Cocos Island - a place of lost illusions

Location: Province of Puntarenas (600 km from west coast Costa Rica)
Square: 23.85 km²
Highest point: Mount Cerro Iglesias (771 m)

Cocos Island is lost in the Pacific Ocean, but at the same time it is quite popular among amateur tourists thrills. It refers to state(). And this is also the real one desert island! Let's find out about it in more detail.

What is interesting about Cocos Island for tourists?

Coconut is one of the 10 best places for not only in Costa Rica, but throughout the world. In order to admire the incredibly beautiful local underwater world, and scuba diving enthusiasts come here. However, for beginners, diving can be dangerous due to changeable and strong currents.

Associated with Coconut interesting legend. It says that in the XVIII-XIX centuries. A large pirate treasure was hidden on the island. Thanks to this legend, Cocos Island is often called the “pirate safe”, “treasure island” and “Mecca of treasure hunters”. However, so far the treasures have not been found, although several hundred expeditions have already visited the island, many of which ended in tragedy. It is believed that this island was described in the famous adventure novels of Daniel Defoe and Robert Stevenson.

Do not confuse Costa Rican Coconut with islands of the same name in Guam, in Indian Ocean and the archipelago near Sumatra. In addition, there are 4 more “coconut islands” on our planet: one each off the coast of Florida and near Australia, and two more in Hawaii.

Nature of Cocos Island

Mountain waterfalls are one of the main attractions of the island and the whole. There are more than two hundred of them here, and even more during the rainy season, which lasts on Cocos from April to October. The water rushes into the sea from different heights, and each waterfall is unique. This spectacle will not leave anyone indifferent.

The flora and fauna of the island is very rich - it’s not for nothing that Coconut became the prototype for Jurassic Park. Once upon a time, wild boars were brought here, which upset the balance natural environment habitat, for the preservation of which these animals now have to be shot annually. For divers, fish and marine mammals living in coral reefs are of great interest. Dangerous sharks are also found in the island's waters.

As for plants, 30% of them are endemic. The trees on the island are very tall (up to 50 m). The dense, impenetrable thickets of the tropical forest are one of the reasons that these places are uninhabited. Since 1978, the entire territory of the island has been considered one large national park and is included in the UNESCO list of protected sites.

How to get to Cocos Island?

To get to Cocos Island in, you must first get to the province of Puntarenas, where safari boats moor. These ships, actively used by divers, take 36 hours to reach the island. However, keep in mind: the island is protected from poachers by park workers - rangers who can allow or prohibit you from landing on the shore.

The legendary Cocos Island is located approximately 500 km west of Costa Rica - the state Central America, to which the island belongs and is a pearl national park. It is also distinguished by the uniqueness of its biogeographical location and countless species, many of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

Cocos is the largest uninhabited island in the world, its area reaches 25 km2. This is an island of volcanic origin with steep rocky shores. The age of the island is estimated at 2.5 million years. Of the four mountain formations on the island, the most high point is the peak of Mount Iglesias (634 m). The island is covered with tropical rainforests. The coastline of the island is heavily indented, with two large bays especially prominent: Chatham on the north-eastern side of the island and Wafer Bay on the north-western side.

The island is famous for its picturesque waterfalls, their number increases sharply during the rainy season. Near o. Cocos is home to several small rocky islands. The largest of them is Isla Manuelita, formerly called Nuez.

Since 1997, UNESCO has declared Cocos Island a protected area of global importance.

The rainy season on Cocos Island lasts from May to November. On average, the island receives up to 7620 mm of precipitation per year. Best time for diving: May to October, although conditions allow diving throughout the year. The water temperature in the winter months ranges from 23° to 28°C, in the summer the water is warmer - from 28° to 30°C

The underwater world off Cocos Island is unusually rich. The main feature of these waters is the high density of pelagic fish such as hammerhead sharks, whitetip reef sharks, manta rays, marlin and graytip reef sharks. Schools of trevally, tuna and sardine fish circle in the waters of the island. The reefs are home to octopuses, moray eels, sea turtles, parrotfish. There are schools of dolphins and sometimes whales.

The dives around Cocos Island are extraordinary and beautiful. The island is located far out in the open sea. This diving is not recommended for inexperienced divers as it is in the open ocean and requires special skills. Currents and visibility can change significantly within a few hours. Diving along the rocky coastline of the main island is very exhilarating. The bottom is volcanic rock with wildly growing long algae. Hammerhead sharks, whale sharks, marlins, bottlenose dolphins, stingrays, turtles and many other rare fish species live here. The greatest amount of marine life is found at depths of 60 - 80 feet. A diver's computer is required. The safe limit is set at 130 feet. Visibility varies from 60 to 100 feet. Diving will begin shortly after your arrival at the island. In the waters around Cocos Island, the most convenient way to dive is from inflatable boats. You will be able to dive 4 times a day: 3 program, day dives and one additional, night dive. Night dives can be done almost every night, having previously agreed with the instructor. Inflatable boats are 20 feet long.

600 km west of the coast of Costa Rica lies the uninhabited island of Cocos. It is famous for the fact that for many years it was a “bank” where pirates kept their “deposits”. Professional treasure hunters carefully estimate the treasures of the island to be worth from 10 to 60 million dollars (although figures of 1 billion are also mentioned!). Therefore, up to 1,000 tourists come here every year, most of whom plan not to leave their money here, but to find someone else’s.

Pirate safe
The Spanish navigator Juan Cabezas, who discovered the island in 1526, presented open land to your king. But he didn’t like the gift. An island lost in the ocean, located away from trade routes, was of no interest to the Spanish crown. But the pirates highly appreciated both its uninhabitation and its very convenient geographical position. All the “gentlemen of fortune” cruising along the west coast of Central America invariably stopped at Cocos.

Here they replenished their supplies of fresh water, rested, and repaired their ships damaged in storms and battles. Here the pirates divided the spoils, after which each headed to his own “safety deposit box.” According to legends (a visitor book on the island, of course, was not kept), Coconut was visited by such “stars” as Henry Morgan, Edward Davis, and William Dampier. So if any island can claim the loud title of “treasure island,” it is, first of all, Coconut.

However, every treasure hunter, plunging a shovel into the ground of the island, dreams of finding not the hiding place of an individual sea tramp, but the treasures of Lima or the treasure of the Bloody Sword.

Treasures of Lima
In 1820, Peru waged its struggle for independence from the Spanish crown. The troops of General San Martin marched on Lima. The governor of the city, preparing for surrender, took the Peruvian treasury to the port of Callao and sent an official who was supposed to load the valuables onto the first ship under the Spanish flag and take them to the still Spanish Panama. But the first to enter the harbor was “Mary Dear” (Dear Mary) of the American captain Thompson.

Fearing that there would be no other opportunity to carry out the assignment, the official agreed with the captain to save the “important state documents" The boxes were lowered into the hold, and security came on board. At night, Thompson and a trusted sailor carefully opened the bulkhead and, looking into one of the boxes, found out what kind of “valuable documents” they had to transport. The temptation was too great. The guards were cut, the anchor rope was cut, and the Dear Mary quietly left the harbor under cover of darkness.

However, what to do next with the treasures? Realizing so many values is not an easy task. In addition, we must not forget that the first Spanish ship that enters Callao will give chase, and the Dear Mary, weighed down with its cargo, is no longer so frisky and cannot rely on its speed. The smartest thing to do is to hide the treasures for a while. Thompson glanced at the map - of course, Coconut!
After 4 days, "Dear Mary" approached the island. For another three days, the sailors carried the gold ashore and hid it in several equipped caches. When everything was ready and Thompson gave the command to raise the anchor, a Spanish frigate approached the island. The Spanish captain, who arrived in Callao a day after Thompson's escape, miscalculated the American's actions and headed straight for Cocos. Thompson tried to escape - the Spaniard fired a broadside. The American sailors were hanged, but the captain and navigator were left to live - who else will tell where the treasures of Lima are hidden? But Thompson and the navigator were silent, realizing that silence meant life for them.

The prisoners were shackled and taken to Panama. On the way, the navigator died, and Thompson remained the only keeper of the secret. In 1821, Panama became independent, Thompson was released and began to look for partners who had the means to organize an expedition to Cocos. These were the English captain Keating and a certain Baugh. They decided not to involve the team in the business. Thompson died on the road, leaving his companions a map with his notes.

On the island, Keating and Baugh quickly found a “golden” cave. The initial goal was only to find a cache, nothing more, but when they saw a pile of treasures, they could not resist the temptation and began to “go hunting” every day, carrying jewelry in their pockets. The crew suspected evil (they didn’t sail here to shoot mountain goats!). The captain's cabin was searched. When Keating and Baugh arrived from the next “hunt,” the sailors presented the “evidence” they found and demanded a division.

At night, Keating and Baugh escaped from the ship. They were searched for two weeks, but were not found. The ship left without them. A month later, a whaler came to Cocos to replenish his supply of fresh water. On the island, the sailors found a thin, bearded man. It was Keating. He said that he was abandoned on the island by a mutinous crew. Not a word was said about Baugh. Keating brought with him only a handful of precious stones, but they lasted him for 7 whole years - until the very end of his life.

Bloody Sword Treasure
In 1853, the Welch couple from Australia, John and Mary, appeared in San Francisco. The lady turned out to have a very vivid biography, which she did not hide at all. According to her, in her youth she was a friend of the pirate Benito Bonito, known as the Bloody Sword.

According to her stories, Benito Bonito's real name was Alexander Graham, he was an officer in the Royal Navy. Commanding the brig Devonshire, Graham took part in the Battle of Trafalgar. The officer showed miracles of courage, but all the honors (albeit posthumous) went to Admiral Nelson.

The seed of resentment sprouted when Graham became aware of information regarding the departure from the port of Acapulco of a Spanish ship loaded with gold mined in Mexican mines. Having lined up the crew on deck, the captain announced his intention to replace the Union Jack on the mast with the Jolly Roger. The sailors responded to the captain with an enthusiastic cry. Several dissenters were put ashore at the nearest port. It was then that Graham, who took the pseudonym Benito Bonito, brought 18-year-old beauty Mary on board.

The pirates watched the Spanish ship for almost two weeks, and they waited. The short battle ended in a boarding battle. Full of gold, the Devonshire headed for Coconut, where the loot was buried. The next trip was also successful. The amount of gold in the cache doubled, and the glory of the Bloody Sword grew.
But all good things come to an end. One day, off the coast of Costa Rica, the Devonshire was met by two English frigates. There was a battle, the brig was captured, Benito Bonito and the captured sailors were hanged. Mary was taken to London, where an English court sentenced the pirate's friend to 15 years of hard labor and sent her to “reform” in Australia, where she became Mrs. Welch.

Ahead of the questions, Mary Welch answered that she, of course, perfectly remembers the place where the pirates unloaded treasures ashore, moreover, she has a map that Graham personally gave her before the decisive battle, and she simply dreams of visiting so dear to her heart island.

The story is a frank copy of a tabloid novel, but 150 (!) tons of gold (that’s how much lay, according to Mary Welch, in Benito’s cache) made several American businessmen believe in it. A joint stock company was urgently organized, and in 1854 a steamship left San Francisco, on which the shareholders and Mary Welch went for the treasures of the Bloody Sword.

However, upon arrival on the island, Mary stated that coastline has changed a lot over the past 20-odd years and it can only indicate approximately where the pirates landed. The map didn't help either. The treasure hunters could not find either the “tall cedar” or “three separate palm trees.” Having used up the entire supply of provisions, the shareholders returned to San Francisco, and the treasure of the Bloody Sword remained on the island.

We are looking for treasures!
The 1854 expedition ushered in the era of treasure hunting in the history of the island. In just 150 years, more than 300 organized expeditions searched for treasures on Cocos! The number of singles is in the thousands. Some came here for several months, some stayed for years. August Gissler searched for the treasure for 20 years, but found only one gold doubloon, minted in 1788. In 1908, he left the island on a ship that brought another batch of treasure seekers to Cocos.
Many left their fortunes here, many - their lives. Fever, poisonous snakes and insects, bloody showdowns - the island, whose population according to official data is 0 people, amazes the visitor with the size of its cemetery.

Since 1978, unauthorized excavations on the island have been prohibited. Now every treasure hunter must buy a license. Along with permission, he will be offered to buy (very inexpensively) a map of Coconut with marks where the treasures of Morgan, Thompson and the Bloody Sword are buried. However, all the digging tourists leave here empty-handed. At least that's what they say.

There are many islands in the world called Coconut, but say in front of an experienced diver “ Cocos Island"- and this island will be recognized unambiguously. Belonging to Costa Rica Isla del Coco, the largest officially uninhabited island on Earth, included in the list of objects World Heritage UNESCO.

This island is famous not only for its protected nature and first-class diving.

Cocos Island considered one of the leading candidates for a prototype island Robinson Crusoe(Truth, Defoe placed a desert island in Atlantic). Another literary parallel - Treasure Island Stevenson. And reasons to believe Coconut island with pirate treasures are very serious: pirates have certainly been here, and treasure hunters still do not give up trying to find the legendary treasures...

Geographical location of Cocos Island

Cocos Island" is in Pacific Ocean approximately 550 km from the Costa Rican coast. Closest to Coconut inhabited landmass - the Galapagos Islands, belonging to Ecuador, several hundred miles to the southwest.

The island of volcanic-tectonic origin is composed of basalts and has an elongated shape. Dimensions approximately 8×3 km and an area of 23.9 km 2.

The coastline is moderately indented; three bays are distinguished: Wayfer (also known as Wofer, Wafer), Chatham (or Chatham, Chatham) and Weston ( Weston). Due to the steep banks, landing on the shore is not convenient everywhere.

The highest point of the island is Mt. Iglesias, rises to 771 m. The central part of the island is occupied by flat terrain with altitudes of 200-250 m above sea level.

On Cocos Island There are several small rivers that can dry up if there is no rain for a long time during the dry season. There are many waterfalls in different places on the island, the number of which increases during the rainy season.

Flora coconut it is extremely rich and, at the same time, unique: of the island’s 235 known species of flowering plants, 70 are endemic, that is, they are not found anywhere else in the world. In addition, 74 species of horsetails and ferns, 128 lichens and mosses, 90 species of mushrooms, etc. are described on the island. Coconut - the only island in the eastern part Pacific Ocean, covered with tropical rainforest.

On Coconut 90 bird species nest (including 3 endemics). All 4 species of land mammals: Virginia deer, feral pigs, cats and rats were brought from outside by people. Cocos Island is home to two species of lizards found only here. The island is home to more than 400 species of insects, of which about 16% are endemic.

Marine fauna coconut attracts divers from all over the world to its waters. Warm tropical waters, coral colonies, seamounts, volcanic caves provide shelter and food for 600 species of mollusks and more than 300 species of fish, among which it is worth noting yellowfin tuna, manta rays, sailfish, bronze hammerhead sharks and, finally, whale sharks - the largest fish Earth. Whitetip and graytip reef sharks are found here. The reefs are home to octopuses, moray eels, hawksbill turtles, green and olive sea turtles, and parrot fish.

The coastal waters are also home to humpback whales, pilot whales (from the dolphin family), bottlenose dolphins, and sea lions.

Cocos Island, with a 15-kilometer shelf zone, has been declared a conservation area of international importance.

Treasures of Cocos Island

WITH Cocos Island There are many legends about countless treasures still hidden and waiting for their treasure hunter. Here they are looking for the missing Inca gold from the city of Cusco, pirate treasures of the 17th-18th centuries, but the most popular legend is about the “gold of Lima”

Allegedly, during the war for the independence of Peru, they tried to send the treasures of the treasury and noble Spaniards to the metropolis by hiring a pirate brig for transportation, but without informing the captain about the contents of the cargo. But the captain, having learned about the true contents of the holds, managed to secretly take his brig away. A warship was sent in pursuit and overtook the pirates off the coast. coconut, but the holds were already empty, the treasure was securely hidden on the island. They tried to get the treasure several times and even, it seems, a small part of it was taken out, but according to legend, the main part of it remains on the island.

Since the 19th century almost continuously, expedition after expedition searches for treasures on Cocos Island, but there have still been no official reports of treasure finds. By the way, according to the laws of Costa Rica, if you find a treasure, you will have to give half of it to the state.

Diving on Cocos Island

Cocos Island often ranked among the top ten best diving spots in the world in rankings of various levels.

Diving is only possible during a dive safari. Safari yachts depart from the Costa Rican port of Puntarenas, the journey to the island takes about 36 hours. Possible anchorages at coconut few, the most popular are organized in Chatham and Wayfair bays. In most cases, direct dives are made from zodiacs or small boats.

Weather, seasonality and diving conditions

The weather here is most often cloudy, heavy rains are possible throughout the year, with slightly less rain from January to March and from September to the end of October. The climate on the island is humid, tropical, average annual temperature 23.6°C and an average annual precipitation of more than 7000 mm. Coconut lies outside the typhoon belt.

Diving season is on Coconut almost all year round, but best time The period for diving is considered to be from May to October. July to October is the peak season for hammerhead sharks. The water temperature at the dive sites is 23-27°C. Visibility - 20-30 m. Strong unpredictable currents are possible. Recommended wetsuit 5 mm

Pirate safe

The Spanish navigator Juan Cabezas, who discovered the island in 1526, presented the discovered land to his king. But he didn’t like the gift. An island lost in the ocean, located away from trade routes, was of no interest to the Spanish crown. But the pirates highly appreciated both its uninhabitation and its very convenient geographical location. All the “gentlemen of fortune” cruising along the west coast of Central America invariably stopped at Cocos.

Treasures of Lima

In 1820, Peru waged its struggle for independence from the Spanish crown. The troops of General San Martin marched on Lima. The governor of the city, preparing for surrender, took the Peruvian treasury to the port of Callao and sent an official who was supposed to load the valuables onto the first ship under the Spanish flag and take them to the still Spanish Panama. But the first to enter the harbor was “Mary Dear” (Dear Mary) of the American captain Thompson.

Fearing that there would be no other opportunity to carry out the assignment, the official agreed with the captain to save “important state documents.” The boxes were lowered into the hold, and security came on board. At night, Thompson and a trusted sailor carefully opened the bulkhead and, looking into one of the boxes, found out what kind of “valuable documents” they had to transport. The temptation was too great. The guards were cut, the anchor rope was cut, and the Dear Mary quietly left the harbor under cover of darkness.

However, what to do next with the treasures? Realizing so many values is not an easy task. In addition, we must not forget that the very first Spanish ship that enters Callao will give chase, and the Dear Mary, weighed down with its cargo, is no longer so frisky and cannot rely on its speed. The smartest thing is to hide the treasures for a while. Thompson glanced at the map - of course, Coconut!

After 4 days, "Dear Mary" approached the island. For another three days, the sailors carried the gold ashore and hid it in several equipped caches. When everything was ready and Thompson gave the command to raise the anchor, a Spanish frigate approached the island. The Spanish captain, who arrived in Callao a day after Thompson's escape, miscalculated the American's actions and headed straight for Cocos. Thompson tried to escape - the Spaniard fired a broadside. The American sailors were hanged, but the captain and navigator were left to live - who else will tell where the treasures of Lima are hidden? But Thompson and the navigator were silent, realizing that silence meant life for them.

Bloody Sword Treasure

In 1853, the Welch couple from Australia, John and Mary, appeared in San Francisco. The lady turned out to have a very vivid biography, which she did not hide at all. According to her, in her youth she was a friend of the pirate Benito Bonito, known as the Bloody Sword.

But all good things come to an end. One day, off the coast of Costa Rica, the Devonshire was met by two English frigates. There was a battle, the brig was captured, Benito Bonito and the captured sailors were hanged. Mary was taken to London, where an English court sentenced the pirate's friend to 15 years of hard labor and sent her to “reform” in Australia, where she became Mrs. Welch.

However, upon arrival on the island, Mary stated that the coastline had changed a lot over the past 20-odd years and she could only approximately indicate the landing site of the pirates. The map didn't help either. The treasure hunters could not find either the “tall cedar” or “three separate palm trees.” Having used up the entire supply of provisions, the shareholders returned to San Francisco, and the treasure of the Bloody Sword remained on the island.

We are looking for treasures!

The 1854 expedition ushered in the era of treasure hunting in the history of the island. In just 150 years, more than 300 organized expeditions searched for treasures on Cocos! The number of singles is in the thousands. Some came here for several months, some stayed for years. August Gissler searched for the treasure for 20 years, but found only one gold doubloon, minted in 1788. In 1908, he left the island on a ship that brought another batch of treasure seekers to Cocos.

Many left their fortunes here, many - their lives. Fever, poisonous snakes and insects, bloody showdowns - the island, whose population according to official data is 0 people, amazes the visitor with the size of its cemetery.

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