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The First Explorers of Machu Picchu: Megalithic City in the Clouds

Luke Reagan

259,509 views

On this episode of 'The First Explorers' we fly down to South America & rediscover the ruins of Machu Picchu through the eyes of the great explorer who found it, Hiram Bingham. Megaliths, mummies, lost gold & much more...

'The First Explorers' series is intended to bring to life the word-for-word firsthand accounts from explorers on the edges of the world...

Luke Caverns is an American Explorer-Anthropologist & TV guest expert. He comes from a lineage of explorers & antiquarians who searched for lost Spanish treasure as far back as the 1890’s in the American Southwest.

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For Sponsorship inquiries please email: luke@broadrangemedia.com

Watch episode one of 'The First Explorers': The First Explorers of the Amazon: Evidenc...

Watch Luke Caverns' appearance on JRE:
Joe Rogan Experience #2328 - Luke Caverns

Chapters:
0:00 - The First Explorers of Machu Picchu
1:54 - Fall of Native American Civilization
3:12 - Hiram Bingham
5:27 - The Journey Begins
14:42 - The First Discovery: Royal Tomb & Sun Temple
17:58 - Megalithic Plaza & Stonework
21:49 - Building the road to Machu Picchu
22:50 - Exploring Huayna Picchu
25:35 - The Megalithic Gate
26:52 - Symbolic Staircases
28:08 - Aqueducts & Fountains
28:38 - The 32 Angled Stone
29:42 - Megalithic Temples & Walls
33:30 - Palace of the Emperor
35:54 - Tunnels beneath Machu Picchu?
37:35 - Burial Caves, Mummies & Treasure
41:58 - Green 'Record' Stones
42:29 - Unknown Age & Name of Machu Picchu
44:47 - What was Machu Picchu?
47:10 - Subscribe!

20 Comments

@lukecaverns Creator 10 months ago Pinned

The point of The First Explorers is to dive into the word-for-word accounts of what was found on the edges of the world—all around the world.

As much as people talk about Machu Picchu, I’d rarely ever heard anyone talk about its discoverer, Hiram Bingham, and the things he actually saw & found when he first arrived at the Lost City⛰️

I always include the full quotes, so that you can know the exact words used to describe the edges of the world.

Where shall we go next? What edge of the world should we investigate?🍿🤔

@paulhabat6338 2 months ago

I can never afford to go to a place like that. I appreciate you can give people like me who will never see it in person is showing me a part of ancient cultures and history that you should be proud of. Thank you for your efforts.

@79Cody440 10 months ago

Bro, I love this long form content where you get to hear about these places in the words of the original explorers.

@longlastnamae 10 months ago

Fantastic video. Hit's Academic views, Locals stories, First hand accounts, and someone who has been there to explain it. Keep it up

@jesseballard4753 10 months ago

Thank you, Luke. Absolutely the best historical account I have ever seen

@BargedIn 10 months ago

The fact that you go to these locations that you discuss speaks volumes. You're not just speculating, you're giving a first hand opinion with your education.

@kylerjux1582 10 months ago

I’m the first explorer of this video

@patrikisgod 10 months ago

I like the theory that it was an agricultural center, meant to breed plants away from the dangers of crosspollination due to its altitude and remoteness.

@elisewilliams8071 7 months ago

Thank you for these videos! We use them in our homeschool, we love all the first hand accounts from the explorers. Thank you for what you do!

@cosmicbackwoods 10 months ago

I freaking love this series

@HiddenEarth_Official 10 months ago

This was incredible. Seeing Machu Picchu through Hiram Bingham’s own words gives the whole site a completely different energy — the megaliths, the lost gold stories, even the mummies suddenly feel alive again.
It’s rare to find a series that actually brings explorers’ firsthand accounts back to life. Can’t wait to see where The First Explorers goes next.

@luisrafael420 9 months ago

Found you from the Joe Rogan experience episode. Went right to your YouTube and was not disappointed. What a hidden gem I somehow hadn't heard about.

@Wstarlights 10 months ago

I have fond pictures of my Oma and Aunt standing in places exactly in these photos from 20+ years ago. Every time she travelled when she got back she gave me a unique cultural gift, and I'd sit by her chair and she'd flip through the photo book and tell us about everything and everybody.

@incredhistory 10 months ago

Fantastic video. The best video on YouTube about Hiram Bingham. Great job Luke.

@ianbaker7155 10 months ago

These videos are the best way to start the weekend. I think this series is so interesting and it gives such a cool perspective that isn’t always focused on.

@NormanDong-l6k 6 months ago

One of the best narratives of any ancient site in the Andes. This should be filmed and made into an educational series about Inca achievements. Unfortunate the Incas did not leave a written record or documents that describe their history or daily life. Hiram Bingham made a remarkable discovery that challenges us to this day.

@brined_soul 3 months ago

these stories are so fascinating, thank you

@conormccormick9514 10 months ago

Great storytelling. An actual person. Highly recommended.

@tristambre632 10 months ago

I'm 34, must have discovered the Machu Picchu around the age of 6 when I started reading the old reader digest at my Grandma's while watching les Cités d'Or cartoon. As far as I can remember, I always been fascinated, thought it was the most beautiful and mysterious city ever created by men. I wish one day to have the means to visit the site in person.