Spanish Explorer Andrés de Urdaneta establishes a Pacific Trade Route

Spanish Explorer Andrés de Urdaneta discovered and plotted a path across the Pacific from the Philippines to Acapulco in the Viceroyalty of New Spain (present day Mexico). It came to be known as “Urdaneta’s Route”.

His return trip from The Philippines to Mexico in 1565 proved to be a milestone in navigational history. It was to be the longest voyage ever taken, up to that time, 7644 miles navigating on unknown routes. On 18th September, his crew sighted the Californian island of Santa Rosa, the climax of the first Pacific crossing from west to east. With the crew hungry and thirsty, Urdaneta followed the coastline until reached his chosen destination, Acapulco. The voyage arrived on 8th October, 1565.