G’yarrrr! Avast me hearties!
Boy, it’s fun to talk like a pirate! But there are more and better ways to put your fascination towards buccaneers to good use. If you’re obsessed with the swashbuckling swagger of pirates, there are a few travel destinations that you won’t want to miss. They range from campy parade sites to ghostly shipwrecks off the coast of real-life military fortresses.
Up for a fun getaway, Mr. Smee? Then be ready to slap on an eye patch, pop a parrot on your left shoulder, and explore the world of pirate travel by visiting the best places to pursue your precious booty!
Ile Sainte Marie, Madagascar
The cemetery of past pirates at St. Mary Island, Madagascar
Also known by the name Nosy Boraha, Ile Sainte Marie is a quaint little island off the coast of Madagascar, which was once a shipping channel for merchants, which also made it prime real estate for pirates. You can explore all kinds of corsair history here, including a “pirate cemetery” that offers guided, informational tours about its deceased. Other attractions included themed bars, restaurants, and gift shops. There are even a few shipwrecks off the coast that are popular with divers. Who knows? Maybe X will mark the spot, and you’ll find some gold doubloons among the ruins!
Port Royal, Jamaica
You might recognize Port Royal as one of the destinations featured in Pirates of the Caribbean. It’s a real place, however, once known as “the wickedest city in the world” thanks to its reputation for piracy and general debauchery. Notorious pirate Henry Morgan even served as its governor at one point, which should tell you everything that you need to know about the place and its history of lawlessness! A massive earthquake sent much of the city to a watery grave in the 1600s, but you can still go sightseeing at what’s left. It’s also a short hop away from Kingston, a lively tourist town that offers all of the booze and beach-soaked fun that you might want. Not a bad way to make the most out of cheap vacations in Jamaica!
Cayman Islands
Pirate ship docked near Grand Cayman island
The Cayman Islands are a treasure trove of pirate-themed fun! Here you can enjoy costumes, parades, fireworks, food trucks, and more, all of it kicking off with a mock “invasion” in which actors sail in on a pirate ship and take the governor hostage. You can also find other tourist attractions to plunder and pillage to your heart’s content. These include cruises on replica pirate ships, kitschy pirate statues for fun vacation photos, and exploratory cave trips where real legends like Blackbeard used to smuggle their goods underground. Not all of these attractions are in the same town, but since the Cayman Islands are small, traveling between them won’t be a problem.
Nassau, Bahamas
Once upon a time, there were so many pirates in Nassau that they created the “Republic of Pirates.” Famous visitors included Mary Read, Anne Bonny, and Calico Jack. Today, their legacy is remembered with the Pirates of Nassau Museum, a colorful and interactive buccaneer hub where visitors are encouraged to spin the helms of replica ships and put their heads in the stocks for a selfie. When you’re done with the museum, you can explore the rest of Nassau’s pirate-themed attractions, including the Tortuga Rum Cake Factory and the real-life historic landmarks of Fort Fincastle and Fort Charlotte.
Havana, Cuba
Another great destination for history buffs, Havana was once considered “the gateway to the Americas,” making it a prime spot for naval officers as well as pirates, smugglers, and ne’er-do-wells. Its rich military history can be seen in its abundance of fortresses, many of which have an old, ruined kind of mystique. The city also boasts a number of museums that cover local pirate history, including several that showcase preserved pirate treasure. Shiver your timbers at chests filled with golds, gems, and goblets. They’re real pieces of the past!
Bridgetown, Barbados
Bridgetown is the home base for the Jolly Roger Pirate Cruise, an epic journey that includes sightseeing, turtle watching, cave exploring, and snorkeling around shipwrecks. You’ll even get to walk the plank! When you’ve finished your cruise, you can use Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados, as a jumping-off point for other famous marauding sites around the Caribbean. For example, it’s quite close to Dominica, the filming location for Jack Sparrow’s marooning. Barbados as a whole is also quite famous for its rum production, so go ahead and get buzzed if you feel like it. There are worse ways to support the local economy while making the most out of those cheap international flights!
Do you have a favorite pirate-themed destination that we may have missed? Let us know in the comments below!
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