Juan de la Cosa was born in Northern Spain on the Bay of Biscay in 1460 and from his early years, became involved with the sea and participated in expeditions to the coasts of Africa. He became a proficient navigator and map maker and when CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS was planning his 1492 first voyage to the 'New World', he joined the expedition with his own vessel : SANTA MARIA. He also joined the 2nd voyage in 1493-1496 and was the official 'cartographer'. During the 3rd voyage, he travelled alongside Columbus on the 'LA NINA' and a difference of opinion arose concerning the lands newly discovered. Juan de la Cosa clearly believed that the island now known as Cuba was NOT forming part of the continent.
So in 1499 he joined an expedition, as 'first pilot, organised by Alonso de Ojeda and Vespucci sailing from El Puerto de Santa Maria and finding the mainland of South America along the coast of present day Venezuela.
It was after this voyage that Juan de la Cosa was able to finalise his MAPPA MUNDI - the first MAP of the newly discovered CONTINENT - showing the outline for the Americas clearly.
The Map bears the inscription 'PUERTO DE SANTA MARIA 1500'.