Hurtado de Mendoza left Peru for Chile at the head of a force of 500 Spaniards.
A part of this force traveled overland under the command of Luis de Toledo and Pedro de Castillo.
This group left in January 1557.
The other part, under the command of the new governor, more comfortably traveled by sea, leaving in February of the same year.
The viceroy gave a banquet for his son, after which the fleet left port to the sound of military marches and a salute of cannons.

Hurtado de Mendoza sailed with an entourage of illustrious men, including Alonso de Ercilla y Zúñiga, Francisco de Irarrázaval y Andía, Francisco Pérez de Valenzuela, Friar Gil González de San Nicolás, the Franciscan Juan Gallegos and the learned jurist Hernando de Santillán.
The expedition stopped in Arica on April 5, 1557 and remained there until the ninth of that month.

Continuing the voyage to the south, they disembarked at La Serena on April 23, 1557.
The poor people of Coquimbo were amazed at the largest contingent of soldiers — more than 500 — ever seen in those parts, armed with harquebuses and cannons, wearing armor and crests of plumes.
They soon acquired the nickname of emplumados (feathered ones).
Hurtado de Mendoza left Peru for Chile at the head of a force of 500 Spaniards. A part of this force traveled overland under the command of Luis de Toledo and Pedro de Castillo. This group left in January 1557. The other part, under the command of the new governor, more comfortably traveled by sea, leaving in February of the same year. The viceroy gave a banquet for his son, after which the fleet left port to the sound of military marches and a salute of cannons.
Hurtado de Mendoza sailed with an entourage of illustrious men, including Alonso de Ercilla y Zúñiga, Francisco de Irarrázaval y Andía, Francisco Pérez de Valenzuela, Friar Gil González de San Nicolás, the Franciscan Juan Gallegos and the learned jurist Hernando de Santillán. The expedition stopped in Arica on April 5, 1557 and remained there until the ninth of that month.
Continuing the voyage to the south, they disembarked at La Serena on April 23, 1557. The poor people of Coquimbo were amazed at the largest contingent of soldiers — more than 500 — ever seen in those parts, armed with harquebuses and cannons, wearing armor and crests of plumes. They soon acquired the nickname of emplumados (feathered ones).
García Hurtado de Mendoza, 5th Marquis of Cañete