The Caribbean core: Port Royal, Nassau, Tortuga
Port Royal, Jamaica — the infamous pirate capital of the 1600s. In 1692, an earthquake and tsunami sent much of the city beneath the sea. The submerged ruins are a protected archaeological site; access is via licensed operators and Kingston museums that interpret corsair life and colonial trade. On land, remnants of forts and 18th‑century buildings remain; it’s a 30–40 minute ride from Kingston. Prime season runs December–April. Nassau, Bahamas — heart of the “Pirate Republic” (c. 1706–1718), home to Blackbeard, Charles Vane, and Anne Bonny until Governor Woodes Rogers restored order. Today, don’t miss the interactive pirate museum, the Queen’s Staircase, and Forts Fincastle/Charlotte overlooking the harbor. Pair with day cruises around New Providence. Tortuga, Haiti — stronghold of the buccaneers and the “Brethren of the Coast.” Fort de Rocher, erected in the 1640s, is now a ruin with sweeping bay views that evoke raids on Spanish galleons. Infrastructure is basic: arrange private boats, bring water, and hire a guide.

Indian Ocean: Sainte‑Marie and the eastern trail
Île Sainte‑Marie (Nosy Boraha), Madagascar — a legendary pirate base. The “pirate cemetery” by the bay holds several dozen graves with skull‑and‑crossbones motifs; inscriptions are weathered, the ambience is authentic. Trade winds (May–October) bring calmer seas; pair with humpback whale migrations (July–September). Local guides offer tours themed around Olivier Levasseur. Mauritius and Réunion preserve stories of attacks on East Indiamen; the Mahébourg Naval Museum showcases the age of sail artifacts. In the Arabian Sea, a British expedition in 1819 crushed raids near Ras Al Khaimah; today the Dhayah Fort in the UAE is open to visitors.

Mediterranean and the Barbary Coast
Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli served corsair fleets from the 16th to 19th centuries, taxing trade and extracting ransoms. In Algiers, Ottoman palaces and casemates survive; guided tours explain letters of marque and ransom economies. Malta offers the counterpoint: Valletta and the 17th‑century Lascaris watchtowers formed an early‑warning web against raids; many towers are visitable with grand coastal views. Southern Italy (Puglia, Calabria, Sicily) is dotted with 16th‑century coastal towers — perfect for sunset hikes. Best months: April–June and September–October.

North America and the Atlantic: wrecks and strongholds
Massachusetts, USA: the Whydah Gally is the only authenticated pirate shipwreck recovered (sank off Wellfleet in 1717). The West Yarmouth museum displays gold, cannon, and crew artifacts; families will appreciate interactive exhibits. North Carolina: Ocracoke marks Blackbeard’s last stand (November 1718); Springer’s Point nature preserve and small local museums give the tale texture. Florida, St. Augustine — the nation’s oldest city with the 17th‑century Castillo de San Marcos, which withstood privateer attacks; evening garrison programs enliven the past.

Southeast and East Asia
The Strait of Malacca has long been a trade artery and a stage for maritime raids. In Melaka (Malaysia), the Maritime Museum with the Flor de la Mar replica illuminates the Portuguese era and local seafaring conflicts; nearby promenades and colonial streets invite slow exploration. Hong Kong’s Cheung Po Tsai Cave on Cheung Chau ties to the famed early‑19th‑century “pirate admiral”; expect a gentle hike and South China Sea vistas.

Trip logistics: seasons, budget, safety
Seasons: Caribbean December–April; Bahamas November–April; Madagascar May–October; Mediterranean April–June and September–October; Southeast Asia varies with monsoons (Malaysia’s west coast is pleasant June–August, east coast March–October). Budget: museum entries 10–25 USD; city guides 30–60 USD/day; boat day trips 40–120 USD; two‑tank dives 80–150 USD depending on gear rental and location. Safety: modern piracy hotspots are far from tourist routes; heed local advisories, avoid unlicensed boats, respect protected archaeological zones. Ethics: piracy intertwined with slavery and violence; museums help keep context front‑and‑center instead of glamorization.

Ready‑made itineraries
Caribbean loop, 10 days: Kingston (Port Royal, museums) — fly to Nassau (pirate museum, forts, day on the water) — Cap‑Haïtien or Santo Domingo (guided Tortuga excursion) — beach finale. Indian Ocean, 7 days: Antananarivo — Sainte‑Marie (cemetery, boat trips, whale season) — fly to Mauritius (Mahébourg museum, lagoons) — unwind. Mediterranean, 8 days: Valletta (fort and towers) — ferry to Sicily (coastal towers, Baroque Noto) — Puglia (Torre Lapillo, Salento) — Algiers (Ottoman heritage, old‑town guide).

What to bring and how to go deeper
Hire licensed local guides — they unlock mid‑week closures and the best sunset overlooks. Souvenirs: replica charts and navigational tools, Caribbean coffee blends, small‑batch rums (check customs limits). For families — museum quest maps; for divers — a logbook stamped for archaeological zones. Most of all, pre‑read: privateer logs, governors’ dispatches, and archaeology reports turn a fort walk into a time‑travel experience.