Miskito Coast languages and tribal groups

This map shows the area inhabited by the Miskito Indians, The Miskito coast was visited by the 4th Voyage of Columbus in 1502, with Fernando Colón providing some informative details on the peoples of the area, which overlapped the Honduran Costa de las Orejas. The Miskito coast and some of its people were also described in late 17th century writings by William Dampier and
Lionel Wafer.

The Miskito coast begins well east of the Maya region and cuts across a number of tribal and language groups in Honduras and Nicaragua. The map shows the main language groups from this region of Mesoamerica, with their inland territory often defined by individual river drainages.

Miskito tribes after the 16th century were composed of a mixture of linguistic groups including some runaway slaves from Spanish ports throughout the Caribbean.

Credit to:
Athena Review Image Archive -
Map of Miskito Coast languages and tribal groups