A Small Island with a Big World and Daily Life Between Concrete and Water

An island that in size equals a football field, yet about 800 people live on it. This is not a fictional place, but reality – Santa Cruz del Islote, located near the coast of Colombia. It is considered the most densely populated island in the world, where population density is even ten times greater than in overcrowded China, Hong Kong.

Despite the crowding, the community here is strong. There is no police, but there’s no need – local residents say that theft or violence almost never happens because everyone knows each other and feels like one big family.

Living Conditions

The island is completely isolated – the boat trip takes about two hours. There are only four streets here, and the entire territory is covered with concrete. There are no cars or motorcycles on the island.

Living conditions on the island are extremely difficult:

• On average, 10 people live in one room;
• Due to lack of space, houses are built very close to each other, sometimes even on top of each other;
• Residents do not have official land ownership documents and build houses wherever they find free space;
• Buildings are so intertwined that sometimes people have to walk through other people’s houses to reach the other side of the island;

Main Problems on the Island

Water – A Luxury Item

If somewhere in the world people are used to simply turning on a tap, here such convenience is forgotten. There is no water supply on the island, so every drop of rain is worth its weight in gold. Water is collected in special reservoirs, and during dry periods (sometimes lasting up to 8 months) it is distributed very responsibly. Sometimes the Colombian Navy supplies water, but this doesn’t always happen, so rainy days are celebrated here.

Electricity Only Briefly

In Santa Cruz del Islote, electricity is a luxury that can be enjoyed only a few hours per day. Solar panels supply the island with energy from noon until evening – of course, if the weather is good. When the sun sets, everything is plunged into darkness, and people make do with candlelight or mobile phones, which they only have time to charge during the day.

Waste

There are no landfills or waste management systems on the island, so most waste simply ends up in the sea. Plastic, glass shards and other garbage have become part of daily life, although locals understand that this harms their own well-being.

Life Between Sea and Dreams

Despite difficult conditions, life in Santa Cruz del Islote is bustling. Children attend the island’s only school, where 12 teachers work. Although many don’t continue their education, their dreams are big. Many boys and even girls dream of becoming football players and playing for the world’s most famous teams.

The main sources of livelihood are fishing, tourism and services for visiting curious people. Every day the island is visited by hundreds of tourists who pay $2.50 for entry. Although fishing was long the main source of livelihood, sea pollution and overfishing have forced many to import fish from Colombia.

Why Doesn’t Anyone Leave?

At first glance it may seem that life on this island is a real challenge, but locals don’t want to leave it. They were born and raised in this tiny community where everyone knows and supports each other.

“I will spend my whole life on this island. I was born and raised here. This is where I’ll die,” – says one of the residents in the video:

Sources:

Santa Cruz del Islote: Life on a jam-packed Colombian island | CNN