You're sailing the Jackdaw through a Caribbean gale, the crew is beltin' out "Leave Her Johnny," and suddenly you see it—a tiny, glowing bottle on a sandbar. You pick it up. It’s a sketch. A few palm trees, some coordinates, and a big red "X." Honestly, Assassin's Creed Black Flag treasure maps are the best part of the game because they force you to actually look at the world instead of just staring at the mini-map.
But let's be real. Some of these are a nightmare to find.
Most players think you just go to the coordinates and dig. It’s never that simple. You have to account for the verticality of the islands and the fact that Ubisoft loves hiding these things behind bushes or inside caves that only open during certain missions. If you’re trying to 100% the game or just want that sweet, sweet Buried Treasure trophy, you need a plan.
Why the coordinates on Assassin's Creed Black Flag treasure maps are kinda liars
Every map has numbers in the corner. (333, 650). (442, 118). They look precise. They aren't.
Those numbers get you to the island, sure. But once you step off the Jackdaw, you’re on your own. The game doesn't give you a waypoint for the dig spot. You have to look at the drawing in your inventory and match the topography. Look for the "landmarks." Maybe it’s a specific rock formation that looks like a skull, or a fallen tree leaning against a Mayan ruin.
Most people get stuck because they expect the "Dig" prompt to pop up from five feet away. Nope. You basically have to be standing right on top of it. Edward Kenway isn't a psychic; he's a pirate with a shovel. If you aren't pixel-perfect, you won't see the prompt.
The Great Inagua Map: Your first real test
You get this one early. It’s basically a tutorial, but it sets the tone. The coordinates are (845, 468). You’re looking for a general area near the docks, but the actual chest is tucked away in a spot that looks like every other patch of dirt on the island.
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The trick here? Look for the palm trees that look like they’re framing a window.
It’s about perspective. The artist who drew these maps—in the game's lore, anyway—was standing in a very specific spot. If you can find where the "camera" was when the sketch was made, you’ll find the treasure in seconds.
The Elite Ship Upgrades you actually care about
Let’s talk about why we’re doing this. It’s not for the 3,000 Reales. Well, okay, the money helps when you're trying to buy that expensive heavy shot. But the real prizes are the Elite Upgrade Plans.
You cannot max out the Jackdaw without these maps.
- Elite Heavy Shot Storage: Found at (479, 487). You get the map in Salt Lagoon.
- Elite Fire Barrel Strength: This one is a pain. The map is in Santanillas (217, 250), but the treasure is in San Juan.
- Elite Harpoon Strength: Go to Mariguana Island for the map, then dig at Andreas Island (579, 720).
If you want to take down the Legendary Ships—those massive Man-O-Wars that roam the corners of the map and eat brigantines for breakfast—you need these upgrades. Without the Elite Hull or the Elite Mortars, you’re just floating driftwood waiting to happen.
The San Juan map is particularly tricky. You have to swim through an underwater tunnel, dodge some jellyfish, and surface in a smuggler’s den. It’s classic Black Flag. It’s atmospheric. It’s also incredibly frustrating if you run out of air halfway through.
Don't forget the Fleet Maps
There are three maps you cannot get just by exploring the Caribbean. This is where a lot of completionists get angry. You have to use Kenway’s Fleet, the mini-game where you send captured ships on trading missions.
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- Barcelona: Sends you to the Florida keys.
- Portugal: Rewards the map for Anotto Bay.
- Cumberland Bay: Technically a fleet reward too.
If you’ve been ignoring the captain’s cabin in your ship, stop. Start sending your schooners out. It takes real-time hours for these missions to finish, so it’s best to start them, go play some main missions, and check back later.
Dealing with the "social" aspect of treasure hunting
Back in the day, Ubisoft had these "Social Chests." They were blue icons that appeared randomly and you had to be online to see them. They weren't part of the 22 standard Assassin's Creed Black Flag treasure maps, but they felt like it.
Nowadays, the servers can be... temperamental.
If you’re hunting for the 100% sync, focus on the 22 core maps first. The social chests are a bonus. Don't waste three hours sailing in circles around Salt Tortuga looking for a blue icon that might not spawn because the Ubisoft servers are having a nap.
The most beautiful (and annoying) locations
Misteriosa. (307, 610).
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It’s one of the coolest looking islands in the game. Giant Mayan statues, lush greenery, and a vertical layout that makes your knees hurt just looking at it. The map for this is in Ambergris Caye. You have to dive, find the map, then sail all the way to Misteriosa to find the dig spot.
The treasure is right behind the main temple structure. It’s one of those spots where you’ll say, "I've walked past this ten times!"
That’s the beauty of the design. The developers at Ubisoft Montreal were masters at hiding things in plain sight. They used shadows and foliage to mask the dig spots just enough that you feel like a genius when you finally find it.
Common mistakes when hunting treasure
- Ignoring the coordinates: I've seen people try to find the "rock" based on the drawing alone. Don't. The Caribbean is big. Use the coordinates to get to the right sub-map first.
- Not clearing the area: Nothing ruins a treasure hunt like a Spanish scout poking you with a bayonet. Kill the guards first. Treasure hunting is a peaceful hobby.
- Thinking the map is a lie: If the coordinates say (621, 277), the treasure is at (621, 277). If you don't see the dig prompt, move six inches to the left.
Actionable steps for your hunt
If you're jumping back into the Animus to clean up your map, do it systematically. Don't sail back and forth across the ocean; that’s how you burn out.
First, hit the diving bell locations. These are high-density areas for maps and upgrades. Use the Anotto Bay and Ambergris Caye dives to grab the blueprints early.
Second, unlock all the viewpoints. This clears the "fog of war" and makes it way easier to see the white bottle icons for the maps themselves.
Third, keep a list of the coordinates you've already visited. The game tracks this in the "Progress Tracker" menu, but it’s buried under three layers of UI. It’s much faster to just check off a physical list or a note on your phone.
Finally, prioritize the Elite Hull and Elite Mortars. They are the two most important upgrades found via maps. Once you have those, the rest of the game becomes a playground. You'll stop being the hunted and start being the terror of the West Indies.
Go find that gold. Just watch out for the sharks. They don't care about your completion percentage.