the island. The name refers to the mythical Gorgon, Medusa who had living, venomous snakes in place of hair. Bartolomé Ruiz, a Spanish boat pilot, was sent from Panama to rescue them. With Ruiz's ship as the only one at Pizarro's disposal, they all left Gorgona to conquer Peru.

In the period after the Spanish Conquest, the cacique Yundigua lived in the island. He