Coordinates: 13°05′54″S 72°55′55″W / 13.0982049°S 72.9319239°W / -13.0982049; -72.9319239

Vitcos is an archaeological site in the Cusco Region in Peru, believed to have been built by ruler in exile Manco Inca during the Spanish conquest of Peru.

After fleeing first Cusco then Ollantaytambo, Manco Inca settled in a region known as the Vilcabamba, a heavily forested region that also contains the Inca sites of Machu Picchu and Choquequirao. It is theorized that the city of Vilcabamba, having more of a tropical jungle climate, as opposed to the cooler climate of the Andes, was considered inhospitable by the Inca and so the construction of Vitcos was ordered so that Manco and his court could have a refuge that was closer in climate to what they were accustomed to. Another theory holds that Pachacuti, who is recognized to have built Machu Picchu, also built Vitcos as a summer palace. Upon his death it became part of his estate only to be re-used by Manco during his years in exile for the climate related reasons stated above. There is evidence to support either theory, though most Incatologists prefer the later on the grounds that Vitcos is of very fine construction that would have been unlikely while under the duress of the conquest. Whichever theory may be true, it is known that Vitcos is the site where Manco was murdered by a renegade group of conquistadors attempting to win back favor with the Spanish crown. Unfortunately their plan was flawed in that attacking the ruling Inca at his own palace left them little hope of escape. As could have been predicted, Manco's royal guard set upon them and made short work of them.