It seems like the lost city of El Dorado was more of a trick that betrayed avarice than a legend bearing auriferous yields.

If conquistadors were terrorizing South America, and the South Americans realized they lusted for gold, it makes sense that they would lure them with fantastic tales deep into the heart of the unforgiving jungle, where they would find naught but suffering and ruin.

Although there may have been an ancient city of fabulous wealth that had once existed, and still persisted in oral tradition, indigenous South Americans still may have failed to mention to the bloodthirsty conquistadors that the city's legend was as ancient as it was ineffable, as they tried to rid their countryside of the invincible threat.

Idea aided by The Lost City of Z.