| Sarteneja | |
| Official Name: | Village of Sarteneja |
| Settlement Type: | Village |
| Image Caption: | Beachfront of Sarteneja |
| Pushpin Map: | Belize |
| Pushpin Mapsize: | 300 |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Belize |
| Subdivision Type1: | District |
| Subdivision Name1: | Corozal District |
| Subdivision Type2: | Constituency |
| Subdivision Name2: | Corozal South East |
| Leader Title: | Chairman |
| Leader Name: | Paulino Lucio Guerrero (PUP) |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Established Date: | 1847 |
| Area Total Km2: | 90.33 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 34.88 |
| Population As Of: | 2016 |
| Population Total: | 3,550 |
| Population Demonym: | Sartenejeño(a) |
| Timezone: | Central |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Coordinates: | 18.3533°N -88.1461°W |
| Elevation M: | 2-4 |
| Blank Name: | Climate |
| Blank Info: | Aw |
Sarteneja is the largest fishing community and the second largest village in Belize. It recorded a population of 3,500 according to a 2016 estimate.[1] The name Sarteneja is a Castilian distortion of its original Mayan name Tza-ten-a-ha, which means 'water between the rocks'.
Sarteneja is on the Sarteneja Peninsula, approximately forty miles by road from Orange Walk Town and is near the privately owned Shipstern Conservation & Management Area. The village's economy is based primarily on fishing for lobster, conch, and finfish. There are many farmers, particularly retired fishermen who farm. Tourism is becoming increasingly significant as a source of income or at least as another alternative livelihood for those who no longer fish.
At the time of the 2010 census, Sarteneja had a population of 1,824. Of these, 91.1% were Mestizo, 3.6% Mixed, 2.6% Creole, 1.3% Caucasian, 0.3% Mopan Maya, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% Ketchi Maya, 0.2% Garifuna, 0.2% Yucatec Maya, 0.1% East Indian, 0.1% Lebanese, 0.1% African and 0.1% Mennonite.
In terms of languages spoken (multiple answers allowed), 97.6% spoke Spanish, 49.6% English, 5.4% Creole, 0.4% Mandarin or Cantonese, 0.4% Mopan Maya, 0.2% Garifuna, 0.2% German, 0.2% Yucatec Maya, 0.1% Ketchi Maya, 0.1% Hindi and 0.4% other languages; 0.2% could not speak.[2]
Sarteneja is home to shipwrights who are still active, having built most of the traditional fishing boat fleet (visible in Haulover Creek in Belize city) and many of the tourist sailing boats, most notably: Sirena Azul (San Pedro), Ragga King, Ragga Gial, Blackhawk (Caye Caulker), Brujula (Hopkins), and Zayann. One of the best known boat builders of Sarteneja is Evaristo Verde (Barich). Verde built more than 17 boats during his lifetime.
Sarteneja is known for its Easter Regatta, which takes place every year on Easter Sunday when most of the village's fleet has returned during the fishing season break.