Álvaro de Saavedra Cerón

Route of Saavedra's travel.

Worldmap 1536

Álvaro de Saavedra Cerón was one of the Spanish explorers in the Pacific Ocean. It is unknown the exact date and place of birth, but known to be born in the late 15th century or 16th century in Spain. Hernán Cortés was a relative, whom he accompanied to New Spain in 1526.

Voyage of exploration across the Pacific

In 1527, Hernán Cortés prepared a new expedition aimed to find a new land in the South Sea or (Pacific Ocean) and commissioned his cousin Alvaro de Saavedra to command the new expedition.

On October 31, 1527, they sailed from Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán or Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, New Spain. The three ships crossed the South Sea (Pacific) and toured the northern coast of New Guinea, or Isla del Oro. On October 3, 1528 they arrived in the Moluccas. Only one of the vessels survived.

Four failed attempts to return to New Spain

In their first attempt to return across the South Sea (Pacific) to New Spain, they were diverted by the northeast trade winds that threw them back to the Moluccas.

A few days later Álvaro de Saavedra Cerón tried again the second time by navigating back down south. His ship shored in New Guinea, one of the Pacific Islands known at that time. There they received some food and water from the natives and they sailed again northeast where they discovered the Marshall Islands and Admiralty Islands.

After that, they arrived in the island of Eniwetok, where they continued the journey northeast and were surprised again by northeast trade winds, which led them to the Moluccas for the third time.

In 1529, trying again to go back to the New Spain, they were surprised by a bad weather and their ship was wrecked in a big storm.

For the problem of sailing from Asia to Mexico see Manila galleon.

External links

• Filipiniana.net - The Premier Digital Library of the Internet: Voyage of Alvaro de Saavedra 1527-28