Vilcabamba, Peru

Vilcabamba is a significant historical site located in the Cuzco Region of Peru. It sits within the Echarate District of the La Convención Province. The site is famously known as the "lost city" of the Incas. Today, the specific ruins are known by the name Espíritu Pampa, which means "Plain of the Spirits." This name reflects the Quechua meaning of Vilcabamba, which translates to "sacred plain." The location is situated near the Chontabamba River. This river is a tributary that flows into the larger Urubamba River.

The geography of the region is extremely rugged and difficult to navigate. The area occupies the northeastern slopes of the Andes Mountains. It slopes down toward the Amazon Basin. The landscape features snow-covered mountains and thick forests. It also includes lowland jungles and rivers flowing through deep canyons. This difficult terrain helped the Incas protect their people. The mountains and jungles made it hard for Spanish forces to reach their outposts. This natural protection allowed the Inca Empire to maintain a final stronghold.

Vilcabamba served as the capital of the Neo-Inca State from 1539 to 1572. This state was the final refuge for the Inca Empire. The Incas had occupied this general region since approximately 1450 AD. They established several major centers, including Machu Picchu and Vitcos. After the Battle of Ollantaytambo in 1537, the leader Manco Inca Yupanqui withdrew westward. He moved from Vitcos to the more remote Vilcabamba to escape Spanish pressure. This move was a strategic attempt to find a safer, more hidden location.

The Spanish military made several attempts to reach this remote jungle capital. In 1537, Rodrigo Orgóñez led a raid that captured Vitcos. Later, in 1539, Gonzalo Pizarro led another raid. Pizarro searched the region for months but could not find Manco Inca. The Spanish noted that penetrating this land required great resources and heavy expenditure. Finally, on June 24, 1572, a Spanish army led by Martin Hurtado de Arbieto arrived. They found a city with about 400 houses. The city was built to support roughly 1,000 fighting people, along with women, children, and the elderly. Following this conquest, the last Inca monarch, Túpac Amaru, was captured and executed in Cusco.

After the fall of the Inca capital, the location was largely forgotten. In 1911, the explorer Hiram Bingham visited the area. He mistakenly identified the ruins of Machu Picchu as Vilcabamba. Although he visited the ruins at Espíritu Pampa, he did not realize their true identity. He concluded that Machu Picchu was the lost city, a belief that lasted for 50 years.

It took decades of research to correctly identify the site. In 1964, Gene Savoy reached Espíritu Pampa and identified it as the real Vilcabamba. He discovered that Bingham had only seen a small part of the ruins. Savoy found between 50 and 300 houses at the main site. Other researchers, such as John Hemming, supported this conclusion. They used historical accounts to prove the location. These records described Vilcabamba as a warm, tropical place. This description matches Espíritu Pampa, which is in a hot country. In contrast, Machu Picchu is located on a steep, high ridge in a colder district.

Archaeological evidence shows that the site is even older than the Inca period. In 2010, researchers found items belonging to the Wari culture at Espíritu Pampa. These items were radiocarbon dated to approximately 700 AD. This means the site was occupied long before the Inca established their capital in 1539. The site is also distinct from Vilcabamba la Nueva. This "New" Vilcabamba was a Spanish town founded by Hurtado de Arbieto. It sits on the Pampaconas River and was known for brief silver mining activity. Today, the ancient ruins of Espíritu Pampa remain difficult to reach by vehicle.