 In 1544 Valdivia sent a naval expedition consisting of the barks "San Pedro" and "Santiaguillo", under the command of Juan Bautista Pastene, to reconnoiter the southwestern coast of South America, ordering him to reach the Strait of Magellan.The expedition set sail from Valparaíso and although Pastene did not reach this goal, he explored much of the coast.He entered the bay of San Pedro, and made landings at what are now known as Concepción and at Valdivia, which was later named in honor of the commander.