The Havana Scarecrows treasure in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is one of the most charming secrets in the early game — and one of the easiest to get completely stuck on. It starts with a note at a market stall calling itself a treasure hunt, sends you south through a trail of scarecrows, and ends at a locked door with no obvious way inside. The chest is right there on the other side, but the game does not tell you how to reach it.
This guide walks through every step: where to find the first note, how to follow the scarecrow trail south, how to get past the locked door using parkour, and what is actually inside the chest when you get there.
TL;DR — Havana Scarecrows Quick Summary
- Find the “To All Who Seek Glory” note at a market stall near two scarecrows in Havana.
- The note is signed by “The Lord of Pirates” and tells you to head south and follow the scarecrows.
- Follow the scarecrow trail south, then turn east when you see two scarecrows near benches and a fence.
- The trail ends at a locked door flanked by two more scarecrows — you cannot open it from the front.
- Use parkour to climb over the door and drop down inside through the open roof.
- Inside: a large blue chest, a second note titled “Congratulations, young pirate,” and a scarecrow.
- Reward: Exotic Sea Shells rare trinket, plus additional Reales in the corner of the room.
- This chest counts as one of Havana’s seven secrets for completion.
What Is the Havana Scarecrows Treasure?
This is an optional secret hidden in Havana during the opening hours of the game. It is not a named side quest or a local event — it is a self-contained treasure hunt entirely within the city, started by reading a note at a market stall. The chest at the end counts toward Havana’s secret collectible tracker, so it matters for anyone going for full city completion.
The hunt is built around a series of scarecrows placed in a rough south-to-east trail across a section of Havana. Each grouping of scarecrows marks the next direction to go. The challenge is that the final door is locked and cannot be opened normally — you need to think vertically to get inside.
Step-by-Step Walkthrough — The Scarecrow Trail
Step 1 — Find the First Note at the Market Stall
The hunt begins at a market stall in Havana where two scarecrows are standing. Walk up to the stall and interact with the letter sitting there. It is titled “To All Who Seek Glory” and is signed by someone calling themselves The Lord of Pirates. The letter reads:
Fame and Fortune await you, should you wish to walk the same Path as I. The Plunder you seek is close, and the Hunt is on. Seek out the next Clue! Head South, and keep a keen Eye out for Scarecrows.
The clue is straightforward — head south from the market and follow the scarecrows. What catches players out is that the note hints at finding “the next clue” along the way, but there is no intermediate clue note in the chain. The scarecrows themselves are the trail markers. Keep heading south and do not stop looking for them.
Step 2 — Follow the Trail South
Head south from the market stall. The first thing you will see is a single scarecrow standing next to a wagon of hay. There is nothing to interact with here — no note, no chest, no clue. This is just a waypoint confirming you are going the right direction.
Keep walking south down the same path. Do not turn off the road yet.
Step 3 — Spot the Two Scarecrows Near the Benches
Continue south until you see two scarecrows standing close together near some benches and a fence. There is a road branching off to the east here. This is where the trail changes direction.
Turn east and take that road.
Step 4 — Find the Locked Door
Follow the eastern road and you will arrive at two more scarecrows standing on either side of a door. The door is locked and cannot be opened from the outside. There is no key, no lever, and no prompt to unlock it by normal means.
This is where most players get stuck. The chest is on the other side, but brute-forcing the door is not the answer.
Step 5 — Parkour Over the Door and Drop Inside
The room behind the locked door has an open roof. You can climb over the door using parkour and drop down inside from above.
Approach the door and look at the wall and doorframe beside or above it. Use Parkour Up to climb the structure and get on top of or over the door. Once you are above the locked entrance, drop down into the enclosed space on the other side. You do not need to be precise — any angle that gets you above the door height and into the room works.
If you have Advanced Parkour enabled, this is even easier since you have finer control over where Edward goes. Our Advanced Parkour guide covers how to turn that on if you have not already.
Step 6 — Loot the Chest and Read the Note
Inside the room you will find:
- A large blue chest — this is the treasure.
- A note on the ground next to the chest titled “Congratulations, young pirate.”
- A scarecrow standing in the room, confirming you are in the right place.
- Reales in the corner of the room opposite the chest — do not leave without grabbing these too.
Open the chest to collect your reward.
Reward — What Is Inside the Chest
Looting the chest gives you the Exotic Sea Shells rare trinket. This is an equippable trinket item, and it ticks off one of Havana’s seven secrets in your collectible tracker — so it also contributes toward full city completion.
There are also additional Reales sitting in the corner of the room. Pick those up while you are in there, as they are easy to miss if you leave the moment the chest is open.
The Story Behind the Chest
The note inside the room is titled “Congratulations, young pirate” and reveals something unexpected about this whole treasure hunt. It was never meant for Edward at all. It was a game set up by a father for his son named James — a gift to encourage the boy’s sense of adventure while the father was away at sea.
The note reads in part: Games and Jaunts aside, well done, my little Explorer. Well done, my James! I never doubted you. Within the chest are baubles and trinkets that should bring you some joy, while I’m gone.
The “Lord of Pirates” signature on the first note was the father’s playful nickname for himself. The chest was never pirate treasure — it was a father’s parting gift to his son, hidden behind a trail of scarecrows as a final adventure before a long voyage. Edward simply found it first.
It is a small, easy-to-miss moment, but one of the better pieces of environmental storytelling in Havana’s early hours.
Does This Quest Connect to Anything Else?
No. The Havana Scarecrows hunt is entirely self-contained. The Exotic Sea Shells trinket and the Reales are yours to keep, and the secret counts toward Havana’s completion tracker, but there are no follow-up quests, no linked missions, and no further story threads attached to James or his father.
It is a one-time secret — find it, loot it, move on. If you are trying to clear Havana fully, this is one of the secrets you need to tick off, along with the other six that appear once you sync all the city Viewpoints. For a full breakdown of what else Havana holds, our treasure map locations guide covers everything across the city and the wider Caribbean.
Tips for Finding the Scarecrow Trail Easily
- Sync Havana’s Viewpoints first. After syncing, all secrets in Havana — including the starting stall — will be marked on your map. If you see a secret icon in the market area, that is where the first note is.
- The trail only goes south then east. Do not overthink it. The path is linear. Scarecrow by a hay wagon — keep south. Two scarecrows by benches — turn east. Two scarecrows by a locked door — go up and over.
- There is no intermediate note. The hint about “seeking the next clue” in the first letter is a bit misleading. The scarecrows are the clues. There is no paper trail to follow between them.
- The Reales in the corner are easy to miss. After looting the chest, turn around and check the opposite corner of the room before you parkour back out.
- The locked door never opens normally. No key exists for it. Parkour over and drop in — that is the only way.
Other Havana Secrets Worth Finding While You Are Here
Havana has seven secrets in total. The Scarecrows chest is one of them. The others include items in various courtyard spaces, a guarded estate in the southwest, a chest accessible via a rooftop courtyard near the beach, and a locked chest in a Spanish fort in the northwest. Sync all nine Viewpoints in the city and every secret will appear on your map, making it straightforward to clean them all up in one visit.
If you are also looking for other early collectibles and quests in the area, see our Gold Locket quest guide for a quick errand that unlocks shortly after you gain the Jackdaw — it is another fast secret that many players walk past without knowing it exists.
Get the Game
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is available now on all platforms.
More AC Black Flag Resynced Guides
- The Gold Locket Quest Walkthrough
- Blackbeard’s Treasure Map Walkthrough
- All Treasure Map Locations
- Forts Guide
- All Main and Side Missions List
- How to Fast Travel
- How to Enable Advanced Parkour
- How to Heal and Increase Max Health
- Beginner Tips
- Shanties — How to Get and Change Songs
- How to Use Photo Mode
- PC System Requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the first scarecrow note in Havana?
It is at a market stall in Havana where two scarecrows are standing. Sync the city Viewpoints and it will appear as a secret icon on your map. Walk up to the stall and interact with the letter titled “To All Who Seek Glory” to begin the hunt.
Why can I not open the locked door at the end of the scarecrow trail?
The door has no key and cannot be opened from the front. You need to parkour over it and drop through the open roof into the room on the other side. Climb the wall or doorframe until you clear the top, then drop inside.
What is inside the chest at the end of the Havana scarecrow hunt?
The chest contains the Exotic Sea Shells rare trinket. There are also additional Reales in the corner of the room — grab those before you leave. Looting the chest also ticks off one of Havana’s seven secrets.
Who is “The Lord of Pirates” in the first note?
The second note inside the chest reveals the answer. The Lord of Pirates is a father’s playful nickname for himself. The entire treasure hunt was a game he set up for his son James before leaving on a long voyage. Edward just happened to find it first.
Is the Havana Scarecrows secret missable?
No. Like all collectibles and secrets in Black Flag Resynced, this one is available during free roam after the main story ends. If you miss it in the early game, it will still be there on any return visit to Havana.
Does the scarecrow treasure connect to any other quest?
No. It is entirely self-contained. There are no follow-up quests, no further mentions of James or his father, and no linked missions. Loot the chest, collect the trinket and Reales, and move on.
