Balboa discovers the Pacific Ocean
- When
- 1513
- Where
- Isthmus of Panama
- Episodes
- 1
In 1513, Vasco Núñez de Balboa led a Spanish expedition across the Isthmus of Panama. He became the first European to sight the Pacific Ocean, which he named Mar del Sur, and claimed it for Spain.
Episodes
Background and detail
The Expedition. Using intelligence from friendly caciques, Balboa began his journey across the Isthmus of Panama on September 1, 1513. He traveled with 190 Spaniards, native guides, and dogs, navigating through the lands of Ponca and Careta to reach the coast.
The Discovery. In 1513, Balboa reached a peak and sighted the vast ocean. He walked knee-deep into the water, raising his sword and a standard with the Virgin Mary, claiming the new sea and adjoining lands for the Spanish sovereigns.
People involved
- Vasco Núñez de Balboa · Spanish explorer and leader of the expedition
Sources
- Vasco Núñez de Balboa Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-28
- Pacific Ocean Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-10
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.