‘The Real Indiana Jones’: Explorer Who Uncovered the Lost City of the Incas

PERU: For decades, the search for Vilcabamba, the legendary final stronghold of the Inca Empire, remained one of the great mysteries of South American history. The city was believed to have served as the last refuge of the Incas after Spanish conquistadors captured Cusco.

In 1911, American academic and explorer Hiram Bingham III brought the ruins of Machu Picchu to global attention. He believed he had also identified Vilcabamba, the mountain stronghold where the last Inca rulers continued their resistance against Spanish forces.

However, more than five decades later, another American explorer challenged Bingham’s conclusion. In August 1964, Gene Savoy, later nicknamed the “real Indiana Jones,” claimed to have discovered Vilcabamba at Espíritu Pampa, around 60 kilometres northwest of Machu Picchu.

The remote site was located deep in the Peruvian cloud forests, making the expedition extremely difficult. Savoy and his team had to navigate dangerous terrain and dense jungle to reach the ruins.

Just six weeks after Savoy’s expedition, a BBC crew followed his trail to investigate the discovery. The team travelled by rubber dinghy through rapids, climbed steep canyon slopes with mules and hacked their way through thick jungle. Some information gathered during the journey raised doubts about parts of Savoy’s claims, but the crew continued to the ancient ruins.

Historical records indicate that Vilcabamba became a centre of Inca resistance after Manco Inca retreated into the mountains following the Spanish conquest of Cusco in 1536. The city reportedly became a refuge where the Incas preserved their traditions, treasures and religious practices while organizing resistance against Spanish rule.

In 1572, facing a major Spanish invasion, the Incas reportedly set the settlement on fire before fleeing. The destruction helped turn Vilcabamba into a legendary lost city, inspiring explorers and archaeologists for centuries.

The debate over the exact location of the historic Vilcabamba continues to make the region one of the most fascinating archaeological landscapes in Peru.