From the 1530s onward, Spanish ships suffered from privateers and outright , not only in the West Indies, but also in the Atlantic. Spain's solution adopted informally in the 1560s, was to "convoy" ships together in one powerful fleet.

Each year the fleet ("flota") sailed from Seville in Spain, carrying passengers, troops, and European trade goods to the Spanish colonies of the new world. However, its principal purpose was returning silver from the mines in New Spain (Mexico) and Potosi (Peru) to the Spanish government in Europe. This vast wealth made the returning fleet a tempting target. Privateer and pirate ships frequently followed it, hoping to pick off stragglers. This was a dangerous business, since a well-handled war galleon could (and sometimes did) turn the tables and capture a pirate!

Similarly, the mule train roads along the coast of Terra Firma () moved silver and other goods toward the major ports of Cartagena, Nombre de Dios, and Puerto Bello. These trains carried produce and species destined to be loaded aboard the treasure fleet.

THE TREASURE FLEET THE SILVER TRAIN ------(1560) Cumana - Early October Cumana - Early April Puerto Cabello - Late October Borburata - Late April Maricaibo - Early November Puerto Cabello - Early May Rio de la Hacha - Late November Coro - Late May Nombre de Dios - Early December Gibraltar - Early June Cartagena - Late December Maracaibo - Late June Campeche - Late January Rio de la Hacha - Early July Vera Cruz - Early February - Late July Havana - Early March Cartagena - Early August Santiago - Late March Panama - Late August Florida Channel - Late April Nombre de Dios - Early October

(1600) Cumana - Early October St. Thome - Early April - Late October Cumana - Late April Maracaibo - Early November Caracas - Early May Rio de la Hacha - Late November Pureto Cabello - Late May Santa Marta - Early December Coro - Early June THE TREASURE FLEET THE SILVER TRAIN (1600 cont.) Puerto Bello - Late December Gibraltar - Late June Cartagena - Early January Maracaibo - Early July Campeche - Early February Rio de la Hacha - Late July Vera Cruz - Late February Santa Marta - Early August Havana - Late March Cartagena - Late August Florida Channel - Late April Panama - Early September Puerto Bello - Late October

(1620) Caracas - Early September St. Thome - Early March Maracaibo - Late September Cumana - Late March Rio de la Hacha - Early October Caracas - Early April Santa Marta - Late October Puerto Cabello - Late April Puerto Bello - Early November Gibraltar - Early May Cartagena - Early December Maracaibo - Late May Campeche - Early January Rio de la Hacha - Early June Vera Cruz - Late January Santa Marta - Late June Havana - Late February Cartagena - Early July Florida Channel - Late March Panama - Late July Puerto Bello - Early September

(1640) Caracas - Early October Cumana -Early April Maracaibo - Late October Caracas - Late April Rio de la Hacha - Early November Gibraltar - Early May Santa Marta - Late November Maracaibo - Late May Puerto Bello - Early December Rio de la Hacha - Early June Cartagena - Early January Santa Marta - Early July Campeche - Early February Cartagena - Late July Vera Cruz - Late February Panama - Late August Havana - Late March Puerto Bello - Early October Florida Channel - Late April THE TREASURE FLEET THE SILVER TRAIN

(1660) Caracas - Early September Cumana - Early March Maracaibo - late September Caracas - Late March Rio de la Hacha - Early October Gibraltar - Early April Santa Marta - Late October Maracaibo - Late April Puerto Bello - Early November Rio de la Hacha - Early May Cartagena - Early December Santa Marta - Early June Campeche - Early January Cartagena - Late June Vera Cruz - Late January Panama - Late July Havana - Late February Puerto Bello - Early September Florida Channel - Late March

(1680) Caracas - Early October Cumana - Early April Rio de la Hacha - Late October Caracas - Late April Santa Marta - Early November Maracaibo - Late May Puerto Bello - Late November Rio de la Hacha - Late June Cartagena - Late December Santa Marta - Early July Campeche - Late January Cartagena - Late July Vera Cruz - Early February Panama - Late August Havana - Early March Puerto Bello - Early October Florida Channel - Late April