While selecting the perfect Roatan vacation homes may be the focus of people traveling to Roatan today the History of the Bay Islands is an intricate mosaic composed of a wide variety of ethnic heritages over long years. This post gives a quick overview of some of the ethnicities involved in Roatan’s long history.

The Paya Indians

Although “indian” of course is a misnomer originating with Columbus believing he had landed in the Orient, it is believed the original inhabitants of Roatan were the Paya ( also known as the Pech).  Payan artifacts such as clay figures, pottery and seashell decorations are still found today.

The Spanish

Columbus landed on the nearby island of Guanaja in 1502 and was followed by many more Spanish in search of gold and other precious commodities.  Slavery, disease and relocation eventually eradicated the native population from the island completely.  The Spanish were mainstays on the island until independence from Spain was declared in 1821.

The English

Records indicate the English, by way of the nascent United States, attempted to create a colony on Roatan in 1638, but had little success due to attacks by the Spanish settlers.  Somewhat more permanent settlements by the English occurred around 1745, but they were also eventually relinquished to the Spanish in 1782.  English settlements again took root in the early 1830s and a remnant still remains to this day.

The Pirates

Roatan has a rich history of pirate activity which centered around attacks on Spanish ships attempting to transport gold and other bounty through the Bay of Honduras.  Legal pirates, known as privateers, were commissioned by the English and Dutch governments, but there were also plenty of autonomous renegades plying the seas.  Pirate activity was at its peak between 1660 and 1726, and the era of relatively unchecked Piracy on the High Seas continued until eventually brought to an end  by American and European navies in the 1830s.

The Garifuna

The Garifuna, also known as the Black Caribs, were a mixed race of African slaves and Arawak Indians who were forced from St. Vincent by the English and eventually relocated to Roatan in 1797.  The African/Arawak Garifuna, supported by the French, had mounted a series of revolts against the English and, when ultimately defeated, approximately 5000 of them were exiled to the Bay island.

The Departemente De Las Islas De La Bahia

In an 1861 deal with the United States which allowed the English to retain control of British Honduras (now known as Belize), the Bay Islands, including Roatan, were ceded to the Republic of Honduras and became known as the Departemente De Las Islas De La Bahia. After the treaty, anyone born on the Bay Islands could no longer claim English citizenship and were forthwith considered Honduran.

Roatan Today

Today, the main industry on Roatan is tourism.  Scuba diving, deep sea fishing, boating and vacation homes, hotels and restaurants all play a major role in the island’s current economy.  But Roatan’s rich history has provided the backdrop and the context through which we can more deeply appreciate this beautiful island in the sun. So, get out there, explore Roatan and keep a weather eye out for her kaleidoscope of culture and history.