Rodrigo de Bastidas

Rodrigo de Bastidas was a Spanish explorer who played a key role in the early European exploration and conquest of Colombia. In 1500-1501, he sailed along the Caribbean coast of what is now Colombia, from Cape La Vela to Point Manzanilla in Panama. This exploration helped establish Spain's claim to the region.123

Bastidas is credited with founding Santa Marta on the north coast of Colombia in 1525, marking the beginning of the actual conquest of the territory. Later, other Spanish explorers founded important cities like Cartagena and Bogotá, completing the conquest by the mid-16th century. While Bastidas's explorations were significant for Spain's colonial ambitions, they also contributed to the devastating impact of European diseases on Indigenous populations.123