1. Vasco Núñez de Balboa
Vasco Núñez de Balboa was born around 1475 in Spain. He was from a noble family and was well educated. But he never seemed to be good at anything.
When he heard about Columbus and the New World, he thought perhaps that was the answer. He would become an explorer! In 1501, Balboa joined a group of explorers headed for the northern coast of South America.

2. Vasco Núñez de Balboa
After exploring around Colombia, the boat continued on to Hispanola (present day Haiti and the Dominican Republic) in 1505.
Balboa tried his hand with pigs and farming.
He gave up in failure in He owed a great many people a great deal of money.

3. Vasco Núñez de Balboa
In 1510, Balboa and his dog Leoncico hid inside a barrel of a boat leaving Santo Domingo.
Balboa fled his debts and hoped for a better life in San Sebastian, Colombia. Balboa was discovered of course, hiding on board. He was put to work.
When the ship arrived in Colombia, they discovered that San Sebastian had been burned to the ground.

4. Vasco Núñez de Balboa
Balboa saw his chance. Balboa suggested the ship continue a little more west to a spot he had seen before. The captain and the crew (including Balboa) founded the first permanent European settlement in South America.

5. Vasco Núñez de Balboa
Balboa continued to be successful, but at a terrible cost. In time, he became the interim governor of Darién. He harshly treated the local inhabitants, and stole their gold and riches. He also continued to explore. He found the isthmus of Panama.
He is remembered
as one of the first
Europeans to see the
Pacific Ocean from
the New World. Balboa
claimed all its shores
for Spain. But he was
not a nice man.