The city was founded as Puerto de la Mar (now Porlamar) on the southeast coast in 1536, less than 40 years after Christopher Columbus first sailed through.

Aguirre and his men executed several of the town's residents, including its governor, and looted the royal treasury.

Even after Aguirre's demise on the mainland, the beach in which he first landed on the island is still referred to as playa del Tirano (Tyrant's beach) In 1680 the Council of the Indies ordered Juan Fermín de Huidobro to build a fortress with four bastions and a watchtower known as San Carlos Borromeo.

[citation needed] Del Caribe International General Santiago Marino Airport (PMV) in Porlamar has charter services to Europe and Colombia as well as scheduled passenger flights to destinations in Venezuela.

[citation needed] Porlamar is situated on the southeast coast of Margarita Island on the bay of Guaraguao, which is shielded from northeast winds by Cabo El Morro.