Calala Island
Geography
LocationCaribbean Sea
Coordinates12°26′15″N 83°25′56″W / 12.4376°N 83.4321°W / 12.4376; -83.4321
ArchipelagoPearl Cays
Area4.5 ha (11 acres)
Administration
Additional information
Official websitewww.calala-island.com

Calala Island is a private island located in the Caribbean Sea, forming part of an archipelago of islands known as the Pearl Cays, off the coast of Nicaragua.

Calala Island is privately owned by the Wickham family. The whole island operates as a luxury resort, accommodating a maximum of eight guests.

History

Calala Island is situated in an area known as the Moskito Coast. When the Treaty of Managua was signed in 1860 between the British and Nicaragua, Calala Island became a Nicaraguan island.[1]

Ecosystem

The ecosystem on the island has a number of notable species, mainly seabirds and turtles.[2] According to accounts from François l'Olonnais, parrots and monkeys were previously located in the Pearl Cays region.[3]

The critically endangered hawksbill sea turtle are often seen on the island and is part of a conservation effort to increase the numbers. Calala Island's owners and the Wildlife Conservation Society have increased nesting numbers considerably since the partnership began.[4] It is estimated that nests on the island have increased significantly, with around 6000 eggs laid on the island by the Hawksbills each year. Laying season for the turtles is from May through to November, with hatchings taking place September through to February.

Other islands species include the American yellow warbler, the white-necked puffbird, hummingbirds and the magnificent frigatebird.

Location

Calala Island is located in the Caribbean Sea and is part of the Pearl Cays archipelago, off the coast of Nicaragua. The island is under the administration of the South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region. At some point in its history, the name of the island changed from Lime Cay to Calala Island. The likelihood is due to a name clash with a Jamaican cay. The island is located around 4 km off the Nicaraguan coast lying 27 km from Pearl Lagoon and 150 km west of San Andres, Ciudad Sandino, Nicaragua.[5]

Private ownership

In 1997, a number of Nicaraguan islands were purchased by businessmen. Calala Island was one of these islands and like many islands in the Caribbean, the purchase raised questions about the split between private and public use at the time.[6] Necker island is one such example of this ongoing debate.[7] Some in the media suggested that the islands were bought as an investment, with the aims of developing them.[8]

Tim and Sarah Wickham purchased Calala Island after their honeymoon on Petit St Vincent,[9][10] with the aim of creating a resort on the island.[11][12] The Wickham's then developed the island with the construction of a luxury resort.[13][14][15] The island resort contains four guest suites at the beachfront, accommodating a total of 8 guests. During interviews, Wickham stated that he wanted the island to be exclusive, but also protect the ecosystem.[16] Apart from the suites, the island has 25 staff, a bar, two restaurants and a helipad.[17]

It received media coverage in 2017 after a week-long vacation had a price tag of $1 million.[18] In early 2018, it was announced that Princess Eugenie became engaged to Jack Brooksbank while vacationing on Calala Island.[19]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Memorial Submitted by the Government of Nicaragua, vol. I: Maritime delimitation between Nicaragua and Honduras in the Caribbean Sea (Nicaragua v. Honduras) Archived 2014-08-19 at the Wayback Machine, International Court of Justice, 21 March 2001
  2. ↑ Herring, Susan. "The World's Best Private Island Resorts You Can Book". Condé Nast Traveler.
  3. ↑ Thornbury, Walter (1858). Adventures of the Buccaneers. ISBN 9781465520081.
  4. ↑ Wilson, Shayna (January 25, 2015). "With local help, hawksbill sea turtles make a comeback in Nicaragua". Mongabay.
  5. ↑ Gilbert, Sarah. "Calala Island Nicaragua Review". The Telegraph.
  6. ↑ "Murder And Manifest Destiny On The Mosquito Coast". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 2018-10-12.
  7. ↑ "Sir Richard Branson in battle to keep hoi polloi off his 'eco' isle". The Telegraph. April 10, 2010.
  8. ↑ Diario, El Nuevo. "Pedirán cabezas de magistrados por caso Cayos". El Nuevo Diario (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-10-12.
  9. ↑ "Calala Island – The Caribbean's New Frontier". Luxury Travel Magazine.
  10. ↑ Gray, Christine. "The World's 41 most incredible Private Islands". Condé Nast Traveler.
  11. ↑ "Cenneti yeniden keşfetmek". Harpers Bazaar. November 6, 2017.
  12. ↑ Arande, Sara (May 13, 2018). "Calala Island, el Caribe privado con el que estabas soñando". Condé Nast Traveler.
  13. ↑ "Calala Island Nominada Para El Título De La Isla Privada Líder En El Mundo 2018". Radio Nicaragua. September 22, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Dueño de Calala Island satisfecho con destino turístico desarrollado en Nicaragua". El 19. January 25, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Calala Island nominada para el título de la Isla Privada Líder en el mundo 2018". El 19. September 21, 2018.
  16. ↑ "10 reasons why Nicaragua should be your next holiday destination". Telegraph. January 23, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Video: World's most expensive holiday - $1,000,000 trip to Caribbean island". www.scotsman.com.
  18. ↑ Elvin, Laura (August 23, 2017). "Inside the world's most expensive holiday". Daily Mirror.
  19. ↑ Best, Chloe (January 22, 2018). "Revealed: the stunning Nicaragua island where Princess Eugenie and Jack got engaged". Hello.
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