Secret of the Andes is set entirely in the Andes Mountains, but the action unfolds at several interlocking locales ranging from isolated canyons to the city of Cuzco. The distance between these points and their varying elevations function to emphasize the isolation of life in these vast ranges. In particular, this isolation lends credence to the idea that a historical past is still an active influence in the lives of the present-day characters.

The title, Secret of the Andes, suggests that the story concerns the mystery of place. In a sense it does, creating for the reader awesome vistas that reflect the majesty and the grandeur of the Andes Mountains. This dramatic sweep intensifies Cusi's sense of isolation. His loneliness is relieved only by his devotion to the llamas and the presence of an elderly guardian. As the boy's personal unrest grows, the mystery of place gives way...