The Spanish were not able to conquer the island until 1697 , after several attempts , that begun in 1629 , when they marched in , from Corozal in Belize , YucatÃ n and Alta Verapaz , attacked with boats , and destroyed it . The Spanish began the first of several attempts to conquer the island in 1629 , but did not succeed until 1697 under an expedition led by MartÃ n de UrsÃ a attacked via boats and destroyed it .