It covers an area of , with a population of about 8,200. The highest elevation of the island is above sea level. The climate is tropical, with an average temperature of approximately. Other towns on Coche besides San Pedro de Coche are El Bichar, Guinima, El Amparo, El Guamache and La Uva. The economy depends mainly on tourism.
History
The island was discovered in 1498 by Christopher Columbus, populated by the Waika Rioindigenous people. First efforts to settle Coche was made in the early 16th century. There was previous population of refugees originating from the city of Nueva Cádiz which was destroyed by a tropical storm on Cubagua Island. All settlers, mostly the pearl daughters, abandoned Isla Coche in 1574. The next successful settlement took place in the 19th century, and from this date Coche is still inhabited. The island is contained as the municipality of Villalba, with both having San Pedro de Coche as their capital.
Airport
Location City: Isla De Coche, Venezuela Name: Andres Miguel Salazar Marcano ICAO: SVIE Details Type: Airport Latitude: 10°47'40"N Longitude: 63°58'54"W Datum: WGS 1984 Elevation: 10 ft Runways: 1 Longest: 3937 × 98 ft
Tourism
Coche Island is uniquely positioned for quality selective tourism. To the west of the island the conditions for windsurfing and kiteboarding and trucks candle can be cited among the best in the world. It can see the effect of strong winds and continued in the sparse vegetation of the island, as seen in the image of San Pedro de Coche. On the road can be practiced the cycling, naturally with sunscreen to prevent sunburn, given the absence of clouds over the year. The temperature, though high, is pleasant in the fresh sea air, considering that breeze rages precisely in the hottest hours of the afternoon. On the island there are good quality hotels that offer tourists all the necessary facilities for a pleasant stay. It also offers rides and tours both aquatic and terrestrial. Tourist purposes, Coche Island maintains close communication with Margarita Island and the Venezuelan mainland Sucre State.
In fiction
The story of the Polish writer Arkady Fiedler's novel "Robison's Island" took place in Coche Island. The protagonist Jan Bober, a half-Polish half-English Virginia pioneer, fled from government pursuit by a pirate ship. However it ran into heavy water and wrecked near the island. Jan and his two Arawak companions Arnak and Wagura, the only survivors of the shipwreck, lived in 1725–1726 in the island. Later they received in the island a group of fled slaves from Margarita Island and with combined forces defeated Spanish slaver pursuers and seized their ship. Fearing Spanish revenge, Jan and his followers left the island on the captured ship. Their adventures continued in the two next Arkady Fiedler's novels "Orinoco" and "The White Jaguar".
