 However, the northern portion of the peninsula, only recently reconnoitered by Gaspar de Portolá and Junipero Serra, had much more potential.The site of El Rosario, located near the western coast among the northernmost Cochimí Indians, was chosen as the initial Dominican mission site.The location had been initially identified by the soldier José Velásquez in 1770 and had been favored by the Franciscans as a potential mission site.