You're standing in the middle of a literal jungle, bullets are flying, and Nathan Drake is making some quip about his hair. It’s chaotic. But then, out of the corner of your eye, you see it. That tiny, white glint sitting on a ledge that looks completely inaccessible. That’s the classic Uncharted Drake's Fortune treasures experience. It’s a mix of "I need to survive this shootout" and "If I don't pick up that Silver Inca Figurine, I’m going to regret it for the rest of the game."
Honestly, Naughty Dog set a weirdly high bar back in 2007. They didn't just hide stuff; they hid stuff in places that make you question the laws of physics and Nate’s grip strength.
There are 60 treasures in total, plus the strange relic. Finding them isn't just about getting a trophy or an achievement. It’s about the lore. Each piece, from the Spanish Gold Coins to the Gold Tairona Pendant, feels like a tiny piece of the historical puzzle the game is trying to piece together. Most people think they can just stroll through the campaign and stumble upon them. You can't. You’ll probably finish your first run with maybe 15 if you're lucky.
Why the treasure hunt feels so different today
Back when this dropped on the PS3, we didn't have the hyper-polished hint systems we have now. You just looked for the sparkle. If you missed it, you missed it. Even in the Nathan Drake Collection on PS4 or the more recent PC ports, that fundamental "hide and seek" mechanic hasn't changed. It’s brutal.
The game is divided into 22 chapters, but the treasures aren't evenly spread. Some chapters are loaded. Others? Barely a scrap of silver. It keeps you on your toes. It forces you to look behind every pillar and jump off every cliff just to see if there’s a secret alcove.
One thing people get wrong is assuming the treasures are always "forward." They aren't. Frequently, the best Uncharted Drake's Fortune treasures are tucked away right behind where you start a level. You spawn in, and your instinct is to run toward the objective. Don't. Turn around. Walk into the dead end. That’s usually where the Silver Fish Charm is hiding.
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The early game grind: Chapters 2 through 5
The hunt really kicks off in Chapter 2, "The Search for El Dorado." You’re in the Amazon. It’s lush, it’s green, and it’s a nightmare for spotting small silver objects. The Silver Inca Figurine is the first one most people find, usually by accident near the start of the canyon. But then you hit the waterfall area.
There's a Silver Fish Charm hidden near the base of the falls. If you aren't looking at the ground while dodging mercenary fire, you'll walk right over it.
By the time you reach Chapter 3, the scale changes. You’re dealing with the submerged U-boat. Most players get distracted by the cinematic of the sub sitting in the middle of the jungle. Understandable. But if you don't check the upper ledges before dropping down to the sub, you're leaving a Gold Tairona Pendant behind.
Chapter 4 is where the frustration usually peaks. It’s a massive level. "Plane-Wrecked" has ten treasures. Ten! That’s a huge chunk of the total count. You’ll find the Silver Inca Cup early on, but the real pain is the Silver Tairona Figure. It’s hidden behind a rock near a waterfall in a section where you’re being hunted by guys with laser sights. It's easy to forget about shiny rocks when your head is about to be popped.
The Strange Relic: A Naughty Dog Tradition
We have to talk about the Strange Relic. This isn't just one of the Uncharted Drake's Fortune treasures; it’s a meta-reference to Jak and Daxter. It looks like a Precursor Orb. Finding it is basically a rite of passage for Uncharted fans.
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It’s in Chapter 5, "The Fortress." After you clear out the big courtyard with the machine gun turret, you’ll find yourself in a sewer-like area. There’s a pile of rubble in a corner of a room that looks like a dead end. Jump on it. Look down. The Strange Relic is there, glowing with that weird orange light.
Picking this up doesn't just give you a trophy; it gives you a sense of completion that the regular treasures don't quite hit. It’s the "extra" bit of effort that separates a casual player from a completionist.
The mid-game slump and the bunker nightmare
Chapters 8 through 15 are a blur of jet ski sequences and ancient ruins. The treasures here are devious. In the "Tower" and "The Customs House," the game uses verticality to hide things. You’ll be climbing a wall, and instead of going up, you need to shimmy left around a corner you didn't even know existed to find a Golden Casco Bottle.
Then comes the Bunker.
Chapter 19, "Unwelcome Guests," is a horror game. Let’s be real. The "Slippery Naked Guys" (as the community affectionately calls the mutated Spaniards) are terrifying. Trying to find the Golden Inca Vessel while being chased by screeching monsters in the dark is the ultimate test of nerves. Most people just run for the exit. If you want the platinum, you have to stay in the dark a little longer. It’s tucked in a corner of the generator room. It’s small. It’s gold. It’s incredibly easy to miss when you’re screaming.
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Making sense of the collection
Collecting these isn't just about the "ping" sound. When you go into the Rewards menu, you can actually look at these items. The level of detail Naughty Dog put into these 3D models is insane for a game that’s nearly two decades old.
- The Gold Items: These are usually the rarest and most hidden. Think Gold Bird Idols or Gold Turtles.
- The Silver Items: More common, often used to guide the player toward a secret path.
- The Weird Stuff: Like the Silver Snuff Box or the Spanish Gold Coffer. These add a layer of historical "flavor" to the hunt for El Dorado.
The reality is that Uncharted Drake's Fortune treasures act as a breadcrumb trail. They show you where the developers spent time building geometry that 90% of players will never see. If there's a weirdly detailed ledge or a random cave that seems to lead nowhere, there's a 100% chance a treasure is there.
Practical steps for the 100% run
If you’re serious about clearing this out, don't try to do it on Crushing difficulty. That’s a recipe for a broken controller. Do your treasure hunt on Easy or Explorer mode. It lets you actually stop and look at the scenery without being turned into Swiss cheese by a pirate with a Moss-12.
- Use the Chapter Select: You don't have to do it all in one go. The game tracks which ones you’ve found. If you missed three in Chapter 4, just go back later.
- Camera Positioning: Use the right stick to swing the camera around corners before you walk past them. The "glint" often only appears from a certain angle.
- Listen for the audio cue: There’s a very subtle shimmering sound when you’re near a treasure. It’s quiet, so turn down the music in the settings if you’re struggling.
- The "Check Behind You" Rule: Every time a cutscene ends and you regain control of Nate, immediately turn 180 degrees and walk. You’d be surprised how many treasures are literally behind your starting position.
- Clear the room first: Never try to treasure hunt during a firefight. Once the music stops and Nate says something like "That's all of them," then you start scouring the floor.
Finding every treasure in Drake's first adventure is a grind, but it’s one of the most rewarding grinds in action-adventure gaming. It forces you to appreciate the environmental storytelling that makes this series so iconic. It turns a linear shooter into a genuine exploration game.
Once you’ve grabbed that final Gold Spanish Coin in Chapter 22, you’re done. You’ve seen everything the island has to hide. Now you can move on to Among Thieves, where the treasures get even more ridiculous. But for now, take the win. You earned it.
Actionable insights for your next session
Check your "Medals" menu right now to see exactly which chapters are missing items. Focus on Chapter 4 ("Plane-Wrecked") first, as it has the highest concentration of missable items. If you find yourself stuck, remember that treasures are often placed near "lighting cues"—if a sunbeam is hitting a specific patch of dirt, walk over there. Chances are, it's not just a pretty effect; it's a spotlight on your next piece of silver.