IT’S a tight squeeze on the island of Santa Cruz del Islote in the Caribbean, with 1,200 people inhabiting a lump of rock that’s just 0.012 square kilometers.

    The island, a two-hour boat trip from Cartagena, Colombia, is four times more densely populated than Manhattan.

    Discovered just 150 years ago by a group of passing fisherman, the 2.4-acre (0.97-hectare) islet is situated in the archipelago of San Bernardo.

    The fishermen, who were traveling from the coastal town of Baru, some 50 kilometers away, made a stunning realization when they first stumbled upon the island: it had no mosquitoes.

    A relative rarity in the area, the explorers immediately set up camp.

    Today, the population has sky-rocketed, topping 1,200 inhabitants. It’s also home to 90 houses, two stores, a restaurant and a school. However, space is so limited that many structures extend out over the water.

    Since there are no high-rise structures, the isle has built itself outwards instead of upwards, ensuring everyone lives and works on the ground floor.

    The only empty space on the island is a small courtyard.

    Though many residents describe the island as paradise, Santa Cruz del Islote has no doctors, no cemetery — the dead are buried on a nearby island — and one sole generator that runs for just five hours per day.

    There’s no running water, with the Colombian Navy delivering supplies to the island every three weeks. The only service that the state provides is a lone security guard, who is stationed at the island’s school, which is attended by 80 children.

    Lacking basic amenities, it’s unsurprising that most work on nearby islands with tourism being the backbone of the local economies. They offer tourists boat tours along with snorkeling, fishing and diving experiences.

    (SD-Agencies)