In 512 A.D. a young monk named Brendan left Ireland, together with other monks of his order, to spread the word of God. After weeks of voyaging, their small and fragile craft snagged itself upon the fin of a great whale and was dragged for days across the ocean. Eventually they were left off the coast of an island, rich in flora and fauna of kinds never before seen. The monks were convinced that they had chanced upon the legendary Atlantis, as described by Plato centuries earlier. However, after 7 years on the island they were again able to sail and, carrying several examples of richly and uniqely purfumed plants there found, they realised that they had actually been on the arcipelago of the Canaries.

During the following centuries the Canaries became an important strategic point for ships adventuring in the Atlantic. The phantom island continued to appear to sailors and fishermen alike, but no-one, however, was able to reach it. Therefore the island was called San Borondon, in honour of the monk who was able to land on that unreachable island, on its verdent earth and harness its precious gifts.