Warning: This article contains spoilers for Paddington in Peru.

Aunt Lucy’s sudden disappearance is at the center of Paddington in Peru, leaving only her glᴀsses and a bracelet as clues to her whereabouts. Paddington in Peru brings a fresh change of setting, as the тιтular character’s search for his aunt takes him and the Brown family out of London and to the Peruvian jungle. As they are guided by the missing bear’s objects, and aided by Paddington in Peru‘s new characters, the charming family begins discovering strange connections between Aunt Lucy and El Dorado, which lead them on an exciting treasure hunt.

However, more than treasure, the third installment to the popular franchise is interested in expanding upon Paddington’s heritage. Building from the ancient legend of the mythical city, the movie interlaces his idenтιтy journey with the villains’ quest after the hidden gold — proving there’s a larger mystery connecting Paddington to El Dorado. Paddington in Peru‘s ending brings clarity around the charismatic bear’s origins before being adopted. After closely analyzing the ancient talisman, it’s demonstrated that Aunt Lucy’s bracelet was the key to Paddington’s history all along.

How Paddington’s Bracelet Is Connected To El Dorado In Paddington In Peru

Legends Say Aunt Lucy’s Bracelet Is The Key To Finding El Dorado

Though Paddington In Peru‘s mixed reviews show not everyone embraced the setting change, the movie effectively weaves the country’s ancient legends into its story. The Brown family starts their search by asking an experienced boat captain to take them to Rock Rumi, a sacred site marked on Aunt Lucy’s map. During their travels, their guide expresses an interest in Paddington’s bracelet. Captain Hunter Cabot cites legends, explaining the Incas asked the Spirits of the Forest to hide their gold, leaving a bracelet just like that one as the only way to find the treasure.

The bracelet uses Quipu, an ancient Incan knot language that was used to share secret messages. Antonio Banderas’ character, interested in getting the gold for himself, offers to translate the bracelet, which says “At Rumi Rock, the bear will show the way.” The confused hero continues his journey, going deep into the real jungle where Paddington in Peru was filmed and finding Rumi Rock — where he amplifies his roar, managing to communicate with his aunt. Paddington follows his aunt’s calls, determined to save her and get to the bottom of her connections to El Dorado.

The Original Meaning Of Paddington’s Bracelet As A Cub

Paddington’s Bracelet Was Supposed To Guide Him Back Home If He Got Lost

After confronting the movie’s two villains, Paddington discovers the bracelet’s talisman, which looks like a coin, can be used to open the entrance to El Dorado. The Spirits of the Forest appear, welcoming him into the city, and revealing they are bears using leaf costumes. Paddington reunites with Aunt Lucy, who explains he had the bracelet when she found him as a cub and was always meant to guide him back home. Accordingly, the cubs in the bear community inside the lost city all wear similar bracelets in case they get lost.

Paddington in Peru offers another unexpected, but totally fitting, twist by revealing the treasure at the mythical city isn’t gold, but an orange grove. Paddington in Peru‘s early box office success proves its smart storytelling, as its twist perfectly flips its premise while remaining true to the franchise’s themes and innocent humor. What was once a missing person quest becomes a return home tale, as Paddington discovers he comes from El Dorado. The bracelet was the real key to Paddington’s past, as it led him to his home, and revealed his connections to the guardians of El Dorado.