Caye Caulker: History

Pre-20th-Century History

Caye Caulker was a fishing settlement and popular with 17th-century British buccaneers as a place to stop for water and work on their boats. Like Ambergris Caye, it grew in population with the arrival of refugees from the 1847 War of the Castes. Luciano Reyes, whose descendants still live on the island, purchased it in 1870. He parcelled the land out to a handful of families and, to this day, descendants of those first landowners still live in the vicinities of those original parcels. These islanders were self-sufficient and exported turtle meat until the turtle population was decimated.

Modern History

During much of the 20th century, coconut processing, fishing, lobster trapping and boat building formed the backbone of the island's economy. Caulker was one of the first islands to establish a fisherfolks' cooperative in the 1960s, allowing members to receive fair prices for lobster and other sea life pulled from their waters.

Tourism began in the late 1960s and '70s when small numbers of hippies found their way to the island. It is now fast becoming the backbone of the economy.

In 1961, Hurricane Hattie passed through Caye Caulker. Luckily, it only swept across a narrow part of the village. The schoolhouse, however, which was being used as shelter, was smashed by waves and 13 people (mostly children) were killed. Nearby Turneffe Atoll wasn't so lucky - it completely disappeared along with about 300 residents. Hurricanes Mitch and Keith, which hit Caye Caulker in 1998 and 2000 respectively, left strips of sand on Caye Caulker where there were once sea shrubs.

Over the past 15 years, manatee-watching off Swallow Caye has become a popular tour from Caye Caulker. However, as traffic to the area increased, so too did the strain on the manatee population. Lionel 'Chocolate' Heredia, one of the first Caulker fisherman to ferry backpackers on his boat to the island, noticed the declining health of the manatees and took action. He devoted himself to their conservation, especially the protection of the manatee habitat around Swallow Caye. Eventually, guidelines were put in place to protect the gentle creatures while encouraging them to stay in the area. Swimming with manatees is now forbidden and signs have been posted to dissuade boat operators from speeding and using motors.

Recent History

Caye Caulker's section of the Belize barrier reef became a marine reserve in 1998. It consists of mangrove forest and gorgeous lagoons, and is regenerating from patchy hurricane damage.

Though Caye Caulker remains a fishing village, where boat design and construction continue, tourism is taking over. Today, international visitors come in steady numbers and, although many islanders operate tourism-related businesses, there are no plans for large-scale development. Caulker residents enjoy the slow rhythm of life as much as visitors do.

Back to top ^