SPAIN

For centuries the port of Cadiz, Spain served as the place where the galleons would gather and prepare for the voyage to the New World. The Spanish fleet had been assembled at the orders of the King of Spain and been charged with going to the Americas to collect the treasure that had accumulated and was awaiting shipment. The Spanish crown levied taxes against various products or industries that existed in the Americas. It also levied a 20% import duty, called the "Royal Fifth", against all goods that private merchants would be shipping back to Spain aboard the galleons. The safe return of this treasure to Spain was of the utmost importance to the Spanish crown and represented the foundation of Spain's dominance and prosperity.

For the voyage to the New World the galleons would be carrying a large amount of goods that had been manufactured all over Europe. Items included wine, cheese, cloth, tools, mining equipment, mercury, paper, etc. Virtually any item that the prosperous New World families could desire was shipped to the New World aboard the galleons.

Upon the arrival of the fleet at ports in the New World, these items would be traded for goods produced in the New World colonies such as, cocoa, campeche wood, cochineal, indigo, tobacco, etc.  It was also quite common for these goods to be traded for plentiful gold, silver or precious stones that was being produced throughout the American colonies.  Upon leaving the port of Cadiz the fleet would follow a southern heading that would take them past the Straits of Gibraltar and along the west coast of Africa. [map]   [top]

CANARY ISLANDS

In order to make the journey across the Atlantic as quickly as possible, the fleet would sail to the southern latitudes of Madeira Island and the Canaries Archipelago. It was in this vicinity that the fleet would catch the trade winds that would then take the galleons across the Atlantic Ocean. [map]   [top]

CARIBBEAN

As the Spanish fleet neared Barbados and the other islands of the Lesser Antillies, a small contingent of ships would break off from the main fleet and sail on a northerly course. These ships would then stop at ports throughout the Carribbean Islands and take on cargoes of sugar, molasses, sasparilla and other goods that were produced by the extensive slave labor utilized by the Spanish throughout their New World colonies.

The rest of the fleet would continue to sail past Grenada at which point the fleet would then split into two groups. The first group, known as the "New Spain" fleet would sail on a northerly course for Veracruz, Mexico. The other group, known as the "Tierra Firma" fleet would continue on a westerly heading for the port of Porto Bello, Panama. [map]   [top]

CUBA

Havana, Cuba was the final Caribbean destination for all the ships that had sailed from Spain. It was in this port that the ships of the Tierra Firme armada would meet up with the armada of New Spain. All other vessels that had been sent to smaller ports throughout the Islands would also sail to Havana to meet up with the rest of the fleet.

Once the fleet had assembled, any necessary vessel repairs would be made and fresh stores of food and water would be loaded. After all the preparations were finished the fleet would then set sail for Spain carrying a vast amount of merchandise and treasure from all over the world. [map]   [top]

MEXICO

The port of Veracruz, Mexico was the other major port for the Spanish treasure armadas. Mexico, as well as other Central American regions produced a large number of products that were in demand in Europe.

Of primary importance to the Spanish crown were the numerous silver mines scattered throughout the mountains of Mexico. The huge volume of silver pouring from the mines was coined into pieces of eight at the Mexico City mint.  This mint produced millions of coins each year. A large percentage of the output from the mint made it into circulation throughout the New World colonies. A large amount was also consigned to the Spanish crown for payment of taxes.

Millions of pieces of eight were also transported to the west coast of Mexico to the port of Acapulco. Here the treasure would be loaded aboard the "Manila Galleons" and shipped to Manila in the Philippines. The treasure would then be used for purchasing oriental items such silk, rubies and sapphires, jade, gold, jewelry, china and ivory. These items would then be loaded aboard the Manila Galleons for transport back to Mexico.

Upon arrival of the Manila galleons to Acapulco, the treasure would then be transported by mule train across Mexico to the principal port of Veracruz. Here the treasure from the orient would be stored in the customs warehouses to await the arrival of the New Spain armada.

Once the New Spain armada had arrived and loaded all of the accumulated cargo, the fleet would then set sail on a generally eastern heading for Havana, Cuba. [map]   [top]

NORTHERN COAST

As the Tierra Firme fleet followed their westerly course for Panama, a small contingent would break off from the main fleet and stop in various ports along the Northern coast of South America. Valuable goods such as pearls from Margarita Island, gold and diamonds from Caracas, and gold and emeralds from Cartegena, were routinely loaded aboard these ships. Once these ships had completed their stops at these ports, the ships would then sail on to Porto Bello, Panama and meet up with the rest of the Tierra Firme fleet. [map]   [top]

PANAMA

Panama was one of the principal ports used by the galleon fleets for over 300 years. The port of Porto Bello was a center for the accumulation of treasure that had been shipped from ports throughout South America.

Goods that arrived to the west coast of Panama aboard the South Seas fleet were transported across the isthmus of Panama using mule trains. Upon the arrival of the mule trains to the Atlantic side of Panama the treasure from Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia would then be stored in warehouses to await the arrival of galleons from Spain.

Porto Bello would also serve as the main transshipment point for the treasure and other merchandise that had been picked up by ships of the Tierra Firme armada that had come from Spain and stopped at various ports along the northern coast of South America.  Once the fleet had arrived from Spain all of the cargo that had accumulated in the customs warehouses would then be transported north aboard the ships of the Tierra Firme armada. As the armada left they would follow a northerly course that would take them to Havana, Cuba. [map]   [top]

THE SOUTH SEA

South America was one of Spain's richest possessions. Rich silver and gold mines were located by the Spaniards throughout the Andes Mountains. As these sources of precious metals were exploited, the treasure, in coin and ingot form, was loaded aboard ships of the "South Seas" armada. These ships would travel up and down the western coast of South America delivering goods. The principal route taken by these galleons would see them start at the south and stop at ports along the coast while making their way to Panama for final delivery of all the treasure that had been collected. [map]   [top]