Hernando de Soto, 1539-1543 . This exploratory expedition was designed to explore a broad region of southeastern North America in order to select the most suitable site for permanent settlement. Soto's expedition pushed rapidly inland toward the mountainous region that he hoped would produce riches on the same scale as his previous experience under Francisco Pizarro in Peru. The expedition sailed from Cuba with nine ships and about 600 people, mostly soldiers. Landing in Tampa Bay, the expedition seems to have followed Narváez's initial trajectory, marching inland and northward toward Apalachee. From there the expedition pushed deep into the interior Southeast, establishing an anticipated rendezvous point at Pensacola Bay for future resupply expeditions from Cuba. Repeated Cuban attempts to establish contact with Soto's lost expedition failed, while the expedition wandered for more than three years across much of eastern North America. Only half of the expedition's members ultimately survived to sail out the Mississippi River and along the Gulf coastline to Mexico.