"Utila has eleven neighboring Cays, but Suc Suc, [also known as Jewel Cay] and Pigeon Cays are referred to by locals simply as “The Cays”.  

Suc Suc was settled by Joseph Cooper, his wife and their six children in 1836. Their journey was not one of religion or political need, but for the potential 

of prosperity.  The Coopers discovered 2 Americans farming here upon their arrival at Suc Suc Cay, Mr. Samuel Warren who subsequently married a daughter 

of Joseph Cooper, and Mr. Joshua who never married.  Later in history, small numbers settlers from United States, England, Germany, Switzerland and other 

places helped to improve the population of the Cays and Utila. Today Suc Suc and Pigeon Cays, [locals say upper and lower Cays] are connected by 

a bridge allowing everyone easy walking access.

The Cays are a very special place where about 500 people call it home, some of the most beautiful spirited people on the planet.  

It’s colorful, serene, and peaceful.  Today, fishing is the main industry, and local shops, restaurants, and churches make up the balance.  

Cay life is relaxed with virtually no crime, no cars, no streets, no addresses, and a friendly population of honest, quiet, industrious and unpretending folk.

Cayons are unique and if you spend some time with them you will realize that they are not Utilians but special in their own way.  

They are a small isolated subculture, a group who tend to keep to themselves, but nevertheless welcome the visitor with friendly smiles, and with 

a genuine sincerity in their welcome.

Cay life teaches you how to cope with what life and its challenges bring every day. You must have patience, because nothing comes easily.  

They depend on getting their supplies brought to them from the coast or from Utila.  You may or may not receive what you ordered when you expect it.  

You learn to make do with what you have.  Make something work from something that was meant to be used elsewhere. You learn to be ingenious.

The weather plays a most important role for the Cayon fishermen and Cayon life. They know the sea and respect the sea.  

They fish by what the weather tells them. The Cays are truly a Caribbean fishermen’s village.  They provide the majority of fish for the Island of Utila, 

es with their entire yards, fences, and odd make shift drying racks loaded with drying salted fish to be sold to fish buyers.  These buyers take the fish by the 

hundreds of pounds to the coast to be sold there.  You can watch daily as the fishermen arrive home with their catch, and you can even purchase 

your evening meal, as fresh as it gets.  There are always fish stories to listen to, where the best catches are, what fish are currently running, who caught 

what and how much, and of course the oh gee, my dory (fishing boat) needs repair.

Cayons are genuine when asking how you are.  Story telling in the most casual of ways in the public park or in the local food shops gives you great insight

 of the old days as well as what is going on in everyone’s lives.  It is a small community and with that comes, “everyone knows everyone’s business” but it 

also comes with neighbors being there for one another.  And the biggie, someone’s word can be taken as meaningful."