Geography:

The Pearls archipelago is composed by 90 islands and more or less 130 islets or keys, among them Del Rey Island, san Jose island, Pedro Gonzales, Pacheca, Saboga, Chapera, Viveros, Contadora, and others are the most underlined, because of their drinkable water, very intense wide life, with a tipical rain forest life, flora and fauna, islans born form volcanic erruptions, covered by valuable and special trees for wood business. They are fillfulled by a lot of fruits y other species. A great paradise for the nature's lovers in the San Pedro Isalnd, south of Del Rey Island, a sanctuary of the animal life, and the Pacheca and Pachequilla Islandsas a shelter for sea birds in a extencion process of their species, among other ones.

The sea life, with a abundant and various flora and fauna is a permanent attraction for the nationals and visitors, with clear water beaches, turquese water, and sweet waves. It's the right place for events, fish contests tournements and fish catching records.
 
 

Brief history

September 1513, a guy named Vasco nuñez de Balboa found out, after talking with the natives of this place during his journey, there was a new ocean and a lot of islands stuffed by pearls. He decided to organize an expedition. reaching the new ocean, sliding from the Darien Del Chucunaque Cordilleras, the 29th of september of 1513, in a place named today " Bahia de San Miguel", called "Mar del Sur".

The 10th of august 1515, Pedrarias Davila, at this time governor of " Santa Maria del Darien" sent an expedition drived by Gaspar de Morales y Francisco Pizarro that, proudly, once back to home, told they have killed all the natives, after have stolen all their treasures...

During 1518, facing the lack of natives, they decide to repeople the place with negro slaves brought there to fish and dive for pearls, and also to cultivate the soil, putting the mess in the traditions and habist of the place. The revolt of the black slaves, leaded by Felipillo and the " Cimarrones " make the islands of the gulf the right and secured shelter for them.

The XVII century was muy busy, because of the Peru conquest, and the gold business and other treasures attracted pirates' interest in the gulf, because of Panama, right on the way back to Spain, way troughout were crossing all the treasures stolen from Peru and shiped.

All kind of pirates was active in the archipelago, from England, Portugual, and France were harassing the spanish fletes, and by the way they were a pretty good preys for pirates, when the hurricans and weather problems obliged them to have a secured place, shelted between the islands. People say that the name of CONTADORA come from the place where these pirates were counting their plunders ( To count...Contar in spanish...).