A team of explorers recently ventured deep into Ecuador’s Llanganates Mountains, reigniting the centuries-old quest for the lost gold treasure of Inca Emperor Atahualpa. The group, led by photographer Jorge Juan Anhalzer, discovered an ancient Inca road and a secluded lagoon that may be key to solving one of Latin America’s greatest historical mysteries.
The expedition, conducted for a documentary project by the Spanish newspaper El País, took the team through some of the most challenging terrain in South America. For 15 days, the explorers navigated dense forests and rugged paths in the remote Llanganates region. Their discoveries, reported by La República, could change the course of future treasure hunts in Ecuador.
The search for Atahualpa’s treasure has fascinated historians, explorers, and adventurers for centuries. Atahualpa, the last Inca emperor, was captured by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1532. To secure his freedom, Atahualpa promised to fill a room with gold and another with silver. The Incas honored this promise, but the Spanish betrayed them, executing Atahualpa in the Plaza de Armas of Cajamarca on July 26, 1533.
General Rumiñahui’s efforts to hide the Inca gold treasure
In response, General Rumiñahui, a loyal Inca leader, is said to have hidden the remaining treasure to prevent it from falling into Spanish hands. According to legend, he transported the gold to the Llanganates Mountains, a vast, forested area full of natural obstacles. Some stories claim Rumiñahui threw part of the treasure into a lagoon to keep it safe from the invaders.
Anhalzer’s team reached a large, hidden lagoon that matched these historical descriptions. This discovery aligns with the “Map of Valverde”, a document uncovered by English botanist Richard Spruce in 1860. The map has long been viewed as a crucial clue in finding the treasure’s location. The ancient Inca road the team found also matches the map’s details, increasing hopes that the treasure may still lie in the region.
Challenges in the search for Atahualpa’s gold treasure
Despite these promising clues, the team faced significant challenges. Due to limited resources and equipment, they could not explore the lagoon‘s depths to search for gold. The lack of advanced diving tools prevented them from confirming if the treasure was hidden beneath the water.
Nevertheless, their discoveries are seen as a breakthrough. According to La República, the findings could influence future investigations and expeditions. By charting new paths and uncovering historical landmarks, Anhalzer’s team has laid the groundwork for others to continue the search. Their work has brought renewed optimism to those dedicated to solving this mystery.
The treasure of Atahualpa remains one of the most sought-after in history. Ámbito Financiero estimates the gold’s value at $232 million and the silver at $6 million. Yet, the treasure’s significance goes beyond its material worth. It symbolizes the Inca Empire’s cultural heritage and its people’s resilience in the face of conquest and betrayal.
