The Bocas archipelago: a cultural melting pot

Bocas del Toro is a rich mix of Spanish, Indian, English-speaking and French-speaking West Indians (Afro-Caribbean peoples that emigrated from Jamaica, San Andres and other Caribbean islands in past centuries). Germans and Americans also played a part in developing the region.

There are also the indigenous peoples, and you will see distinct traditional dress being worn by the different tribes: the Ngobe-Bugle being the most abundant. Other tribes are the Teribe, Guaymi, Bri Bri, Cuna (emigrated from the San Blas Islands). Cristobal and Popa islands still have tribes-people living traditionally. For instance, the Ngobe build their roofs from palm leaves and their houses from Jira (a type of wood).

When Christopher Columbus, in 1502, navigated his two ships into the bay called by the indians, "Caroboro" (Admiral Bay), the indigenous peoples were the Guaymi, Teribe and Bokota Indians.

Bocas del Toro town was founded In 1826 by Jamaican, San Andres and Providencia emigrants; but it wasn't until 1880-1890 that Bocas town became more important, with its banana-based history, beginning with the Snyder Banana Co in 1890, and then the United Fruit Company in 1899. The area prospered on bananas until 1914, when a pest stuck the cop. By 1934 the banana as a cash crop was obliterated from Bocas, and a long period of commercial decay ensued.