Paititi - the Lost City

Deep in the jungles of South America, protected by fortresses of trees, dense undergrowth, jaguars and poisonous snakes lies the legendary city of Paititi. Little is known of this lost city which has eluded explorers and treasure seekers for over four centuries. Questions remain as to whether Paititi was built by the Inca or if it dates back to an earlier period in history. It is however, popularly believed to have been the final refuge of Incas who were fleeing the Spanish conquistadors. Here they are said to have secreted away vast treasures and sacred artifacts as well as a wealth of information detailing their culture and practices.

There are many stories describing the Inca flight to the lost city. According to one legend the Inca are said to have fled to Paititi from their capital Cuzco in 1533 after the Spanish executed the Inca king Atahuallpa. Others believe that Inca nobles living in hiding in Vilcabamba sought refuge in the city when Spanish conquistadors overran the area in 1572 killing their leader Tupac Amaru.

Although some explorers state that Paititi is a city on the lines of Machu Picchu, others see it as an Inca territory spread out over a large area, covering both Bolivia and Peru. As the Incas relied chiefly on oral tradition there are no written records pointing to the location of Paititi. However, in June 2001 the Kota Mama team discovered a city in the jungle covered Andean mountains east of Lake Titicaca in Bolivia. The team found ancient walls and wells - possibly belonging to Paititi. Bolivian and international archaeologists will now have to carry out further investigations in order to determine if this site is in fact the legendary city of the Incas.