Deep within Colombia's treacherous jungle lies one of history's most captivating mysteries - the legendary El Dorado. This remote wilderness became the backdrop for Josh Gates' thrilling investigation into the myth that drove Spanish conquistadors to madness, where ancient Muisca ceremonies and tales of a golden city continue to lure modern-day treasure hunters. The Colombian jungle offers adventurous travelers a chance to walk in the footsteps of both ancient civilizations and modern explorers while experiencing one of South America's most biodiverse ecosystems.
The Colombian Jungle encompasses vast swaths of dense tropical rainforest in Colombia's interior, including regions of the Amazon basin and the mountainous terrain of the Eastern Cordillera. The area Gates explored stretches across both highland cloud forests and lowland jungle, covering an estimated area of thousands of square kilometers where Spanish conquistadors once searched for the legendary El Dorado. Today, these jungles remain among the most biodiverse and challenging environments on Earth, with limited road access and ongoing indigenous presence. Gates investigated this region to trace the historical routes of conquistadors and examine the origins of the El Dorado legend, consulting with local communities and historians to separate myth from historical ceremony.
Muisca civilization established in Colombian highlands, practicing the gold dust ceremony that would inspire the El Dorado legend
Spanish conquistador Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada explores Colombian interior, first European to encounter Muisca gold offerings
Multiple Spanish expeditions penetrate Colombian jungles searching for legendary city of gold
Josh Gates explores Colombian jungle terrain for Expedition Unknown investigation into El Dorado origins
The El Dorado legend represents one of history's most persistent myths, rooted in a documented Muisca religious ceremony but expanded far beyond its origins by Spanish colonial ambition. Historians have established that the term "El Dorado" ("the golden one") initially referred to the Muisca chief himself, not a place, during investiture ceremonies where the new ruler was covered in gold dust and rowed to the center of Lake Guatavita to make offerings. Spanish conquistadors who learned of this practice transformed it into stories of an entire city made of gold, launching expeditions that penetrated deep into Colombia's unexplored jungles throughout the 16th and 17th centuries.
Archaeologists and historians note that while no golden city has ever been found, the Muisca did create elaborate gold artifacts and maintained sophisticated goldworking traditions, examples of which have been recovered from Lake Guatavita and other sites. The conquistadors' accounts, while exaggerated, were based on witnessing genuine wealth in the form of gold offerings and ornaments. The challenge for researchers has been separating the documented historical practices from the mythologized city that likely never existed.
Gates' investigation contributed to public understanding by physically demonstrating the extreme difficulty of jungle exploration that conquistadors faced and by consulting with communities who maintain knowledge of pre-Columbian traditions. The episodes presented the current scholarly consensus that El Dorado as a golden city was a myth, while the gold dust ceremony was historical fact. By visiting the actual terrain where expeditions took place, Gates illustrated why the legend persisted despite its lack of basis—the jungle's inaccessibility meant rumors could never be fully disproven, allowing the myth to endure.
The investigation exemplified Gates' approach of respecting indigenous knowledge while applying historical evidence. Rather than searching for a city that experts agree never existed, the episodes explored how a real ceremony became a transformative legend that shaped colonial history and continues to capture imaginations centuries later.
Lake Guatavita, the site of the original Muisca gold ceremony, was partially drained by Spanish treasure hunters in 1580 using a cut in the crater rim that remains visible today
The Muisca created the famous Muisca Raft, a gold artifact depicting the El Dorado ceremony, now housed in Bogotá's Gold Museum
An estimated 100 Spanish expeditions searched for El Dorado throughout South America between 1530 and 1650, with most ending in failure or death
Colombia's rainforests contain some of the highest biodiversity per square kilometer of any ecosystem on Earth, presenting both extraordinary wildlife and significant exploration challenges
Access to Colombia's interior jungle regions varies greatly depending on specific location, with some areas accessible only by chartered flight or multi-day trek, while others can be reached by four-wheel drive vehicle during dry seasons. Visitors should consult current security advisories, as some remote jungle areas remain off-limits due to terrain difficulty or safety concerns. Guided tours with experienced local operators are strongly recommended for anyone attempting to visit historical conquistador routes or indigenous territories.
Bogotá, Colombia's capital, serves as the primary gateway, though distance to specific jungle investigation sites varies from approximately 100 to 500 kilometers depending on location.
Colombia's dry seasons, generally December through March and July through August, offer the most feasible conditions for jungle travel, though some regions remain wet year-round. The rainy season can make many jungle trails impassable and increases the risk of tropical diseases.
Ecuador Cloud Forests
Ecuador's cloud forests represent similar high-altitude jungle terrain that Gates has investigated for other pre-Columbian mysteries in the Andean region
Central American Jungles
Central American jungles share the dense tropical environment and history of Spanish colonial exploration that characterized the El Dorado expeditions
Nicaragua jungle and waters
Nicaragua's jungle investigations demonstrate Gates' broader work exploring remote Central and South American locations with indigenous historical significance
Best time to visit: The dry season from December to March offers the best conditions for jungle trekking with reduced rainfall and more accessible trails.
Travel tip: Hire experienced local guides familiar with both the terrain and indigenous communities, as navigation can be extremely challenging and cultural sensitivity is essential.