Vasco Nuñez de Balboa embarked on a long journey to the New World to find land to conquer and expand the Spanish empire. After founding and running the city of Santa Maria, Balboa decided to keep searching for uncharted territories.
On this day September 25th, in 1513, Vasco Nuñez de Balboa becomes the first European to see the Pacific Ocean. With a small team of men, Balboa started his journey across the Isthmus of Panama through dense jungles and hostile lands. After Balboa continued for a few more days, he reached a summit and caught a glimpse of an undiscovered sea – the Pacific Ocean.
After Balboa explored the islands and coastal communities along the Pacific he realized how much gold, pearls, and riches they had. Balboa liquidated the communities of any precious metal or beads they had. Once he returned as a rich and powerful man to Santa Maria, he commissioned a ship to bring one fifth of the treasure and news of the newly discovered sea to the King of Spain.