Uvita Island, or Isla Uvita, is a small (0.8 km²) island in Costa Rica about 1,200 yards off the coast of Limón in the Caribbean Sea. The island is about 400 yards long from north to south and about 250 yards wide.[1]
The island has had several names over the years, especially in English. These names include Grape Cay, Grape Island, and Uvia Island. In Spanish, the names Isla Uvita and La Uvita are now most common. The Cariari Indians called the island Quiribrí. In 1986 the Comisión Nacional de Nomenclatura (National Commission of Nomenclature) approved of restoring the name Isla Quiribrí to the island, and the Academia de Geografía e Historia de Costa Rica (Academy of Geography and History of Costa Rica) asked that the Comisión Nacional de Nomenclatura and the Municipality of Limón to make the name change public in 2002 during the 500th anniversary of Columbus' arrive to the island. Isla Quiribrí is now the official name but that name is seldom used; locally the island is still referred to as Isla Uvita and even official government maps continue to use the name Isla Uvita.[2]
Columbus landed on the island in 1502 during his final voyage to America.[3] The island is currently uninhabited, but there is at least one structure on the island, and a small dock.