Spanish settlers have established a port on the Gulf of Paria in western Trinidad, Puerto de los Hispanioles", later "Puerto de España,” near the site of the native fishing village of Cumucurapo ("place of the silk cotton trees"), located in the area today known as Mucurapo, west of the city center.

A Spanish garrison is posted in 1560 near the foot of the Laventille Hills, which today form the city's eastern boundary.

The part of today's downtown Port of Spain closest to the sea is at this time an area of tidal mudflats covered by mangroves.

The first Spanish buildings here are open mud-plastered ajoupas, interspersed between large silk cotton trees and other trees.

The fort is a mud-walled enclosure with a shack inside, a flagpole, two or three cannon, and few Spanish soldiers.

The Caribs are transient, traveling to the mainland (now Venezuela) and up the Orinoco River.