Cubagua, Historical Caribbean island in Nueva Esparta, Venezuela
Cubagua is a Caribbean island off Venezuela's coast, characterized by dry, rocky terrain and limestone cliffs that rise sharply above the sea. The landscape appears barren and windswept, with sparse plant life scattered across the mostly exposed ground.
Spanish settlers established Nueva Cadiz in 1528, making Cubagua Venezuela's first European city and a center for pearl harvesting. The settlement declined and was eventually abandoned when pearl populations depleted and economic interest shifted elsewhere.
The ruins scattered across the island show how indigenous Caribbean people and Spanish colonizers lived alongside each other during the pearl trading era. You can sense this layered history when walking through the remnants of buildings and streets.
The island is reached by ferry from Margarita Island, with the journey taking about an hour across open water. Bring plenty of water and sun protection, as the landscape offers little shade and can become quite hot, especially during warmer months.
The island lacks natural surface freshwater sources, so early inhabitants relied on underground water reserves and creative collection methods to survive. This dependence on hidden resources made the settlement uniquely vulnerable to extended droughts.
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