History of the Pearl Islands

The Pearl Island have a rich and varied history. Originally the islands were inhabited by the Cuevas and Cocle tribes until 1513 when the Spanish conquistadors arrived. They were searching for a route to the Pacific Ocean. When Balboa realized the abundance of pearls that existed in the waters around the islands, he named the Archipelago “The Pearl Islands”.  In typical conquistadore fashion, he enslaved the local islanders and forced them to dive for pearls. After only two years, all of the mistreated islanders died (or were killed), and African slaves were brought to the islands to continue procuring the pearls. Descendants of those slaves still live in sevearl small fishing villages in the Archipelago. 

Due to overfishing the pearl industry quickly declined. One of the most famous pearls in the world, called, ‘La Peregrina’ was found in the Pearl Islands.  It was given to Phillip II in Spain who gifted it to Queen Mary I of England as an engagement present. When she died the pearl necklace was brought back to Spain for 250 years. Napoleon took the pearl to France after he conquered Spain. He sold the pearl. In 1969 Richard Burton purchased ‘La Peregrina’ and gifted it to Elizabeth Taylor. In 2011 when Elizabeth died the necklace was sold by Sotheby’s for $11.8 million to an anonymous buyer.

The islands also served as a stopping point for most of the Spanish galleons that were bringing plundered gold, silver and emeralds from South America back to Spain. One island, Contadora (the counting house), was where the riches were accounted for before their overland trip to the Caribbean side of Panama. Word of the riches passing through the islands spread quickly, and pirates arrived on the islands to steal their share. There are several sunken galleons in the Archipelago. It is rumored among the descendents of the slaves who live in the islands that there is buried treasure on one of the islands.