The Mysterious Cities of Gold

In 1532, a Spanish orphan named Esteban joins Mendoza, a navigator, and his associates Sancho and Pedro in their search for one of the Seven Cities of Gold in the New World, hoping to find his father. They are joined on their quest by Zia, an Incan girl who was kidnapped by Mendoza, and Tao, the last descendant of the sunken empire of Mu (Hiva in the English dub).

The series is a mix of ancient South American history, archaeology, and science fiction. The travelers encounter the Maya, Inca, and Olmecs during their journey. They discover many lost technological wonders of the Mu Empire, including a solar-powered ship (the Solaris) and the Golden Condor, a huge solar-powered ornithopter (mechanical bird) capable of traveling considerable distances under the sun’s power alone. They are constantly pursued by antagonists Gómez and Gaspard, who are also in search of the Cities of Gold.