Ahoy, Matey

By Bahamas Tourism & Michele Sponagle

Take a trip back in time to meet friendly, swashbuckling pirates at a new interactive museum in the Bahamas

Not many places are as steeped in pirate lore as the Caribbean, especially the Bahamas. In the 1600s, it wasn’t an uncommon sight to see a pirate ship illegally docked on its shores. It’s a fascinating chapter in history, which still captivates adults and children.

Whether you believe the legend of the Kraken, appreciate Johnny Depp’s eyeliner and swagger from his Pirates of the Caribbean films or get a thrill out of spooky peg-legged pirate tales, it’s always riveting to hear legendary pirate stories. While highseas swashbuckling is now thankfully relegated to the silver screen, you can step back in time to 1716 by visiting the new Pirates of the Nassau Museum. It honours the history of Bahamas and the colourful pirate personalities who played a part in it. Experience life as an actual pirate and grow your knowledge of pirates through exhibits and interactive opportunities, like Blackbeard’s Escape Room.

When looking at Caribbean lore, you can’t miss the legacy of pirates, their hidden treasure and perilous shipwrecks. They are infamous villains, who have been romanticized through movies and books despite their dastardly deeds. The golden age of piracy in the Bahamas took place in the late 1600s and early 1700s, when it was a hot bed for their dubious antics.

One of history’s most notorious pirates, Edward Teach, more commonly known as Blackbeard, based his exploits in the Bahamas. The relatively shallow water of the Bahamas and proximity to 700 islands made this location a perfect hideout spot for these pirates and their treasures. There are still rumours flying around the island regarding a hidden treasure buried on Cat Island by British pirate William Catt. The next time you are there, get inquisitive and have a blast searching for buried treasures. You never know what you might find. The next time you visit the islands of the Bahamas, be sure to keep an eye out for lost gems or visit the pirate museum to board a battered barge for a treacherous voyage to the 17th century, when rowdy scoundrels and ruthless corsairs wreaked havoc on seaport towns.

HOTEL HIGHLIGHTS FOR YOUR STAY IN THE BAHAMAS

Seeking a great beach guaranteed pirate-free? Cable Beach is a stunning one you’ll want to explore. Book a room at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, a traveller favourite because it offers a ton of great amenities, ideal when you’re travelling with a group with varying interests and ages. It features a casino, a spa, a fitness centre, the Royal Blue Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, a racquet club for tennis enthusiasts, 20 restaurants and seven pools, as well as 11 bars and lounges. Boredom is not an option.

If you’re staying for a while and perhaps skipping out on a Canadian winter, The Reef at Atlantis on Paradise Island is a prime spot, thanks to its one-, two- and three-bedroom suites equipped with kitchenettes or full kitchens, plus extras that will make it feel like a home away from home. Its sister property, The Cove at Atlantis, is an allsuite hotel with ocean views and an exclusive, adults-only pool for maximum relaxation.

For those craving a taste of authentic Bahamian culture, SLS Baha Mar is a popular spot for vacationers. It has a reputation for dynamic nightlife, tasty island cuisine with more than two dozen places to eat and drink, and some of the best cocktails around. Golfers, water sports enthusiasts and spa lovers appreciate it, too, for its stellar amenities.

IMAGES ARE COURTESY OF NASSAU PARADISE ISLAND UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE