Around the year 1532 Cacheuta, a Chasqui indian was exploring the area. He was a powerful indian chief from the Mendoza valley and the area around it. A messenger from the Inca valley had come down to give the chief terrible news: the great Inca king, Atahualpa (son of god Inti) had been captured and was awaiting to be rescued. The messenger had gone all the way to the Mendoza Valley to ask the chief for his help rescuing Atahualpa
without thinking twice, Cacheuta used all his power and influence to collect all the gold, silver and other riches as well as his head warriors to head up north to rescue their king Quechua. He and his most fearless warriors were in charge in this important expedition.
As they reached the base of the mountains, the paths got narrower and steeper. Their restless travel took them to the inner most part of the Andes. As they went in deeper into the mountains, they spotted a group of armed men- although they were Quechua, they were clearly the enemy.
They had been expecting betrayal from their likes, so they prepared for battle. They hid the treasures they had been carrying to use as payment in exchange for their kings freedom within the cracks in the mountain- they knew the area very well and it didn't take them long.
The enemy had seen that Cacheuta and his crew had stopped in their tracks, they had planned to attack them as they passed, but now they had to go up to them to attack Cacheuta and his men up on the mountain.
Carnage was inevitable. Arrows were flying in the air and there was blood she all over the mountain. Cacheuta and his men fought bravely, but were outnumbered and lost the battle.
After the defeat, the enemy Indians went to look for the treasure that Cacheuta and his men had hidden in the mountains. They were full of pride, arrogance and greed and when they finally found the treasure- boiling water streamed out of the rocks and killed them all.
It is said that the spirit of Cacheuta caused the gush of water to kill the Indians that prevented them from completing their mission to free Atahualpa. From that moment on, it is believed that the spirit of Cacheuta roams the hot springs, and just as the treasure they were going to use to free their Inca king and heal their Nation, the thermal waters are supposed to heal any ailment known to man.
