide or even take a 2-day trip to visit the amazing Carribean Islands of Los Roques.
Good to know: If you don’t necessarily have to bring your laptop leave it at home. You can use the internet café, which also offers cheap long distance calls.
For currency exchange you get the best rates in El Yaque. Ask Ramona at the center which is the best place to change money. You get better exchange rates with EURO then with US-Dollars.
Safety: I felt safe in El Yaque, though I recommend not to walk alone at nights. It is safer to move in small groups. Women, who travel by themselves, should stay in one of the beach hotels, because the night life takes place in the beach bars anyway. Then it is only a short way home.
On my way home I spent 1,5 hrs in line at the airport, just to check the bags. The controls are incredibly thorough. Watch your valuables at all times.
Summary: El Yaque is an amazing place with many nice and small hotels. I really enjoyed the very personal and familial atmosphere in most of the hotels where you feel very welcome. There are no big distances and you can walk everywhere in El Yaque. I had a great time and enjoyed my stay very much. Many thanks to our team on-site, who showed me around.
My personal advise: Lunch at Café Locale next to our Skyriders Center, dinner (at least once) at the restaurant of Hotel Atti as well as at Pizza Mobu, Cocktails are good everywhere.
weather information