Tulio (Kevin Kline) and Miguel (Kenneth Branagh), a pair of two-bit con men, believe they have found their path to fortune and glory when they win a map to El Dorado, the legendary City of Gold. There’s only one problem — they’ve wound up locked in the brig on a ship of the Spanish explorer Cortes. After a daring escape, with the help of a clever war horse named Altivo, they manage to stumble onto El Dorado … only to find their troubles are just beginning.

The High Priest Tzekel-Kan (Armand Assante) proclaims them to be gods, plotting to use their fortuitous arrival to take power from the Chief (Edward James Olmos). To sustain the ruse and get the gold, Tulio and Miguel must enlist the aid of the beautiful native Chel (Rosie Perez), who matches them con-for-con. But time is running out, and even as they fulfill their dreams of gold, their friendship — and the very fate of El Dorado — hang in the balance.