Tortuga, sometimes called Turtle Island, is a small island about 20 miles in length just north of Haiti. It was strategically located in the path of Spanish treasure ships returning to Spain. Although the small island was surrounded by Spanish colonies, the French first colonized it in 1625.

Tortuga absolutely existed, and it still exists today as a Haitian island called Île de la Tortue. Located off the northwest coast of Hispaniola, it gained legendary status during the 17th century as a notorious pirate haven. Its name, which means "Turtle Island" in Spanish, was given because its silhouette resembles a giant sea turtle. It became a strategic stronghold for the "Brethren of the Coast," a loose coalition of pirates, privateers, and buccaneers. While the movies often exaggerate the chaos, Tortuga was a genuine center for illegal trade, ship repairs, and carousing. The island's rugged terrain made it easy to defend against the Spanish, who tried multiple times to reclaim it. Eventually, as the era of the "Golden Age of Piracy" waned and Caribbean governments became more organized, the pirate presence was suppressed by the French.