There are a number of interesting places to stay in La Parguera. Parador Posada Porlamar , Rte 304, km 3.3 (tel 787/899-4015 fax 899-5558; US$50-75), offers 24 comfortable and well-equipped A/C units styled like the area's "floating houses" on stilts in the water. Surrounded by mangroves and hillsides, they're very private, and charter boats leave from the dock here for La Bahía Fosforescente. A stone's throw away, state-approved Parador Villa Parguera (tel 787/899-7777, fax 899-6040; US$75-100) has luxurious units with private balconies and views of La Bahía Fosforescente, and a pool, restaurant (see below) and dance club on site with weekend cabaret acts.

The cheapest eats in town are at the pier, where vendors grill a variety of fresh fish for less than US$4. Many of the village's restaurants are also here. There is an abundance of good, inexpensive grub and, in general, the atmosphere is very young and lively, thanks to the college crowd La Parguera draws on weekends and in summer. On Friday and Saturday nights live music accompanies good pub food at Parguera Blues Café , Centro Comercial El Muelle, Avda Los Pescadores (tel 787/899-4742). Worth trying away from the pier, on Route 304, are the restaurant at Parador Villa Parguera , which offers an excellent sampling of native cuisine and buffets on Friday and Saturday; and Los Balcones (tel 787/899-2145), where you can dine on seafood and criollo specialties on a terrace overlooking the main street.