Magellan's Journey

Setting Sail

Sep 20, 1519

Approximately 270 Spaniards, Portuguese, and other nationalities set sail in five ships from Sanlúcar de Barrameda, led by Ferdinand Magellan. The total cost of their ships and food was nearly 2.3 million 2024 USD.

Arrival at Tenerife

Sep 26, 1519

The fleet stopped at the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands. They purchased supplies such as vegetables and pitch as they were cheaper in Tenerife than in Spain. At this time, Magellan received a communication that some of his crew members were planning a rebellion.

South America

Nov 29, 1519

The fleet reached the approximate latitude of Cape (Cabo de) Saint Augustine on the coastline of Brazil. This area was known to Spanish and Portugese explorers for about 20 years. Members of the crew had brought maps of the Brazilian coastline although these were not very accurate.

Rio de Janeiro

Dec 13, 1519

Rio de Janeiro was known as a Portuguese occupied area. However, at the time, there was no permemant Portuguese settlement. Magellan and his crew spent time trading with the indigenous people. The ships were repaired, the rations were stocked, and many natives were converted to Christianity.

Río de la Plata

Jan 11, 1520

On the eleventh, the fleet spotted what they thought was el paso, a passage around the Southern tip of South America. The ships split up and attempted to find the route. One of the ships did find a river that led to fresh water, but this was not the intended path. They had found the Río de la Plata; a river plate on the coast of Argentina.

Searching South

Feb 3, 1520

The fleet continued South along the coast. Magellan was sure they would soon find the passage to the Pacific. The ships were sailed as close to the coast as possible which risked running the ships aground due to shoals as well as more severe weather such as squalls, storms, and freezing temperature as winter approached. The fleet only sailed during the day for better visibility.

Wintering

Mar 31, 1520

Weather conditions became harsh due to the fleet's movement south and the approaching winter. In the 3rd week of March, Magellan decided to find a harbor to spend the winter. On the 31st, the crew found Port St. Julian. They would spend five months at the Port before returning to sea.

Mutiny

Apr 1, 1520

One of the largest mutiny attempts occurred on April 1st. The crew accused Magellan of putting them in unnecessary danger. The mutineers captured three of the ships, but Magellan and his officers were able to outsmart them and stop the mutiny.

The loss of the Santiago

May 22, 1520

Magellan sent the Santiago to search for a passage to the Pacific in late April. In early May, they reached a river that the captain named the Santa Cruz River. On the 22nd of May, the crew set to return to St. Julian but got caught in a sudden storm and the ship ran aground. The crew made it off safely and Magellan sent a rescue party to retrieve them, but the supplies and the ship were lost.

Cape Virgenes

Oct 21, 1520

After spending September in Santa Cruz, Magellan's fleet set sail on October 18th. When the ships reached Cape Virgenes, a strong storm pushed the Concepción and San Antonio into a bay. Luckily, the fleet was able to regroup and the two ships reported they were pushed into a strait that was unseen from most of the bay. The fleet entered the strait and discovered the water was continually deep and salty which indicated this was the strait they were looking for now known as the Strait of Magellan.

The Strait of Magellan

Oct 28, 1520

On the 28th, the fleet reached an island, likely Isabel Island or Dawson Island, in the strait. Magellan had his fleet split up to explore the two paths. When the ships reached the rendezvous point, the San Antonio was nowhere to be found. The rest of the fleet waited three days for the San Antonio and then decided to continue to the Pacific. Eventually, the San Antonio returned to Spain after the crew threatened with mutiny.