According to Inca legend, two children of the Sun rose from Lake Titicaca and founded Cusco. Stories like that one are still told across the Andes. Swipe for six myths and legends that have lasted for centuries.

El Dorado

Colombia

The legend of El Dorado originated from the Muisca traditions of present-day Colombia and the stories that European conquerors transformed during the 16th century. The ceremony of the chieftain covered in gold dust and the offerings thrown into Lake Guatavita fueled one of the greatest myths of wealth in the Americas.

Photography: TikTok/Conecta Viajes y Experiencias

Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo

Peru and Bolivia

According to one of the main legends about the origin of the Inca, Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo emerged from Lake Titicaca, sent by the sun god, Inti. With a golden staff, they searched for the place where they would found their city, eventually arriving in the Cusco Valley. The story mythically explains the origin of the center of the Inca world.

Photography: Facebook/La Noticia Perú

Bochica and the Tequendama Falls,

Colombia

For the Muisca people, Bochica was a civilizing hero who taught the inhabitants of the Bogotá Savannah knowledge such as agriculture and the rules of coexistence. According to legend, after a great flood, he struck the rocks with his staff and opened the passage of water, creating the Tequendama Falls.

Photography: Facebook/El Dorado International Airport

The Ayar Brothers

Peru

The legend says that four brothers and their wives left the mountains of Pacaritambo in search of a fertile place to settle. During their journey, they faced conflicts, transformations, and supernatural destinies until Ayar Manco continued the journey and reached the valley where Cusco would later emerge.

Photography: X/Alberto Giraldo

The Ekeko

Bolivia

The Ekeko is an ancient Aymara deity associated with abundance, prosperity, and the desire for a prosperous life. His figure is often adorned with small representations of food, money, and other goods, especially during the Alasita festival in La Paz. This tradition was inscribed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2017.

Photography: Instagram/wanderlustboliviapress

The Muqui

Peruvian Andes

In the stories of the Peruvian Andes, the Muqui is a small, supernatural being that inhabits the mines and guards their riches. According to tradition, it can hide tools and hinder the miners' work, but it can also help them if it manages to establish a good relationship with them. Some stories even say it can give them gold.

Photography: Facebook/ Percy Israel Quille Quispe