Archipiélago Los Roques: History

Pre-20th-Century History

Los Roques was used as far back as a thousand years ago by indigenous peoples who temporarily inhabited the islands to catch fish, turtles and queen conch. Dos Mosquises was one of their prime staging areas.

In 1589, the governor of the Venezuelan mainland province ordered the formal takeover of Los Roques. However, the islands did not become fully integrated into the texture of Venezuala. As a result, Los Roques was frequented by pirates and those in search of pearl. The archipelago subsequently saw a slow but steady trail of foreigners, mostly from the Netherlands Antilles and England, with the Dutch maintaining a constant presence.

Modern History

In the 1920s, fishermen from Isla de Margarita were attracted by the abundance of fish. They gradually settled the archipelago's main island, Gran Roque, pushing the Dutch out by the 1950s. Descendants of the fishermen, known as roqueños , now make up the majority of the local population.

In order to protect the islands and their rich coral reefs, idyllic Los Roques was proclaimed a national park in 1972.

Almost 20 years ago, Los Roques received an influx of Italians, drawn here by restaurateur Vincenzo Conticello. He wrote home about the archipelago's wonders, and the rest is history. Today, there are so many Italians in Los Roques (most running posadas ), that speaking Italian is as useful as speaking Spanish.

Recent History

Los Roques is particularly famous for its delicious lobsters, though they have been overfished in recent years. There's currently a ban on fishing lobster from May to October, but Los Roques still accounts for over 90% of Venezuela's lobster production.

Tourism provides the biggest industry, with boat charters, diving, snorkeling, windsurfing and game fishing operators kept busy year-round. Thankfully though, the islands have remained virtually unspoilt - no high-rise hotels, nightclubs, flashy resorts or overdevelopment.

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