A French frigate sank in protected waters off the coast of Panama in 1699, carrying a royal treasure thought to be valued at $24m. The ship, Maureas, and her lost treasure, went down near the remote San Blas archipelago and the search team, led by Deep Blue Explorers (DBE) and Pelorus X, has worked with the indigenous Guna Yala tribe who live on the islands and have held onto the secret of the wreck’s location until now.
If the treasure is found, 70% of the value will be returned to the tribe with guests receiving a 4.94% of the final 30% — as Fredrik Strang, Swedish mountaineer and documentary filmmaker (more on that later), explains: “This is a modern Robin Hood tale — giving back to the people who need it most.”
Following multiple meetings with the Guna Yala people — the initial meeting lasting seven hours — the tribe came together with DBE and Pelorus X for this truly unique expedition which will also be filmed as a docuseries which guests can opt to appear in.
Beyond the hunt for the treasure, the area is teeming with life and the underwater landscape is stunning — think: golden sand banks and rugged rock formations. Guests can spend days diving and scanning the seabed with a magnetometer. There’s also the rare chance to spend time with the Guna Yala tribe to learn about their closely guarded traditions and deep connection to the sea. Joining the trip will be a team of experts, including a modern treasure hunter. Evenings will be spent uncovering the history of the shipwreck and the art of capturing the expedition on film.
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It’s the ultimate adventure, a hell of a story and — maybe — a nice little earner.
From $180,300 per person for seven nights, pelorustravel.com