List of explorers

:Expedition redirects here. See also explorations, sea explorers, astronaut, conquistador, travelogue, the History of Science and Technology and Biography. Also, see International Space Station for ISS explorers, and for the Ford Motor Company's large SUV, see Ford Expedition (especially replacing the Ford Excursion). For the science-fiction book, see Expedition (book).

C

• John Cabot (Giovanni Caboto), (c. 1450 ? 1499), Italian navigator in English service, crossed the Atlantic Ocean to North America
• Pedro Álvares Cabral, (c. 1467-c. 1520), Portuguese navigator, discovered Brazil and Madagascar
• João Rodrigues Cabrilho (16th century Portuguese discoverer of California)
• Alvise Cadamosto (1432-1488), Portuguese explorer of Venetian origin
• Alvaro Caminha (15th century Portuguese explorer of the Atlantic islands)
• Pêro Vaz de Caminha (15th century Portuguese explorer of the sea route to Brazil)
• Diogo Cão, (15th century), Portuguese navigator, explored the area around the West African coast
• Jan Carstensz, (c.1595??), Dutch explorer of New Guinea coast, navigated the Gulf of Carpentaria in 1623
• Jacques Cartier, (1491-1557), discovered the St. Lawrence River and sailed up it to Montreal; failed in an attempt to set up a colony
• Thomas Cavendish, (died 1592), English sailor and explorer.
• Samuel de Champlain, (c. 1567-1635), established the French colony in Canada; discovered the Great Lakes
• William Clark, (1770-1838), with Meriwether Lewis led the first American expedition to reach the west coast.
• Gonçalo Coelho (15th century/16th century Portuguese explorer of the South American coast)
• Nicolau Coelho (15th century Portuguese explorer of the sea route to Brazil)
• Christopher Columbus, (1451-1506), reached America looking for a searoute to the Indies; discovered various lands and islands and established a colony on Hispaniola
• Niccolò Da Conti, (1395?1469), Venetian explorer of South and Southeast Asia
• James Cook, (1728-1779), explored the Pacific, discovering or mapping many lands and islands
• Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, (c. 1510-1554), explored New Mexico and American southwest
• João Vaz Corte-Real (15th century Portuguese explorer of North America)
• Gaspar Corte-Real (16th century Portuguese explorer of North America)
• Miguel Corte-Real (16th century Portuguese explorer of North America)
• Hernán Cortés, (1485-1547), conquered the Aztec empire in Mexico; sent out expeditions to Baja California
• Juan de la Cosa
• Jacques-Yves Cousteau, (1910-1997), French marine biologist and explorer
• Gago Coutinho and Sacadura Cabral (20th century Portuguese air pioneers, the first to cross the South Atlantic Ocean by air)
• Pero da Covilhã (15th century/16th century Portuguese diplomat and explorer in Ethiopia)
• Tristão da Cunha (16th century Portuguese naval general and discoverer)