Sarteneja


Sarteneja is the largest fishing community and the second largest village in Belize. It recorded a population of 3,500 according to a 2016 estimate. The name "Sarteneja" is a Castilian distortion of its original Mayan name "Tza-ten-a-ha", which means "water between the rocks".
It is located on the Sarteneja Peninsula, approximately forty miles by road from Orange Walk Town and is near the privately owned Shipstern Conservation & Management Area. The village's economy is based primarily on fishing for lobster, conch and finfish. There are many farmers, particularly retired fishermen who develop their farmland with agriculture. Recently, tourism is becoming increasingly significant as a source of income or at least as another alternative livelihood for those no longer interested in extracting the aforementioned species but instead help with their conservation or even with their sustainable exploitation.
Most of Sarteneja's inhabitants are of Yucatec Maya and Mestizo ancestry..

Boatbuilding

Sarteneja is home of shipwrights who are still active, having built most of the traditional fishing boat fleet and many of the sailing boats that operate in tourism for sailing tours, most notably; Sirena Azul, Ragga King, Ragga Gial, Blackhawk, Brujula, and Zayann. One of the first most famous boat builder of Sarteneja is Mr. Evaristo Verde. Mr. Verde's boatbuilding record surpassed more than 17 boats during his lifetime.

The Sarteneja Easter Regatta

Sarteneja is famous for its Easter Regatta, which takes place every year on Easter Sunday when most of the village's fleet has returned during the fishing-season break.
Pictures gallery of Sarteneja boat construction and the Sarteneja Easter Regatta