The pirate captain Henry Morgan (c. 1635 – 1688) frequently used the little island as a base for his operations.
Morgan planned and staged many of his largest raids from Isla Vaca, and lost multiple ships in the island's waters which have recently been found and explored by research divers.

In January 1669, Morgan brought ten ships and 800 men to Isla Vaca as a rendezvous point before launching a raid on the Spanish city of Cartagena.
Because he and his fellow buccaneers had just captured two French warships, they decided to celebrate in the easily accessible Ferret Bay on the northwest side of the island.
They made a fire to roast several pigs and fired the cannons of their flagship as was typical for a buccaneer celebration.
In the midst of their drunken revelry, the ship's gunpowder magazine was accidentally lit, triggering an explosion that blew up Morgan's flagship HMS Oxford.
In the explosion, Morgan, who was on board the ship, was thrown through the window of his quarters and into the sea.
He survived the accident, but the Oxford sank, taking down with it the two captured French warships (which were tied to it) and about 200 of his men.

The ship, which was only 4 metres (13 ft) below the water's surface, was found in 2004 by a team of researchers.
They were accompanied by a team from the Welsh television channel S4C, which has made a documentary of the discovery.
If there is still spoil located on board, is not yet known.

In 1675–1676 he again narrowly survived a costly shipwreck on the island's shores.
Morgan had been appointed Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica and was on his way from England to take up the post.
He possibly headed for Isla Vaca to salvage what he could from the sunken ships of the 1669 incident.
But a storm arose and sank his ship Jamaica Merchant, which was loaded with a full complement of cannon which he had been bringing to bolster the defenses at Port Royal.
This ship has been found by researchers, who have recovered dishes, bronze coins, and the ship's anchor.

The current tourist resort of Port Morgan is named after him.

From 1682 to 1684 French pirate Jean Hamlin used the island as his hideout while plundering English and Dutch ships.
The pirate captain Henry Morgan (c. 1635 – 1688) frequently used the little island as a base for his operations. Morgan planned and staged many of his largest raids from Isla Vaca, and lost multiple ships in the island's waters which have recently been found and explored by research divers.
In January 1669, Morgan brought ten ships and 800 men to Isla Vaca as a rendezvous point before launching a raid on the Spanish city of Cartagena. Because he and his fellow buccaneers had just captured two French warships, they decided to celebrate in the easily accessible Ferret Bay on the northwest side of the island. They made a fire to roast several pigs and fired the cannons of their flagship as was typical for a buccaneer celebration. In the midst of their drunken revelry, the ship's gunpowder magazine was accidentally lit, triggering an explosion that blew up Morgan's flagship HMS Oxford. In the explosion, Morgan, who was on board the ship, was thrown through the window of his quarters and into the sea. He survived the accident, but the Oxford sank, taking down with it the two captured French warships (which were tied to it) and about 200 of his men.
The ship, which was only 4 metres (13 ft) below the water's surface, was found in 2004 by a team of researchers. They were accompanied by a team from the Welsh television channel S4C, which has made a documentary of the discovery. If there is still spoil located on board, is not yet known.
In 1675–1676 he again narrowly survived a costly shipwreck on the island's shores. Morgan had been appointed Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica and was on his way from England to take up the post. He possibly headed for Isla Vaca to salvage what he could from the sunken ships of the 1669 incident. But a storm arose and sank his ship Jamaica Merchant, which was loaded with a full complement of cannon which he had been bringing to bolster the defenses at Port Royal. This ship has been found by researchers, who have recovered dishes, bronze coins, and the ship's anchor.
The current tourist resort of Port Morgan is named after him.
From 1682 to 1684 French pirate Jean Hamlin used the island as his hideout while plundering English and Dutch ships.
Île-à-Vache