With strong ocean waves, lush green scenery and sandy beaches, Puerto Rico is a favorable vacation destination for many. For much of its history, however, it was not tourism that brought people to the island; it was trade. Of course, all of the trade meant that the Caribbean was a hotspot for pirates. One of history’s best-known pirates was Roberto Cofresí, a Puerto Rican pirate who is remembered more as a Robin Hood figure than a dreadful foe. While many myths and legends exist about him, Roberto Cofresí was a real man who lived a fascinating life.
Who Was Roberto Cofresí?
Roberto Cofresí Ramirez de Arellano was born in June of 1791 in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, according to The Pirate King. Cofresí’s mother was María Germana Ramírez de Arellano, who was also from Cabo Rojo, and – while his father’s origins are debated – he is generally considered to be Franz von Kupferschein, a European aristocrat who changed his surname to Cofresí. Although Roberto Cofresí’s family was considered noble, they were quite poor due to political and economic instability within the Spanish Empire during that time, according to Nuestro Stories. As a boy, Cofresí dreamed of becoming a sailor and eventually acquired a small boat for fishing and transporting small amounts of goods.
El Pirata Roberto Cofresí
In 1818, Roberto Cofresí became a pirate and, with his crew of family and friends, began attacking and plundering ships, according to the Puerto Rican Cultural Center. Primarily, Cofresí attacked ships that did not belong to Spain, with American, French, and British ships often his target. According to Nuestro Stories, Cofresí was such a talented pirate that he became associated with superstition and dark magic; some people believed that he sold his soul to the Devil for powers like invisibility and strength, and that was the secret behind his success. While it is the subject of some debate, Cofresí is believed to have shared his plundered treasures and goods with the people of Puerto Rico, who regarded him as a sort of Robin Hood and kept him safe and hidden from the authorities.
The Death of Roberto Cofresí
Eventually, Roberto Cofresí’s luck ran out. According to The Pirate King, Cofresí had attacked so many ships with so much success that he had created a diplomatic crisis between the Spanish government and the countries associated with the ships he attacked. The Spanish government collaborated with other nations, and – in 1824 – the manhunt for Cofresí intensified. In 1825, Cofresí was finally captured, imprisoned at El Castillo San Felipe del Morro, found guilty by a Spanish military court, and executed by firing squad.
The legacy of Roberto Cofresí in Puerto Rico continues today, with beliefs of his hidden treasure and a statue in his honor in Cabo Rojo. If you visit Rincon, it is easy to look out into the ocean and imagine his ship on the water, perhaps hiding at Desecheo Island, and take yourself back to the era of swashbuckling pirates. For your own great adventure in Puerto Rico, book your stay with Maria’s. When you’re ready to stay with us, booking is done through Twin Palms, Maria’s rental, and onsite management. Please visit our booking page on this website to view the availability of Maria’s and fill out our convenient contact form. If you have any additional questions regarding Maria’s, you may call Elizabeth at 787-685-6648 (español: Cristina at 787-449-3673).
My husband and I had our wedding and reception at Maria’s. We rented the property for three days/nights. We wanted to make our destination wedding as accessible as possible for our family and friends. Maria’s was the perfect place. Twelve of our closest friends and family shared the house. I was so impressed that Maria’s had everything we needed, even little things like laundry detergent.