Vilcabamba, meaning Sacred Valley, is a quiet, scenic, peaceful valley in the Podocarpus National Park. Located in a historical and scenic valley, it is a common destination for tourists, because it is widely believed that its inhabitants grow to a very old age. Locals assert that it is not uncommon to see a person reach 100 years of age and it is claimed that many have gotten to 120, even up to 135, which would make it an area with the oldest inhabitants in the world. It is often called the Valley of Longevity. The reasons for this apparent longevity are not very clear. Some claim that the inhabitants have a tendency to exaggerate their age, and this is difficult to verify because of the lack of a proper birth certificates. Medical researchers have confirmed that the retinas of 100 year-old residents are often comparable with those of 45 year-old city-dwellers. Others suggest that the climate in the region, or the mineral content of its drinking water is particularly healthy and explains the advanced age of its inhabitants.

Tourist Offices
The tourist information centre is on the corner of Bolivar and Diego Vaca de la Vega. It's open from 8am – 6pm but closed for lunch between 1 and 3pm.

Sightseeing
Vilcabamba is popular for trekking and horse riding tours through the surrounding forests and mountains, the locals will be able to point out the trails to you if you ask them.

Getting there
It is a one hour bus ride from the city of Loja.