Valley of Longevity · Ecuador

Your magical guide to the Valley of Longevity

Trails, places and unique experiences in Vilcabamba

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Vilcabamba
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One app to move through the valley: the map, the trails and the local businesses that sustain them.

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The Valley of Longevity

Vilcabamba is a small valley nestled in the southern Andes of Ecuador, celebrated worldwide for the extraordinary longevity of its inhabitants. At 1,500 meters above sea level, surrounded by green mountains and crystal-clear rivers, the valley offers an environment of serene beauty that invites unhurried exploration.

Vilcabamba Guía Mágica is your travel companion: verified hiking trails, curated local services, and an interactive map designed to help you discover the valley in depth.

1,500 m
above sea level
Andes
southern Ecuador
The Valley of Longevity
Andes
1974 · Archive

The years that made the valley famous

In the 1970s, this parish of barely a few thousand residents made headlines around the world: several neighbors claimed to have passed the age of one hundred. Vilcabamba filled with gerontologists who came to measure blood pressure, weigh diets, and take samples.

Four valley neighbors photographed in 1974 for the Religious News Service archive. From left to right: Gabriel Erazo, Micaela Quezada, Miguel Carpio, and Abelino Armijos.
Photo caption

Four valley neighbors photographed in 1974 for the Religious News Service archive. From left to right: Gabriel Erazo, Micaela Quezada, Miguel Carpio, and Abelino Armijos.

The face of the story
The face of the story

Portraits that traveled the world

Miguel Carpio Mendieta's face filled magazines and documentaries throughout the decade.

The ages they claimed

120
Gabriel Erazo
103
Micaela Quezada
"The youngster of the group," the original caption joked
123
Miguel Carpio
125
Abelino Armijos

What the scientists noted

1,500 m
in altitude, in a valley closed in by mountains
18–25 °C
year-round, with no marked seasons
1,700 kcal
a day: cheese, fruit and vegetables, little animal fat
No rush
outdoor living and very little daily stress
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