Answer
Yes, there were existing settlements in the areas Cabrillo explored. The Spanish explorers encountered several different Native American tribes in the areas they explored, including the Chumash, the Costanoan, and the Miwok. The Chumash were the largest tribe in the area, and they lived in villages along the coast. The Costanoan lived in the inland areas, and the Miwok lived in the foothills.