After returning to Spain, Niño made preparations to explore the Indies independently, looking for gold and pearls.

Empowered by the Council of Castile to seek out new countries, avoiding those already found by Columbus, he committed to give 20% of his profits to the Spanish Crown (see quinto real).

In the company of brothers Luis and Cristóbal de la Guerra, respectively a rich merchant and a pilot, he left San Lucas in May 1499, and, after twenty-three days, they arrived at Maracapana.

Visiting the islands of Isla Margarita, Coche, and Cubagua, they exchanged objects of little value for a large number of pearls before sailing up the coast to Punta Araya, where they discovered salt mines.

[1] There is a monument to Pedro Alonso Niño in the Convent of San Francisco in Moguer, Spain.