Lost City Trek – Ciudad Perdida (4 Days / 3 Nights)
Uncover Ancient Mysteries in Colombia’s Most Legendary Jungle Trek
Highlights:
✔️ Trek to the legendary Lost City (Ciudad Perdida), built by the ancient Tayrona civilization.
✔️ Explore the lush jungles of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia’s sacred mountain range.
✔️ Connect with the indigenous Kogui and Wiwa communities and learn about their traditions.
✔️ Swim in crystal-clear rivers and natural pools along the trail.
✔️ An unforgettable multi-day trekking experience through breathtaking and remote landscapes.
Embark on one of the most epic trekking adventures in South America with this 4-day hike to the Lost City (Ciudad Perdida). Hidden deep within the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the Lost City is an ancient archaeological site dating back to around 700 A.D., built by the legendary Tayrona civilization.
This journey takes you off the beaten path, leading you through dense jungle, sacred indigenous land, misty mountains, and vibrant rivers. Along the way, you’ll learn about the culture and spirituality of the Kogui and Wiwa peoples, descendants of the Tayrona, and witness the untouched beauty of Colombia’s most biodiverse region.
With expert guides, well-equipped campsites, and plenty of opportunities to swim and relax, this trek offers the perfect balance of challenge, cultural immersion, and natural wonder. Whether you’re a seasoned trekker or an adventure seeker looking to disconnect and dive deep into Colombia’s past, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Tour Details
- Price: 445 USD
- 4 days
- pick up in your Hotel
- The time shedule may vary according to the time of year and the weather!
Included
- 4WD Transportation (Santa Marta – El Mamey- Santa Marta)
- Food (during the tour)
- Accommodation in campsites (hammocks or bunk beds with mosquito nets)
- Entrance ticket to the Archaeological park (ICANH)
- Tour guide
- Travel insurance
- Contributions to the peasant and indigenous communities
Not Included
- Mules – additional cost
- Visit the Mamo (Indigenous leader) – additional cost
- Beers and drinks
- Shopping tour and/or visit of another tourist attractions
- Handicrafts and tips
Itinerary
DAY 1
Approximate time: Santa Marta – Mamey (3 hs. by
car); Mamey to 1st campsite (4 hs.)
The Lost City tour starts when we pick you up, or
with your arrival at our office. From this point, we
depart on a 3 hour trip in a 4WD car to El Mamey
the village, in this place starts the trek, it is around 7.6
km long. Halfway, we stop at the “Viewpoint of the
three crosses” to refresh a little by eating delicious
fruits and then continue to the first campsite:
“Adan” or “Alfredo”, where we arrive some minutes
later and spend the first night. During the whole
tour, we will enjoy natural pools in the Sierra Nevada
of Santa Marta offers us and in which we can take
refreshing dips.
The first campsites have electricity, toilets, and
showers.
DAY 2
Approximate time: 1st campsite to 2nd campsite (3
hrs); 2nd campsite to Mutanyi (20 min); Mutanyi to
3rd campsite “Paraíso Teyuna” (5 hrs).
Our new day brings us a new adventure. After taking
breakfast, we start the trek from the first campsite
to the second one, the “Wiwa” cabin, where we
can swim in the Buritaca River while we wait for
lunchtime. After this break, our adventure continues,
now we start going deeper into the Sierra Nevada,
passing near a village of the Kogui community, called
“Mutanyi” and going to the third campsite “Paraíso
Teyuna”, where we spend the second night.
The third campsite has toilets and showers,
electricity (generator-driven) until 9 pm.
DAY 3
Approximate time: 3rd Campsite to Lost City (1 hr);
tour in the Archaeological Park (3 hrs); 3rd campsite
to 2nd campsite (4 hrs).
We take breakfast early morning, we will cover 2 km
to start the ascent to our long-awaited destination,
the Lost City, then we climb 1,200 steps that take
us to this majestic stone-built city, made up of
interconnected paths, retaining walls, and ring-shaped terraces where the ancient houses of the
Tayrona people were. All of it is surrounded by a
magical jungle full of fauna and flora that offers us
several views, from sunny to misty landscapes. We
can also find here the leader and guardian of mother
nature and the native community. After the tour,
we return to the third campsite “Paraíso Teyuna” to
take lunch and continue to the second campsite, the
“Wiwa” cabin to spend the night.
The second camp has electricity, toilets, and
showers.
DAY 4
Approximate time: 2nd Campsite to El Mamey (6
hrs)
Our adventure in the Sierra Nevada is about to
end. After taking breakfast, we will go to the first
campsite, “Adán” or “Alfredo”, where we spent the
the first night, on a trek of 2 hours approximately. On
our arrival, we will take a short break, eat some fruit
and continue for another 4 hours to El Mamey where
we will take lunch and get into the WD car that will
bring us back to Santa Marta.
