For many years adventurers, scientists and tourists have traveled to the lands of the Inca Empire looking for the secrets of long life found today in their ancestors.
There is evidence to suggest that the ancient Inca who lived over 500 years ago lived to be an average 100 years old—without the knowledge of modern medicine. In fact, it is believed that the holy Amautas, the keepers of Inca knowledge, taught their wisdom well into their 120s.
Today, their descendants who still live in the land continue to grow to extremely old ages—while maintaining the health and strength of people decades younger. This was first documented in the December 1973 issue of National Geographic and followed up by many researchers, scientists and medical professionals.
It is not uncommon to see a person reach 100 years of age and still performing the tasks they did at half the age. And many locals claim that many have reached 120, and even up to 135.
This would make this unique location the home of the oldest people on the planet.
How can these people live so long?
Not long ago, I had the chance to hike the Incan Trail to Machu Picchu. It was one of the most strenuous hikes I've ever experienced.
With great difficulty, I struggled up and down steep mountainsides. My lungs burned trying to get enough oxygen as I huffed and puffed in the thin air. My calves screamed in pain with every step I took. And my entire body wanted to quit.
In the meantime local elders, some 30 years my senior, passed me up on the trail at a fast clip.
The hike isn't just straight up before you reach the top. It's like climbing the entire height of the Empire State Building by stairs and then climbing back down half way and then climbing the full height all over again. Think 2 steps forward and one step back.
When I finally reached the top I saw with my own eyes Machu Picchu—the aptly named city in the sky—built by the ancient Inca. It was awe-inspiring to see a city of stone built at the top of this mountain. Many of the stone boulders weighed well over 20 tons. There is no stone quarry at the top. So every stone had to be hauled up the mountain under human power in order to build this majestic city.
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