Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada (1495 – 16 February 1579) is a Spanish explorer and conquistador in Colombia.

He explores the northern part of South America.

While successful in many of his exploits, acquiring massive amounts of gold and emeralds, he ends his career disastrously; and has been suggested as a possible model for Cervantes' Don Quixote.

He is a descendant of Henry the Navigator.

Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada was born in Cordova, Spain, into Jewish family which had converted to Catholicism before he was born.