Belize’s Caye Caulker: The History Of This Small Island

January 8, 2023
by Larry Waight +

Caye Caulker is a small island off the shore of Belize in Central America, near the Belize Barrier Reef. Although smaller than its more famous and frequently-visited neighbor Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker has a long history and a lot to offer visitors.

The Basics

Geologically, Caye Caulker is an island consisting of a sandbar over a limestone shelf. It is only about eight miles long and less than one mile wide, divided in half by the Split. Only around 1,300 people call the island home, but it is the site of several resorts, restaurants, shops, and other amenities, and welcomes tourists from around the world every year. The permanent population continues to grow each year.

Caye Caulker’s Early Inhabitants

Evidence suggests Caye Caulker has been inhabited for hundreds of years. For most of that time, it is thought that only a few families lived on the island. Because the island is situated along a migratory route and feeding grounds for many species of fish, lobster, and conch, it has long been considered an ideal location.

European Discovery and Modern History

Early English maps name the island Cay Corker. Because accessible freshwater has always been rather abundant on the island, it is thought to have its name because it was a favorite stop for sailors to refill and cork their water stores. Another possibility is that Caye Caulker is the Anglicization of the Spanish name Cayo Hicaco (meaning “island of the cocoplum”).

The modern history of Caye Caulker really begins around 1847 when Mestizo refugees fleeing the Caste War of the Yucatán in Mexico settled on the island. What would become Caye Caulker Village, the main settlement on the island, was purchased by Luciano Reyes in 1870. Other families also purchased lots, and many of their descendants still live on the island today. Because the location of the village is geographically advantageous, with the bay in the back providing a safe haven for vessels and the ground underneath more solid than in other areas, it hasn’t moved and remains an ideal spot for habitation.

During World War II, the island’s inhabitants would collect debris from ships that had been sunk in the Caribbean. They sold what they found, with rubber being the most lucrative and sought-after.

Prior to tourism, which started picking up around 1964, the island’s main industries were coconuts and fishing. Both are still major parts of the island’s economy, though tourism continues to grow as a source of income. The formation of the Northern Fisherman’s Cooperative was a major undertaking to bring higher pay for the island’s fishermen and has been studied by both the United Nations and other communities in Belize as a success.

Another notable industry is shipbuilding, with several skilled shipwrights living on the island. Materials commonly used include wood, fiberglass, and ferro cement. Caye Caulker remains known throughout Belize as a center for boat racing.

Hurricane Hattie, a Category 5 storm that devastated Belize and the surrounding area, hit Caye Caulker in 1961. It caused a massive storm surge that hit the village, destroying the wooden schoolhouse and killing 13 people, most of whom were children. Even though the storm did not hit the island head-on, it still caused extensive damage, destroying or severely damaging all but 8 out of the 80 homes on the island. Recovery and restoration efforts soon got underway with aid from both the mainland and Britain.

Formation of the Split

A major landmark on Caye Caulker is the Split, which is a channel that divides the island in two. It was originally called the Cut or the Cut Off, with it only becoming known as the Split later. It is sometimes thought that Hurricane Hattie created the Split, but that is not true.

Advertisment

The Split is not naturally occurring and was purposely dredged by machine and by hand in the early 1970s to make it easier and more cost-effective for fishermen to reach the only fuel depot on the island. Erosion continues to cause the Split to widen as time passes. It remains a popular place to swim.

Caye Caulker Today

Caye Caulker today is considered one of the best places to go for a slow, laidback vacation in Belize. It also has a reputation for being more budget-friendly than staying on Ambergris Caye. The island is especially popular as a travel destination for young people.

The locals remain proud of their island’s distinct culture and work to prevent the development of large-scale tourism. Almost all businesses on Caye Caulker remain locally owned and hotels have stayed small and personable.