Based on a real story, Pedro Blanco is the son of a rich lady and a poor sailor who dies when the boy is very young. As an adolescent, a scandal drives Pedro out of his village, forcing him to leave behind his mother and his beloved sister. From that moment on, his life becomes a series of incessant wanderings and adventures. The tale is set at the beginning of the 19th century when the first laws against slavery were established, but despite them, Pedro wishes to sail aboard a slave ship. He must first go through the fearful test of sailing to Terranova, one of the most dangerous destinations at the time. Once passed, he becomes a crew member on many ships, but his ambition leads him to establish his own trading post in Africa, and sets him off on a series of outlandish adventures.