The Explorers Podcast · Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Antonio de Berrio, the governor of Guiana, launched multiple expeditions between 1584 and 1590 in search of the legendary El Dorado, focusing on the region around the Orinoco River. Despite his efforts and establishing a settlement on Trinidad in 1592, he was unable to find the golden city.
“Okay, at this point, I need to introduce someone to our story, and that is Antonio de Berrio, the governor of Guiana or Nueva Andalucia, at the time our story takes place.”
“Berrio's first expedition took place in 1584. He led 80 conquistadors into the jungle and reached the Orinoco River before being turned back by the rainy season. On this journey, he learned about the city-state of Manoa, which he believed to be the legendary El Dorado.”
“Berrio believed that Trinidad was the best place to go searching for El Dorado, and so in 1592, he established a settlement there, which he called San Jose de Oronoa. This was the first European settlement on the island.”