A little over 500 years ago, in 1519, Ferdinand Magellan set sail with five ships and 270 men from Seville on an expedition to the East Indies. After discovering the Strait of Magellan, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans between South America and Antarctica, Magellan and his crew proceeded to the Philippines. After Magellan died in the Battle of Mactan, Juan Sebastián de Elcano assumed control of the crew. They became the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe when de Elcano and sixteen other survivors returned in 1522 on their one remaining vessel, the Victoria.
On a Jet Ski?
Álvaro de Marichalar commemorates the fifth centennial of that world-altering achievement by circumnavigating the globe on the smallest vessel ever: a jet ski measuring three meters long. The NUMANCIA World Tour kicked off in Marseille, France, 500 years to the day after Magellan and his crew left Seville. From there, Marichalar traveled by Barcelona, down the Spanish and Portuguese coasts, and through the Strait of Gibraltar. Traveling southwest off the coast of Africa, Marichalar turned west after passing the Canary Islands until he got to the Caribbean. From there, he turned north, arriving in Miami on March 17, 2020.
Covid, Interrupted
The Pandemic interrupted the expedition for 23 months, forcing Marichalar to return to Europe. He returned to Miami in February of 2022 and resumed the trip. He hugged the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, making stops all along the way, including in Texas, Mexico, and Costa Rica, before arriving in Panama, where he will attend several conferences. While in Panama, Marichalar paid homage to his ancestor, Miguel Francisco de Marichalar y Vallejo, who was the Governor of Panama and helped rebuild after Captain Morgan’s pirate attack that destroyed Panama City.
Through the Canal and Beyond
Marichalar’s journey is divided into several stages. He will restart his journey with Stage 6 from Panama on February 1 as he rides through the Panama Canal. From there, he will head north along the western coast of Central America and Mexico before going on to California, Oregon, Washington, and Canada. Stage 7 will then take him on to Alaska and then Kamchatka. Later stages will take Marichalar past Japan, China, and the Philippines before he follows Magellan’s route around the horn of Africa and heads north along Africa’s west coast before eventually returning to Seville.
A Journey of Remembrance
Marichalar, a former pilot in the Spanish Air Force and current entrepreneur, seafaring enthusiast, and environmental activist, hopes to accomplish several goals on this adventure. First and foremost, this trip honors the legacy of Juan Sebastian Elcano, Ferdinand Magellan, and King Charles of Spain for courageously taking on this journey five centuries ago. It is also important to Marichalar to raise awareness of his Spanish and Portuguese heritage and bring recognition to the Spanish and Portuguese sailors who were among the first to undertake worldwide exploration.
A Journey of Passion
Most importantly, Marichalar hopes to raise awareness of the ever-growing plastic pollution problem plaguing our oceans and promote the health of our aquatic ecosystems. Solving the issue of plastics polluting our oceans, rivers, and lakes is one of Marichalar’s most passionate pursuits, and he has used his personal clout to collaborate with various prestigious organizations and speak about it several times at the United Nations. Marichalar also hopes his voyage, which will set a new world solo record for circumnavigating the globe, will inspire others to stay passionate and persistent about their goals, no matter how great or small they may be.
More than a Real Estate Company
Victoria Levitam, Managing Partner of The Agency Panama, will attend a ceremony relaunching Marichalar as he begins Stage 6 of the FIRST World Tour. The Agency Panama proudly represents Panama on this occasion, promoting Panamanian heritage and world exploration.