Vilcabamba, Peru

Quick Facts: Who was Vilcabamba, Peru?

Subject:

Vilcabamba, Peru

Known for:

The last capital of the Neo-Inca State, marking the final resistance against Spanish rule.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Vilcabamba (in Hispanicized spelling) or Willkapampa (Aymara and Quechua), often called the Lost City of the Incas, is a lost city in the Echarate District of La Convención Province in the Cuzco Region of Peru. Vilcabamba, in Quechua, means "sacred plain". The modern name for the Inca ruins of Vilcabamba is Espíritu Pampa (Plain of the Spirits). Vilcabamba was the capital of the Neo-Inca State from 1539 to 1572. The Neo-Inca State was the last refuge of the Inca Empire until it fell to the Spaniards and their indigenous allies in 1572, signaling the end of Inca resistance to Spanish rule.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Subsequently, Vilcabamba was abandoned and its location forgotten. In 1911 explorer Hiram Bingham mistakenly identified the abandoned ruin of Machu Picchu as Vilcabamba, but he also visited a ruin called Espiritu Pampa by local Peruvians. In 1964, Gene Savoy identified Espiritu Pampa as the fabled Vilcabamba, a designation widely accepted by archaeologists and historians. Not to be confused with Vilcabamba, Ecuador, Vilcabamba or Espiritu Pampa is located near the Chontabamba River, a tributary of the Urubamba River. The Inca capital has often been referred to as Vilcabamba the Old to distinguish it from the town of Vilcabamba the New, of Spanish origin and 35 kilometres (22 miles) in straight-line distance southeast of Old Vilcabamba.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In 2010, items belonging to the Wari culture and radiocarbon dated to about 700 AD were found at Espiritu Pampa. This discovery indicated that the site was occupied long before it became the Inca capital in 1539. As of 2013, archaeological investigations of the site were incomplete and the ruins of Espiritu Pampa were inaccessible by vehicle. La Convención province in which Vilcabamba is located is extremely rugged, occupying the north-eastern slopes of the Andes and sloping down to the Amazon Basin. The terrain includes snow-covered mountains, forest, lowland jungle, and rivers running through deep canyons.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1539: 1539 Milestone — Vilcabamba was the capital of the Neo-Inca State from 1539 to 1572.
2. 1572: 1572 Milestone — The Neo-Inca State was the last refuge of the Inca Empire until it fell to the Spaniards and their indigenous allies in 1572, signaling the end of Inca resistance to Spanish rule.
3. 1911: 1911 Milestone — In 1911 explorer Hiram Bingham mistakenly identified the abandoned ruin of Machu Picchu as Vilcabamba, but he also visited a ruin called Espiritu Pampa by local Peruvians.
4. 1964: 1964 Milestone — In 1964, Gene Savoy identified Espiritu Pampa as the fabled Vilcabamba, a designation widely accepted by archaeologists and historians.
5. 2010: 2010 Milestone — In 2010, items belonging to the Wari culture and radiocarbon dated to about 700 AD were found at Espiritu Pampa.
6. 2013: 2013 Milestone — As of 2013, archaeological investigations of the site were incomplete and the ruins of Espiritu Pampa were inaccessible by vehicle.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Vilcabamba, Peru

True or False: “Hiram Bingham was the first person to correctly identify the site of Incan Vilcabamba as Espiritu Pampa.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Gene Savoy is credited with identifying Espiritu Pampa as the fabled Vilcabamba in 1964.

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• Alex Chilton — Historical peer (Died in 2010) (2010): American musician, best known for his vocal work with The Box Tops and Big Star.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Vilcabamba, Peru