Sarteneja

Sarteneja was originally a Maya village, squeezed between jungle and sea. It’s now mainly populated with the descendants from the Mestizos from the Yucatan, who repopulated the area after the Cast War.

Sarteneja is a peaceful traditional fishermen community, unspoiled by massive tourism. Backpackers Paradise is 5 minutes walk from Sarteneja.

Map of the village by ED
Map of Sarteneja by ED, available at Backpackers Paradise

Dessin du ponton en bois par Véronique du Québec
Drawing from Véronique (from Québec); the wooden pier

Culture of an ancient Maya settlement.

Here an excellent description of Sarteneja from the document ”Sarteneja Tourism Development plan” written by Zoe Walker from Wildtracks for the SACD:

”Sarteneja, with a resident population estimated at approximately 1,800, is the largest fishing village in Belize…The name is derived from the Yucatec Maya “Tzaten‐a‐Ha”, which is thought to translate as “water in the rock”.
The community was first established by the Maya, and is thought to have flourished between 600BC and 1200AD, covering the entire Classic period of Maya history. The village is built on the site of a large Maya settlement, and signs of the past Maya culture can be found everywhere. In the late 1980’s an archaeological study carried out in Sarteneja demonstrated that the area was once a prosperous, active, post‐classical seaport.

It is believed that Sarteneja may have held as many as 300‐400 ancient structures, with the site core being located 0.5 to 1.0km from the shoreline*. The architecture shows a strong Yucatec Maya influence, seen in rounded cornerstones, and carved limestone columns. The Maya are thought to have been attracted to the area by the salt pans, and the fisheries, both used as a source of income. The presence of object from non‐local resources ‐ obsidian and flint, jade and metates carved from volcanic rock, also suggest that this was a centre for long distance and regional trading, being an important stop‐over point for merchants and travellers. The area was a cross roads for people travelling between Mexico, the reef, and the Corozal region., suggest trading links with Maya from other areas. ”

* Edward paint this representation of the pyramids (exaggerated) where Mayans where probably doing sacrifices and games.