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Buried Treasure, Ghosts and Legendary Castles

Exciting Caribbean Vacations

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), a tourism development agency promoting the world's most popular sun destinations, invites you to discover the legacy of pirates in the Caribbean region. Turn back the clock and explore an exciting era of adventure, when legendary pirates and ruthless privateers dominated over the high seas. Their legends live on through tourist attractions in the form of festivals, museums, forts, sunken shipwrecks, treasures and castles.

Piracy was once a real way of life in the Caribbean, where Dutch, English, French and Spanish ships frequently fell prey to the menacing antics of cunning captains, forfeiting their cargo of gold, tobacco, silk and spices. In a rich treasure chest of Caribbean folklore, pirate ghosts and tales of buried treasures are a part of the region's unique character.

"Pirate folklore is just another exciting aspect of a Caribbean vacation that offers endless adventure," says Andrew Parris, Manager for CTO Canada. "Canadians are invited to visit the coves, caves and fortresses that once harboured legendary figures of the popular Blackbeard 'the pirate'."

One of the most ruthless and cunning men of the era was Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard. After a reign of several bloody years, Blackbeard was eventually conquered.

Today travellers visiting the Caribbean are invited to explore the many sites believed to be haunted by Blackbeard's ghost. Some of these locations include the British Colonial Hilton in Nassau, a Bahamian hotel that sits directly on the site of Old Fort Nassau, Blackbeard's Cove, a hotel bar that pays tribute to its popular former tenant.

Far beneath the ocean's surface, pirate folklore thrives in the myths of buried and sunken treasure that has stimulated snorkeling and scuba diving adventures throughout the Caribbean. In the Cayman Islands, it is rumoured that Blackbeard hid his treasure in the caves of Cayman Brac. A popular dive site today, divers and snorkelers are intrigued not only by the possibility of discovering sunken treasure but also be the breathtaking coral reefs and wildlife surrounding the area.

"Buried treasure is just one component to the pirate history and heritage of the Caribbean," says Hugh Riley, Director of Marketing, The Americas for the CTO. "Visitors are invited to experience colourful history and heritage of the Caribbean through music, food and festivals."

The shallow waters off the coast of the British Virgin Islands (B.V.I) are home to more than 300 documented shipwrecks, in fact some of the smaller islands surrounding B.V.I are better known as "Treasure Islands," where legend has it that local fishermen discovered some of Blackbeard "loot" in three large caves.

The United States Virgin Islands are home to Blackbeard's Castle, one of four National Historic sites located on the islands. Tourists are drawn to the mystical charm of the 17^th century structure featuring the Skytsborg Tower, a Blackbeard lookout point that is a popular setting for wedding . Guests of the Inn at Blackbeard's Castle can live out their own pirate adventures as they explore the grounds where he once lived, and perhaps still roams - as believed by many.

Another notable pirate castle to be explored is Sam Lord's Castle, a spectacular lime coral mansion situated on the southern coast of Barbados. Legend has it that Sam Lord used lanterns to lure cargo ships onto the treacherous rocks below to steal treasure. Today, the castle is a 12-acre resort that revives the spirit of Sam Lord with scavenger hunts, pirate theme nights and an assortment of adventurous activities.

All things, good and bad, must come to an end, and that is exactly the fate that befell the pirates of the 17^th and 18^th centuries. One such unlucky man was John Rackham, better known by the nickname "Calico Jack," one of the most ruthless pirates of his time. Calico Jack was eventually hanged at Gallows Point, Port Royal, in Jamaica, a well-known sanctuary for pirates of the 17^th century. In 1692, the old city of Port Royal is said to have been destroyed by an earthquake, sliding into the sea below. Today, the new city of Port Royal greets visitors in search of adventure, some who claim to hear the church bells of the sunken city ringing out. Visitors can also explore the pirate past of 16th century Fort Charles, as well as the Maritime Museum and the Port Royal Archeological and Historical Museum.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), with headquarters in Barbados and marketing operations in Toronto, New York and London, is the Caribbean's tourism development agency and comprises membership of 32 governments and a myriad of private sector companies.

The CTO's mission is to provide to and through its members, the services and information needed for the development of sustainable tourism for the economic and social benefit of the Caribbean people.  The organization provides specialized support and technical assistance to member countries in the areas of marketing, human resource development, research and statistics and sustainable development.

Edited by Dave Shultz

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