The Canary Islands hold secrets beneath their volcanic peaks, where the legendary Spanish pirate Amaro Pargo once hid his treasure in the 17th century. These Atlantic islands served as a crucial stopover for Spanish treasure fleets and a notorious base for pirates who controlled the lucrative trade routes between Europe and the Americas. Today, visitors can explore the same waters where Josh Gates dove beneath an active volcano, searching for one of history's most elusive pirate hoards.
The Canary Islands are a Spanish archipelago of seven main islands located in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 100 kilometres off the northwest coast of Africa. The islands have a population of around 2.27 million inhabitants and served historically as a strategic stopover for Spanish treasure fleets crossing the Atlantic. Gates investigated the archipelago in search of the legendary treasure of Amaro Pargo, an 18th-century Spanish privateer turned pirate who allegedly hid vast riches somewhere in the islands. The investigation focused on underwater sites beneath volcanic formations, exploring the intersection of pirate legend and the islands' role as a hub for Atlantic trade routes during the Golden Age of Piracy.
Amaro Pargo operates as privateer and pirate, using the Canary Islands as a base
Death of Amaro Pargo; legends of hidden treasure begin to circulate
Province of Canary Islands split into two provinces: Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas
Autonomous community of the Canary Islands established
Gates investigates Amaro Pargo's treasure in Expedition Unknown
The Canary Islands occupied a critical position in the Spanish colonial trade network from the 16th through 18th centuries. Located roughly 100 kilometres off the African coast but still Spanish territory, the archipelago served as the last European stopover for ships heading to the Americas and the first landfall for treasure-laden galleons returning home. This strategic location made the islands both a legitimate port of call and an attractive base for pirates and privateers who preyed on Atlantic shipping lanes. Amaro Pargo himself was a complex historical figure who operated with official Spanish letters of marque during wartime but allegedly engaged in piracy during peacetime, accumulating considerable wealth through both legal and illegal means.
Historians have documented Amaro Pargo's existence and his base of operations in Tenerife, but the question of hidden treasure remains largely in the realm of legend rather than documented fact. Like many pirate treasure stories, the tale has grown over the centuries, with various locations around the islands proposed as possible hiding spots. The volcanic geology of the Canary Islands, particularly around Tenerife with its Mount Teide and associated formations, creates numerous underwater caves and chambers that could theoretically conceal artifacts, though the active volcanic nature of some areas also means geological changes over nearly three centuries could have altered or destroyed such sites.
Gates' investigation brought attention to the intersection of documented history and local legend. While Amaro Pargo is a verified historical figure who died in 1747 and left an estate that was recorded, proving he had wealth, the specific claims about vast hidden treasure lack the same documentary support. The episode explored how treasure legends often emerge around successful pirates and privateers, and how the dramatic volcanic landscape of the Canaries lends itself to such tales. The investigation highlighted the challenges of pursuing centuries-old treasure stories: separating historical fact from embellished legend, searching vast and geologically active underwater areas, and determining whether any treasure ever existed to be hidden in the first place.
The broader historical context of the Canary Islands during the Age of Sail is well-established by mainstream historians. The archipelago's role in Atlantic trade, its population growth under Spanish colonial administration, and its strategic military importance are all documented. What remains debated is the extent to which individual pirates like Amaro Pargo successfully hid significant wealth that remains undiscovered, versus the likelihood that most pirate wealth was either spent, lost at sea, or recovered by authorities long ago.
Mount Teide in Tenerife is the highest peak in Spain and the third-tallest volcano in the world when measured from its base on the ocean floor.
The archipelago has a population density of 305 inhabitants per square kilometre, making it the third-highest density autonomous community in Spain after Madrid and the Basque Country.
The Canary Islands host two professional astronomical observatories, the Teide Observatory on Tenerife and Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on La Palma, taking advantage of the islands' position above the temperature inversion layer.
Historically, the island chain was referred to as "the Fortunate Isles" and is the largest and most populous archipelago of Macaronesia.
The Canary Islands are a major tourist destination with modern infrastructure, receiving over 14 million visitors in 2023. The seven main islands are accessible by air and inter-island ferry services, with the two largest islands, Tenerife and Gran Canaria, hosting the majority of tourism facilities. Visitors interested in the pirate history can explore coastal towns with colonial-era architecture, though specific sites associated with Amaro Pargo would require local research and some may be on private property or underwater.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria serve as the dual capitals; both are major cities with international airports located on their respective islands.
The Canary Islands enjoy a subtropical climate with warm summers and mild winters, making them a year-round destination. For diving and underwater exploration similar to Gates' investigation, late spring through early autumn typically offers the best visibility and sea conditions.
Caribbean
The Caribbean was the primary hunting ground for pirates and privateers during the same era as Amaro Pargo, with similar treasure legends and Spanish colonial wealth flowing through the region.
Bahamas - Maravillas Wreck Site
The Maravillas wreck site represents another Spanish treasure galleon investigation by Gates, exploring the same Atlantic trade route network that made the Canary Islands strategically important.
Drake's Fortune Sites
Drake's Fortune investigation involves another famous privateer-pirate who operated along Atlantic and Pacific trade routes, searching for hidden wealth from the Age of Sail.
Best time to visit: Visit between October and April when temperatures are mild and diving conditions are optimal with calmer seas and better visibility.
Travel tip: Book diving excursions in advance and bring proper certification, as many of the volcanic underwater sites require intermediate to advanced diving skills.
Historical data sourced from Wikipedia