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Bike House Medellín El Poblado | Bike House Medellín El Poblado

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Bike House Medellín El Poblado

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• Carrera 43 (Avenida El Poblado) # 31 - 193.
• Medellín , 050016  Colombia
• 573207085114
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Hiking & Trekking Tours & Trips in Colombia

If you're heading on a hiking or trekking adventure in Colombia (one of the jewels of Latin and South America ), look no further than these tours. Be sure to save time to check out Ciudad Perdida , or the "lost city" and Andes Mountains . Discover here our Colombia tours !

21 Hiking & Trekking tour packages in Colombia with 38 reviews

• Hiking & Trekking
• Jungle Trekking
• Christmas & New Year

Colombia - Lost City Trekking

The lost city is a beautiful place and an absolute must for people when in Colombia, it is quite challenging so need to be healthy. There was another tour that was identical to ours using the same company but offered much cheaper (some 300 dollars) than G Adventures, so would recommend looking into using Wiwa tours and skipping out the middle man

Colombia: Coffe Tour Bucaramanga and Chicamocha Canyon (Santander) Hiking and Bicycle

Gustavo & Marvin looked after me, during my trip. They were excellent guides, the biking was tailored to my skill/fitness level, very nicely. Just pushing my limits enough. They made sure the week included biking, massage & cultural entertainment. The waterfall display above Bucaramanga was especially good. Other guides included Roger & Carlos.

Hidden Colombia - Explore Bogotá, Santa Marta, and Trek to 'The Lost City'

The Hidden Colombia trip with OneSeed was amazing. We had a great time in Bogota and during the trek. The guides were great, super helpful. I would recommend this trip if you enjoy trekking in a warmer climate. The "Lost City" is beautiful. OneSeed makes the process so easy, with packing lists and break down of every day. I definitely felt prepared for this adventure before my departure.

Lost City Trek & Cartagena 8 Days

We loved the entire Trek to the Lost City in Colombia, the range of sites, climates, topography, landscape and altitudes was immensely rewarding. The program was intense but not overly. Always something of interest, but with enough down-time. Very well planned, and the opportunity to see quite a lot of famous places on the western site in Colombia. Definitely we recommend you guys to everyone we know. I will contact you again if we decide to travel back to South America next year.

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

COLOMBIA – 8 Days Santa Marta to Cartagena with The Lost City Trek

Tayrona Beaches & Lost City Trek 8D/7N

• In-depth Cultural

Colombia's Caribbean Coast & Lost City

Challenging but Juan Diego kept us safe and made it great

Lost City Trek Colombia 4 Days Tour

Lost City Trek 4D/3N

The Organisation of the Tour was perfekt.

Ciudad Perdida 5-Day Trek from Santa Marta

Caribbean Adventure: the Lost City trek & Medellín

Colombia Highlights 15 Days Tour

We took an 18-day guided tour in Colombia with GuidEcuador. Three days exploring the Caño Cristales area based out of La Macarena was our favorite part of the trip. It is spectacularly beautiful and very unique! In Bogotá, we had lots of fun on the city bike tour, and seeing the city from the top of Monserrate is not to be missed, either! Other highlights during our tour were the hike in Tayrona Park, seeing the wax palms in Cocora Valley, climbing the rock at El Peñol which provided a terrific view of the area, seeing all the colorful zocalos in Guatapé, a very informative and fun tour in Medellín, and some unique experiences getting to Cartagena that weren't planned! Colombia is a huge and very interesting country and we enjoyed the sampling! The local guides in different areas we visited were a tremendous asset. The Lost City Trek was hard for me (at age 76), but with great support from the guides and the others in our group, plus riding a mule on 2 stretches and a moto for the final descent, I made it!

• Intl. Flights Included

From Glacial Lagoons to the Guardians of the Lost City

• Flights included

4 days Lost City Trek starting in Santa Marta

The tour is well organized, seamlessly. The guide is very knowledgeable and experienced. The cook Erica is excellent. It’s great there is an interpreter, who is kind caring and spiritual. Thank you!

Hikes and Local Culture

What people love about hiking & trekking tours in colombia.

Wonderful hiking experience through the Colombian jungle. Our guides were fantastic, and despite language barriers, always made sure we were safe. The food was also amazing! I also really appreciated the extra day of exploring waterfalls. It's a tough hike, but the experience is worth it!

I just came back from Colombia and this bike/coffee tour was the highlight of my trip. The itinerary was well designed and thought out. The bike route was fantastic, consists of rail line, rolling hills, some challenging climbs, single track and a long downhill with a breathtaking view. Meals I tried along the way were local and very tasty. Coffee tasting, a coffee farm tour, and staying overnight at the farm was once in a lifetime kind of experience. The farm we visited had won a bunch of awards in prior years and the coffee we tasted was one of the best that I ever had. Flavor was complex and soothing. Then we went on a coffee farm tour where I saw different coffee production processes, countless of coffee trees, other tropical fruit trees, waterfall, and so many different types of birds. I got to spend a night at the farm which included a dinner and a breakfast prepared by the farm chef. Fantastic food. There were two cabins newly built at the farm. The room was rustic, clean and offered a fantastic panoramic view overlooking Bucaramanga city in the distance, the farm, and the mountains on the other side. In the morning I woke up to bird noise and a sunrise over the mountain. It’s a luxury hotel in the middle of the mountain. Next day we biked through pineapple fields, local villages, more coffee farms, local markets, and gorgeous Chicamocha canyon. I had to stop riding due to my physical condition shortly before a 5 mile downhill to the bottom of the canyon. That would have been so much fun. I got picked up by my sag vehicle when I needed to stop riding. The view at the bottom of the canyon was fantastic. I think what stands out the most besides food, bike rides, and coffee farm is a team running the tour. They made me feel safe and supported whole time. They catered to my needs such as distance of riding, bike routes, food and so on. They made the whole experience so much better. From I got picked up at the airport until I got dropped I pretty much didn’t have to worry about anything, and just was able to enjoy. I recommend this tour to anyone who wants to experience a different part of Colombia away from tourists heavy areas. It offers a good balance of relaxation and physical challenge, excellent support, and an experience of a life time.

Great experience, wonderful people, beautiful landscape, fantastic to met Tyrona-Kogi people. Love it!

• Andes Mountains (19)
• Colombia Lost City (5)

Regions in Colombia

• Caribbean Coast Colombia (11)
• Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (7)
• Tayrona National Park (5)

Travel Styles

• 10 Best Hiking & Trekking Companies
• Your Guide to Planning a Private Hike 2024/2025
• Best Hiking Tours in The World 2024/2025
• Colombia Travel Guide | All You Need to Know

International Versions

• Deutsch: Wandern & Trekking in Kolumbien
• Français: Colombie : Treks et randonnées
• Español: Senderismo y Trekking Circuitos en Colombia
• Nederlands: Wandelen & trekking Rondreizen in Colombia

Travel insights from Latin America

Lost city trek colombia: the ultimate travel guide.

Exploring the Lost City in Colombia offers travelers one of the most unique and unforgettable adventures in South America.

This spellbinding archaeological site lies deep in the Caribbean jungle and is a memorable reward for adventurers who tackle the 4-day challenge.

Along the Lost City trek, expect to wade through waist-high rivers, shower under waterfalls and sleep among an abundance of biodiversity.

You will connect to a civilization almost totally unchanged from the 7th century, discovering how they dedicate their lives to protect this sacred land named The Heart of The World .

Here is our ultimate guide to trekking Colombia’s Lost City:

Our Lost City Trek Colombia travel guide includes:

Lost city hike facts, frequently asked questions.

• Recommended packing list
• Lost City trek tips
• Local charities and foundations in Santa Marta
• What to know about the Lost City

Best coffee shops in Santa Marta

• Travel ideas for when you finish the hike
• Travel articles for the Lost City

Recommended books for Colombia

Why kagumu is the best company for the lost city trek.

Location: La Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia.

Difficulty: No previous trekking experience is needed but you should be in good shape and ready for a challenge. 

Length: 4 days (3 and 5 days treks available).

Accommodation: Bunk beds or hammocks in jungle campsites.

Elevation: Lowest altitude 150m; Maximum altitude 1200m.

Average walking time: 6 hours per day.

Group size: Maximum 16 people.

Dates: Year-round apart from September when the Lost City is closed.

Weather: A tropical climate means it is hot and humid and sometimes rainy.

Book your Lost City trek today by calling one of Kagumu’s travel advisors.

Is the Lost City hike safe?

Travelers have enjoyed the Lost City trek for the last decade or so and it is perfectly safe to do so. Kagumu works alongside local companies, local guides and local communities to ensure the trip is safe for everyone.

Usual precaution has to be adhered to as is the case with any trip. But, with Kagumu, you can rest assured of a fully comprehensive risk assessment, health cover and emergency protocols.

Who will I be traveling with?

This trip is for adventure travellers who want to travel with new people, explore new cultures, discover new ecosystems and travel in a responsible way. The group will be a maximum of 12 people.

Do I need a visa for the Lost City trek in Colombia?

Yes, but you will receive a travel visa when you arrive at the airport which will cover your stay in Colombia.

Where will I be staying?

Any time spent in Santa Marta will be in a lovely hotel or an eco-lodge in the jungle. During the Lost City trek, you will stay in jungle camps in hammocks or bunk beds.

Otherwise, you will stay in 3-star + hotels with shared twin or triple bedrooms. Single rooms are available upon request and at an extra cost and subject to availability. 

What will the weather be like on the Lost City trek?

You will encounter a variety of climates. The dry season in Santa Marta is September to February and May to July. Santa Marta’s climate is much more tropical and can hit 31 degrees °C during the day. The dry season is usually from January to April.

What will the food be like?

You will enjoy a wide range of food options from local Colombian soups, coffee and fruit juices to ecological lunches wrapped in leaves. Guides will adjust the food options to any requirements or allergies you may have.

I am a vegan, what will I be eating?

Guides are used to providing nutritious and wholesome food for people with any type of food requirements and vegan is no exception. You can expect three varied meals each day and vegan snacks along the journey. 

Will I have to carry my own bag?

For the Lost City trek, you can leave your big suitcases in the hotel before the trek and collect them afterwards.

You will need to take your own small backpack on the hike so pack well! You will be revisiting a couple of camps on the way so you can leave any dirty clothes and pick them up on the return journey.

Note: Kagumu can offer extra assistance with transporting small bags for those needing special assistance due to health reasons. 

How difficult is Colombia’s Lost City trek?

The Lost City trek is challenging more than anything. You don’t need to have any previous trekking experience to enjoy this trip.

However, we do recommend that you are in good physical shape and that you are ready for an adventure where unexpected things might happen. Our advice is to pack well, prepare to get wet and get ready for early morning starts.

Do I need travel insurance for the trek?

Yes, you will need travel insurance to travel with Kagumu. We recommend buying travel insurance from STA Travel .

Do I need health insurance?

Kagumu provides each guest with fully-comprehensive health insurance, covering all the health risks during the time you are with us. 

Are international flights included?

No, International flights are not included in our price but there are many connections to airports in Colombia and recommend searching on SkyScanner by clicking here.

How long is the Lost City trek?

The trek is 4 days but this can be adjusted to 3 and 5 days upon request. However, we feel 4 days is just the right length and we have incorporated this into several itineraries that you can find here .

Is the Lost City trek worth it?

Absolutely! The Lost City trek is one of the most memorable experiences in Colombia .

If you are ready for a challenge this can be an utterly memorable experience that will connect you to Colombia’s native communities as well as tough but rewarding days hiking mountains, through waist-high rivers and eventually reaching an ancient Lost City.

Recommended packing list for Lost City trek

• Large backpack (you can leave this at the start of the trek)
• Small backpack (you will need to carry this on the trek yourself)
• Long-sleeve t-shirts
• Short-sleeve t-shirts
• Long waterproof walking pants
• Light raincoat
• Bathing suit
• Water shoes
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Personal hygiene Items
• Water bottle (Purified water is available for free at campsites, so bring about 1.5 L for day 1, or you can buy it on the way)
• Personal medicine
• Waterproof or plastic bags against rain
• Sandals or resting shoes
• Hooded top for the evening
• Waterproof cover for your bag

5 trekking tips from Kagumu’s lead guide, Marco

• Pack well – You will be carrying your small backpack with you and leaving your large backpack in the hotel. So pack light. You will get wet and that is the fun part. You can also leave items of clothes in certain camps to pick up on the way back.
• Bring some cash – Bring about 300.000COP to buy drinks, fruit juices (and beer) on the way.
• Pack a sterilizing pen – You will find portable water to fill up your bottles but it is good to be prepared for that moment you might need to drink water from the tap.
• Don’t bring your passport – You can leave your passport in your big bag before the trek and it will be perfectly safe. This is to avoid losing the passport on the journey.
• Have patience during the uphills – This is not a race and take time to enjoy the scenery and take a well-earned break on the challenging uphills.

What to know about the Lost City trek

• The site is closed every September so indigenous leaders can cleanse the area.
• It was nicknamed the green hell when it was discovered in 1972 by graverobbers. 
• Once there lived up to 8,000 people in the lost city until it was abandoned when the Spanish invasion came.
• The Lost City is called Ciudad Perdida in Spanish and Teyuna in an indigenous language. 
• La Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, where the Lost City is located, was declared the most irreplaceable natural reserve on the planet.
• La Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is also the tallest coastal mountain range on the planet and even has snowy peaks!
• Only 1 in 10 Colombian nationals have visited the Lost City.

Local charities and foundations in Santa Marta:

Kagumu partners with the Wiwa and Arhuaco indigenous communities, supporting a women’s weaving corporation and a local reforestation project. We recommend these foundations and a few more:

Wirakoku – Lucelly Torres founded Wirakoku in 2007 with the purpose of improving social conditions by selling handwoven Arhuaco bags directly from their weavers.

The skilled hands of over 200 indigenous women from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia started weaving authentic bags using natural fibres and dyes.

Enviornomica is helping reforest vast swathes of forest in La Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. This foundation works with local farmers and communities, empowering and teaching them how to protect forests and also involving them in the reforestation process.

Enviornomica runs a volunteer program and also allows you to sponsor a tree in the area.

Another great reforestation project in La Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is called the Jaguar Siembra . This fantastic foundation allows you to donate to the reforesting project that has already planted over 4000 trees in the forest in Bunkwimake, Magdalena with the local Arhuaco community. You can see their work in this video – https://youtu.be/9BNaifpoBBg .

It is rather surprising to many that Santa Marta hosts a plethora of local companies that grow their own coffee. Here are our best picks for you to enjoy during your time on the coast.

• Ikaro cafe – Oying just off the stunning Parque de los Novios, this quaint little coffee shop attracts locals and tourists thanks to a stellar menu including delicious vegetarian and vegan dishes and of course a sublime cup of joe! Ikaro has strong connections in the region and produces its own homegrown coffee. 
• Lulo – This diminutive bar/coffee shop is situated a block from Parque de los Novios and is the ideal spot for brunch. Alongside a thrilling array of tropical juices, Lulo serves up coffee from the traditional Americano to a lovely latte. 
• La Canoa – If you are looking for a more European twist, head to the beautiful Canoa restaurant and bar. Expect a Caribbean/French feel with freshly baked bread and croissants accompanied by fresh cups of coffee at very reasonable prices.
• Juan Valdez – Okay, this might seem like an obvious one but you can’t beat a good Juan Valdez coffee . Check this quaint spot out while on a walking tour around Santa Mart’s historical centre.

Travel ideas for when you finish the Lost City hike

Many travelers finish the 4-day trek and are ready for a little beach time. You can close to Palomino after the hike and enjoy a night or two in a beach-side hotel like La Playa Roca or One Love Palomino . While the sea is often difficult to swim in, why not relax on a beach bed and indulge in a mojito while watching the sunset.

How to get to Palomino :

Jump on one of the regular buses that travel along the coast. The time from the entrance of the lost city trek to Palomino is around 1hr and 30 minutes. 

You could continue your journey to the famous Caribbean city of Cartagena . A four-hour bus journey along the coast will take you there. Here you can enjoy the charming old town listed by UNESCO as a world heritage site. We recommend venturing to Bocagrande to feel the true Caribbean vibe and heading to Gente de Mar for a day trip on a Caribbean beach. 

How to get to Cartagena:

You can take a coach from Berlinas office in Santa Marta . This will ensure you are dropped off in the city of Cartagena and not on the outskirts. The journey is around 4 hours.

A lesser-known but maybe more beautiful spot would be the spellbinding Mompos .

This is like Cartagena before the tourists found it. Stunning colonial architecture is complemented by an intriguing history entwined with the magic realism of Colombian author Gabriel Garcia Marquez. You can take a coach from Santa Marta’s bus terminal and we recommended you stay in the perfectly-located Casa Amarilla . 

How to get to Mompos:

You can get a private van that leaves Santa Marta on a daily basis at 3:00 am and at 11 am. You can get directly in touch with Omaira on his cellphone 3114148967.

Alternatively, you can travel to Santa Ana (Magdalena) or Bosconia (Magdalena) and from there to Mompos. The journey takes around 5 hrs 30 minutes. 

One option is to head back to Santa Marta . If you don’t wish to travel far you could spend a couple of nights in Santa Marta and try some of the delicious food in the central park – Parque de Los Novios. Click here to read an article describing the best things to do and best places to stay in Santa Marta. 

How to get to Santa Marta:

You can take a public bus that passes along the coast on a regular basis. This costs around 8000COP and should take 2hrs from the exit of the trek. 

Travel articles about the Lost City

Wondering how to make the most of your hike to the Lost City? Read Kagumu Adventures’ ffounounder’s article published in Afar magazine by clicking here.

Read an excellent, descriptive and emotive first-person piece from one of Kagumu’s previous travelers by clicking here.  

Plenty of travelers want to explore La Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta before it becomes overcrowded like Machu Picchu. Check out this wonderful article in CNN’s Travel section.

• Short Walks from Bogotá by Tom Feiling – Tom takes us on a path much less traveled and dares to go where no one else dared when Colombia was still seen as a drug haven with left-wing guerilla fighters terrorising communities. 
• Oblivion by Hector Abad – This tear-jerker is a love letter from one son to his father during one of the most violent periods in Colombia’s history.
• The Fruit Palace by Charles Nicholl – A thrilling ride awaits readers who revel in the dark underworld of the cocaine trade and adventures into shanty towns and deep into the jungle. While Colombia is quite different 35 years on, this is a gonzo ride the likes of Hunter S Thompson was famous for. 
• 100 years of solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez – An absolute classic. An enthralling story entwining some of Colombia’s most prominent moments in history with its unique culture and a splash of magic realism from this Nobel prize-winning author. 
• News of a Kidnapping by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Few people know that “Gabo” was actually a world-class journalist and his greatest non-fiction book explores the violent narco era blighted with violence, kidnappings and the infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar. 
• We are the only UK company running treks in the lost city that is legally certified in Colombia.
• We ensure sustainable travel (see below for more details).
• Thus far we have an overall 5/5 rating from our clients.
• We pride ourselves on personalised and prompt communication before, during and after the trip.
• Our guides are trailblazers in terms of making the trekking experience more responsible and ecologically friendly.
• We support other local communities, not just the ones in La Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.

Do you want to join a tour of the Lost City trek Colombia? Contact Kagumu Adventures by clicking here.

9 of the best hikes in Colombia

Aug 16, 2023 • 11 min read

Explore Colombia's varied terrain with these top hiking routes, from mountain climbs to beachside rambles © Joerg Steber / Getty Images

With landscapes that tumble from snow-dappled Andean peaks to paradisiacal white sand beaches , it should come as no surprise that Colombia  packs a whole raft of hiking trails to explore.

Trekking can be a hot, humid affair in the lowlands and a lung-busting adventure in the mountainous national parks , but there’s no better way to explore this remarkable terrain than on a hike. 

Following decades of conflict concentrated in rural areas, the demobilization of some key armed groups has paved the way for access to trails in some of Colombia’s once inaccessible remote outposts. While some trails are signposted, most are not, so hiking in Colombia safely often requires the assistance of a local guide, whose knowledge of the fragile ecosystems and local customs are invaluable.

Getting out onto the trails is a way of seeing Colombia in a new light. This isn’t just a place of vivacious cities and infectious rhythms, but also a country home to enchanting archaeological sites, rare endemic wildlife and dizzyingly high-altitude scenery.

1. Ciudad Perdida Trek

Best jungle hike 40km (24.8 miles) round trip, 5 days, moderate

Hikers of all stripes gravitate to the Ciudad Perdida (Lost City) trek , Colombia's most mystical trail. This epic route is the country’s answer to the Inca Trail, but where Peru’s legendary mountaintop fortress teems with tourists, the lost city hidden away in Colombia's Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range sees very few visitors.

It helps that the former stronghold of the Tairona people can only be reached by a five-day trek, discouraging fair-weather hikers. And visitor numbers have yet to fully recover from pre-pandemic levels, making now an excellent time to take on the adventure. It’s a steep, sweaty and sometimes grueling slog through seemingly impenetrable jungle, although crystalline swimming holes and hammocks slung with mosquito nets make for welcome stops en-route.

Early on day four, a flight of 1200 stone steps delivers you to the silent grounds of this 32-hectare city, where tendrils of jungle still cling to the remarkably preserved remains of circular stone terraces, plazas and storehouses once used by a population of more than 4000 people.

You can only reach the Ciudad Perdida as part of an organized trek, so arrange your tour in Santa Marta . All trekking companies and guides are local, ensuring your money flows directly back into the communities you pass through along the way.

2. Nevado del Tolima summit

Best high-altitude hike 58.5km (36.3 miles) round trip, 4 days, challenging

Snowy peaks might be an unexpected sight in the tropics, but that's what you'll find in Parque Nacional Natural Los Nevados . A cluster of 5000m (16,400ft) volcanic peaks rising from the lush hillsides of Colombia’s main coffee region, the park attracts trekkers and mountaineers from around the world, keen to conquer its challenging high-altitude terrain.

At 5200m (17,060ft), Nevado del Tolima is the second tallest volcano here and the highest peak that visitors are permitted to climb. Following a series of accidents, access to the south face of the mountain is now restricted. The remaining approach to the summit is a challenging and technical ascent, covering 58.3km (36.3 miles) and only suitable for those with previous mountaineering experience. Ropes, ice axes, harnesses and crampons may be needed for higher sections.

Starting in the Valle Cocora, the hike climbs steeply through the park’s trademark landscape of Quindío wax palms before the scenery transitions into the uniquely Andean ecosystem known as paramo. This grassy shrubland is dotted with spiky, slow-growing frailejón plants, said to resemble the silhouette of a hooded monk.

Higher still, glassy lakes, glaciers and views of the perfectly conical crater of Tolima add to the sense of adventure as you struggle up to the summit. Having conquered Tolima, admire the views towards the gently smoking tip of highly active Volcán Ruiz, the park’s tallest peak, and soak up the majesty of the experience.

For a gentler introduction to the park, consider the three-day trek up to the snowline at around 4600m (15,091ft). You’ll miss the thrilling final ascent but will be spared the need to bring climbing ropes, ice axes and other technical gear. To avoid the heaviest rainfall, hike in January or February, but note that poor weather is a possibility year-round – trekking poles are highly recommended.

3. Cueva del Esplendor

Best waterfall hike 23km (14 miles) round trip, 7 hours, moderate

The town of Jardín near Medellín draws visitors with its picture-perfect streets painted in a riot of vibrant shades, but there’s more to do here than sip coffee in the shady plaza. For a more active day out, you’ll want to head out to the town’s most popular hiking destination – the cavern known as Cueva del Esplendor.

This long day hike begins on the western edge of Jardín and climbs into the patchwork of rolling hills and farmland that defines Colombia’s coffee-growing region in the Andean foothills. Muddy trails wind past rushing streams and creep through dense forest, so you'll need sturdy hiking boots and some steady footwork. Eagle-eyed hikers may spot rare bird species such as the orange-breasted tanager finch flitting in the canopy above.

Once you arrive at the cavern, it immediately becomes clear why this fissure in the rock is known as the Cave of Splendor. As your eyes become accustomed to the darkness, you’ll be spellbound by the sight of a roaring blast of foaming water bursting from the roof into a pool below. The cave sits on private land, so you’re required to pay an entry fee, and a limited number of visitors are allowed in each day.

4. Cocora Valley Hike

Best hike for whimsical landscapes  15km (9 miles) round trip, 6 hours, moderate

Parque Nacional Natural Los Nevados might be dominated by its volcanic summits, but there’s plenty of less challenging terrain to engage hikers in the nature reserves just outside the park boundaries.

Reached by the iconic Willy Jeeps that rumble between Valle Cocora and the town of Salento , the region's most acclaimed day hike clambers up onto hillsides that offer picture-perfect views over the whimsical Quindío wax palms, the national tree of Colombia, that line the valley floor.

Stop for a breather and a photo opportunity at the Reserva Natural Acaime La Casa de Los Colibríes (a hummingbird sanctuary), but save some space for shots of the palms themselves, which grow up to 60m (200ft) tall and end with a sparse cluster of leaves at their tops, like trees in a Dr Seuss book. Keep your eyes on the skies, too – the valley is an important habitat for the endangered yellow-eared parrot.

5. El Pulpito del Diablo Trail

Best hike for dramatic views 22.3km (13.8 miles) round trip, 12 hours, moderate

Packing in dozens of spectacular mountain peaks and a plethora of glassy, glacial lagoons, Parque Nacional Natural El Cocuy is the lost corner of Colombia. Here you’ll discover the country’s high-altitude landscapes at their finest – a remarkable contrast to the verdant rolling hills and tropical jungle that dominate much of the national terrain.

Situated in the far east of the country near the border with Venezuela , and more than 10 hours by road from Bogotá , this stunning national park is truly remote. Despite this, concerns over the environmental impact of tourism have led to the closure of many of the hiking trails. Luckily, one of the finest treks – the out-and-back hike to El Pulpito del Diablo – remains open, though all visitors must hike with a guide.

Hitting highs of 4765m (15,633ft), this hike requires a few days of acclimatization to ensure your lungs are adjusted to the elevation. Starting on the western side of the national park, the trail will lift you up to the edge of a gleaming glacier, with the dramatic El Pulpito del Diablo (Devil’s Pulpit) monolith rising above you as a fiercely vertical slab. Touching the glaciers in the park is not permitted, but you’ll reach the snowline as part of this trek, which offers glorious views back across the park and its barren landscapes of alpine tundra and electric blue moraine lakes.

6. El Camino Real 

Best easy hike 9km (5.6 miles) one way, 1 hour, easy

Lofty mountain adventures aren’t the only type of hiking in Colombia. Just a 30-minute drive from Colombia's adventure capital, San Gil , and tucked into the heart of Santander department, the pretty town of Barichara is home to a stone-paved trail that descends through a scenic valley to the sleepy village of Guane.

Originally constructed by the indigenous people of this region, the Camino Real is a historic hiking route that has been traversed for centuries, and every step grants ever broader views over this cactus-filled valley and the folds of the mountains beyond.

Before you start walking, you’ll want to spend some time checking out the durable traditional whitewashed buildings of Barichara, many of which were built during the colonial period from compressed sand and clay. The trail starts on the outskirts of town and when you reach Guane, you can hop on a bus back to your starting point or head onwards to San Gil.

7. La Chorrera Waterfall

Best day hike from Bogotá 6.4km (4 miles) round trip, 3 hours, easy

One of the best hikes within striking distance of Bogotá, the route to La Chorrera Waterfall follows another stretch of the Camino Real, built during the period of Spanish colonization to provide a direct route linking Bogotá and the city of Villavicencio, some 100km (62 miles) south.

This ambling but easy to follow path is hemmed in by a dense sweep of cloud forest thick with bromeliads and the trills of birdsong. But the prize lies at its conclusion – at 590m (1935ft), La Chorrera is Colombia’s highest waterfall, with seven steps spilling furiously over a limestone escarpment veiled with moss and lichen, then crashing into a glassy pool.

While the trek isn't particularly strenuous, you'll need to spend a couple of days acclimatizing in Bogotá beforehand to prepare yourself for the altitude of over 2400m (7874ft). You should also pack a waterproof coat and be mentally prepared to get wet;  the waterfall is often shrouded by clouds that dump bursts of rain onto the damp vegetation below.

8. Cañaveral to El Cabo San Juan de Guía, Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona

Best beachside hike 8km (5 miles) one way, 2 hours, easy

The setting for some of Colombia’s most beautiful beaches, Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona is awash with unblemished white sands fringed by lush jungle and azure waters. While there are a handful of inland hikes within the park, the best hiking route here is the trip from Cañaveral (accessible by minivan from the park's eastern entrance at El Zaíno) along the coast.

This path passes a string of picturesque tropical coves, following a mix of muddy and sandy trails and wooden boardwalks, to reach El Cabo San Juan de Guía, where two idyllic beaches with hammocks slung between palm trees offer you a place to rest overnight if you want to spread the hike over two days.

As you wander along the coast, keep your eyes peeled for chattering cotton-top tamarin monkeys – an introduced species that has thrived in these perfect conditions – as well as basilisk lizards that can dash across the surface of the water.

Because of incredibly strong rip currents, it’s not possible to swim at most of the beaches you pass on this hike, but you can take a refreshing dip in the sea when you arrive at your final destination.

9. Tierradentro Mountain Circuit

Best archaeological hike 12km (7.5 miles) ,8 hours, moderate

Explore underground tombs and fierce-looking stone statues on this challenging hike through the glorious green mountains of the Parque Arqueológico Tierradentro in the southern department of Cauca, which can be done without a guide at your own pace.

Before you begin, pop into the museum at the park entrance to get some background on the mysterious civilization that once inhabited these lands and left behind these intriguing glimpses of their culture.

The hike then climbs up to the most important ruins at Alto de Segovia, where you can descend spiral staircases into some of the tombs to check out the mesmerizing geometric wall paintings. Continuing on up into the mountains, the loop follows dirt paths and traffic-free country roads, calling at three more groups of tombs as well as a statuary on a plateau before winding its way back down to the park entrance once more. 

Bring a flashlight as some of the more remote tombs have no lighting.

This article was first published March 2022 and updated August 2023

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Home > Colombia > Colombian Pueblos > An Unforgettable Trek in Colombia's Supernatural Paramo del Sol

An Unforgettable Trek in Colombia's Supernatural Paramo del Sol

Get Out of This World

This post is part of Everything to Know Before Visiting Medellin , a collection of no-B.S., unique guides to an unforgettable stay in Colombia.

Even if you're coming to Colombia for the warm sun, the cold, sometimes freezing,  sun of the Colombia paramo is worth packing a jacket for. Indeed, the sun at the Paramo del Sol may have been the most drop-your-jaw-and-forget-to-take-pictures-while-reconsidering-your-place-in-this-world sun we’ve seen.

And it wasn't just the sun that blew us away on our two-day trek in the Paramo del Sol. There was also the hummingbird beehive, the fairy-tale-worthy moss jungle, the orchids, the views of seemingly all of Colombia, and the high-on-mushrooms-like scenery of the paramo plains. We can't recommend trekking in the Paramo more highly.

If you're interested, here's everything you should know.

Paramo del Sol Trek Guide Outline

This is a big guide, so use the links below to jump directly to sections that most interest you:

• Get to Know the Paramo

Quick Facts about the Trek

• Detailed Trek Itinerary

Alternate Itineraries

Alternate routes.

• What to Pack
• Getting to Urrao and Paramo del Sol
• Where to Stay and Eat in Urrao
• Urrao and Paramo del Sol Map
• Expense Overview

Get to Know the Colombian Paramo

Paramo (see Wikipedia) are tropical alpine ecosystems unique to the northern Ande region. They are biological hotspots and the fastest evolving places on earth (see NYT article) .

For an inspiring overview of the paramo and Colombia’s other amazing ecosystems, we recommend you watch the Planet Earth-like documentary, Colombia: Wild Magic (watch trailer) . It's available on Netflix in many countries.

• Duration: Minimum 7 hours from the base to the top, Alto Campanas. 11 hours or more if you take the less-direct route up and stop along the way, which we recommend.
• Difficulty: Medium-difficult. While our group moaned and groaned about sore legs the day after the trek, we made it up and down with minimal complaint.
• Distance: 14 kilometers on the direct route. We walked the less direct route and made many swamp-avoiding detours that brought our total distance covered to 42 kilometers (a marathon!) over two days—19 km the first day and 23 km the second.
• Elevation: 1,700 m net gain from 2,380 m above sea level at the base to 4,080 m at the top of Alto Campanas.

Paramo del Sol Trek Itinerary

Use this itinerary to get a general idea of the timings for the Paramo del Sol trek and to make sure you don’t miss any highlights.

The timings will obviously depend on your fitness level. Amongst people fit enough to consider doing the trek, our speed was roughly average. Our group of seven—our friends Jorge (owner of Las Cometas Hostel in Jerico ), Jess, Oskar (who took all of the best photos in this post), our two guides, Kim, and I—walked at a steady pace, and took two-to-five minute breaks every hour or so. We’re not mountain goats, but we’re not hippos either.

04:10: It begins

Up well before daylight, we showered and had a quick breakfast that Sandra and Laura from Villa Laura (see: Where to Stay in Urrao ) had gotten out of bed to prepare for us.

We took a taxi to Urrao’s main square (15,000 COP) and met our guide Toño and his friend Chano. Chano was tagging along to help out free-of-charge . The fact that someone would offer to help guide for free in exchange for the privilege of joining says a lot about how amazing the Paramo del Sol Trek it is.

From the main square, we jumped on the daily 5:20 a.m. chiva—a colorful community bus costing 5,000 COP per person—for the 40-minute ride to the Paramo del Sol trailhead, 2,380 meters above sea level (MASL).

06:10 (Hour 0): Starting off on the wrong foot shoes

Dawn broke to reveal an overcast, drizzly day. Our guides had on big rubber boots and waterproof bags. We had running shoes with holes in the soles and garbage bags.

We were concerned. But there was no turning back.

Seeing our poorly protected feet, a couple other hikers who left at the same time as us gave us what proved to be sound advice: Your feet are going to get soaked, so don’t bother trying to keep them dry. Give up, let your shoes get soaked, and get to the top faster so you can dry out and warm up your feet sooner.

8:12 (2 hours in): A warm up to the ranger's station

The first couple of hours of hiking was a good warm up—a gradual uphill mostly through open pasture. We excitedly and nervously approached the mountain that loomed ahead of us.

After an hour-and-a-half, a waterfall with a building below it came into sight. That was to be our first stop, the ranger’s station at the Dusky Starfrontlet Bird Reserve ( Official Page |  TripAdvisor ), 5.2 km and 570 meters above where we started.

8:45: Hummingbird heaven

The hummingbird reserve was the first experience to blew us away.

It was a hummingbird beehive!

There were hundreds of them of all sizes, colors, and beak style fighting over the feeders in front of the lodge. And they weren’t shy. Some even landed on my hat, confusing its bright red color with that of the feeders.

We spent half an hour oohing and ahhing and fruitlessly trying to capture a photo of one on my head.

Important: Unless you want to pay an obscene $50 USD reserve fee, make sure to be in and out of the hummingbird reserve before the ranger gets there at 9 a.m.

10:40 (4.5 hours in): The land of fairy tales

The following section through the woods was the steepest part of the climb.

To keep our minds off the slog, our guide Toño pointed out an abundant variety of orchids and passed around edible and medicinal plants he found along the way—stuff like stinging nettle, wild blackberry, and a mint called poleo . There are so many orchids in this part of the forest that Toño told us one of his friends, a 24-year-old biologist, had discovered four new species himself .

We took a quick break in a clearing with a view of another waterfall and, ten minutes later, entered a land of fairy tales—a forest so overgrown with mossy limbs, vines, and plants that we could hardly tell which way was up.

This made two incredible experiences already, and we hadn’t even made it to the paramo yet.

11:30 (5.5 hours in): Incom- paramo -able scenery

Fifteen minutes from the Lord of the Rings-like land of moss, we emerged into another fairy-tale-like scene: the Paramo del Sol.

We’d seen the videos and photos, but it was only when we saw it with our own eyes that we understood what all the fuss was about. The rolling tundra landscape was covered in fields of yellow-flowered plants called frailejones (see Wikipedia) . It was a surreal cross between France’s sunflower fields (the plants are actually related) and Arizona's cactus fields (except this damp area was the opposite of a desert).

We enjoyed a snack and brewed some coffee on a raised platform before continuing on.

13:20 (7 hours in): Gasping (but not for air)

Our energy was renewed by the hot coffee and the novelty of walking amongst the fields of frailejones. And so what if the weather was wet cloudy and we couldn’t see the valleys below. It added to the atmosphere.

Speaking of atmosphere, it was around this point, as we continued to climb up to a 3,650-meter high crest called El Alto del Burro, that we started to notice the thin air. Fortunately, none of us suffered any ill effects from the altitude. We were probably too busy gasping at the incredible scenery to worry about gasping for air.

13:52: A final challenge

From the top of Alto del Burro, a plateau with lagunas opened up below, backed by a crest of even higher hills. It was down on that plateau that we decided to camp.

Getting down there was the ultimate swampy challenge. At some points, the path sunk into swamps and ponds large enough to support a flock of ducks. Every step was a potential shoe-swallowing disaster. Even the thigh-high tufts of mossy long grass weren’t safe. When we stepped on them they sunk down into the mud like giant marshmallows.

Including all our breaks, it took us 7 hours and 42 minutes to hike from the base to our campsite.

14:24: Setting up

Remarkably, the campsite our guides led us to was completely dry. We could sit on the ground without our butts getting wet and it was flat and perfect for tents.

We gorged on our fiambres (see: Food ) while Toño and Chano vanished then reappeared with armfuls of tarps and some cooking gas. They'd dug them up from a secret stash the Paramo del Sol guides use to avoid having to haul the same things up and down.

Rightfully not trusting our ability to set up a surefire waterproof camp, Toño and Chano set everything up for us. This in itself justified the 200,000 COP fee Toño charged for the two days.

18:40: Exploring, resting, warming-up, and eating

Toño took a Kim, Oskar, and Ion a quick tour of a small waterfall and a big boulder near our campsite while Jorge and Jess warmed up in their tent. We then all rested up a bit before cooking up a bare-bones pasta dinner.

19:00 The Moonrise

Just as the day was coming to an end, an extraordinary thing happened:

The sky started to clear up.

On the eastern horizon, over Alto el Burro, the huge front of angry grey clouds was being pushed aside by clear blue sky. It was the opposite of an end-of-the-world storm scene from a movie like The Day After Tomorrow .

Then we saw what looked like a fire blazing on the hill. At least we thought it was a fire. Chris even asked Toño what was going on.

Then we wondered if it was the sun. It was neither. It was the moon!

Who knows if it was because at our altitude we were closer to the stars or what, but without exaggeration, it was the biggest, brightest full moon we’d ever seen. Until then we didn’t know moon-rises were a thing.

19:40: Getting cold and getting in bed

As the moon rose over the horizon and shrunk into the stars, the cold hit our weak, tropical Colombia acclimated bodies hard. Since Toño and Chano were unable to keep a fire going, we all hurried into our tents to warm up and rest up for even more hiking the next day.

4:45: Is this worth it?

After a second-straight 4 a.m. alarm, we fought our bodies’ self-preservation instincts, crawled out of our sleeping bags, put on every layer of clothes we could, and slipped on our freezing, soaking shoes.

Our destination was Alto Campanas, the highest point in Antioquia.

We all wondered if all this pain would be worth it.

( Spoiler: It was.)

6:00: Misery to majesty

The first thirty minutes of our hike was pure misery.

Despite the full moon, we couldn't see a thing on the path, making it impossible to dodge the swamps. Soaked and muddy with the temperature hovering just above freezing, our feet become numb, and so did our brains as we stumbled forward blindly.

But then came the light.

As we crested the hill above our campsite, the sun started to peek out from the horizon to the east. At the same time, the full moon hovered on the western horizon behind us and the skies above us and cloud-covered valleys of Antioquia below lit up with color.

We stopped shivering with cold and shuddered with delight at the unprecedented beauty all around us.

7:30: The top of Antioquia

The rest of the climb up to Alto Campanas was along mostly dry mountain ridges. We'd see a peak ahead, ask Toño if that was our destination and he'd say it's the next one. Then it was the next one. Then the next.

The fourth peak was, finally, Alto Campanas.

7:50: Alto Campanas

At 4,080 meters above sea level, Alto Campanas is the highest point in Antioquia.

From the top, we could see the craggy peaks of the Farallones, the Choco jungle that leads to the Pacific Ocean, the plains of the Paramo del Sol, and the city of Urrao.

There are a couple campsites at Alto Campanas, but we were glad we'd decided to camp down below. While the views from these campsites were undoubtedly more impressive than from ours, the ground was muddy and we doubted we would've been able to tolerate the extra cold of being 500 meters higher.

9:40: Back to camp and packing up

Since we had to make it all the way back to Medellin that evening, we hustled back down to our campsite. It took just under two hours to return from Alto Campanas to our campsite, where we quickly packed up our gear and started back towards the real world.

14:21: A speedy descent

To make it down as fast as possible, we took a much less scenic but much more direct route down (see Alternate Routes below).

Other than taking short bathroom and snack breaks every hour or so, we plowed ahead.

We made it down from our camp to the base in only four hours, half the time it took us to get up.

While we did the Paramo del Sol trek in two days, camping near Alto del Burro, you can consider these alternate itineraries as well:

Alternate 2-Day Itinerary

Instead of stopping at the plateau below Alto del Burro like we did, you could continue on to Alto Campanas and camp there. Two guys who started at the same time as us did so. They went at the same pace we did and arrived at 16:15, ten hours after starting the hike.

The upsides of camping at Alto Campanas is you’ll have more time to enjoy your second day and, if the weather is clear, have an amazing valley and sunset views.

The downsides are you have to carry your stuff an extra 7 km from Alto del Burro to Alto Campanas, the campsite is higher (so colder) and wetter, and the sunrise views to the east aren’t as good.

Some were happy with our choice to camp where we did, while others thought we should have continued on. Decide for yourself once you get to the first camp.

3-Day Itinerary

If we were to go to the Paramo del Sol again, we’d stay for an extra day. It’s more relaxed and lets you explore the Colombian paramo more fully.

On the second day, you can do a 16km extended loop to Alto Campanas and back, passing by some waterfalls and canyons. Then, on the third day, you can avoid the misery of a freezing wet-footed early morning hike and have a more relaxed hike back down to civilization.

Plus, with an extra day, you increase your chances of having a clear sunrise, moonrise, and sunset.

There are three different routes from the base to the Paramo del Sol. We recommend you follow the itinerary we did, taking the Hummingbird Route up and the Direct Route down, but you might choose otherwise depending on how much time you have.

[Update:] Handy input from Ryan and Alex's comment below :

We did your route in reverse, starting along the right side of your map up the Direct Route/Camino 14. We did this because a bunch of fellow hikers told us that the Hummingbird Route was closed because there was no bridge. However, by the top, many guides told us that the route was open, so we decided to go for it.

We descended along the Hummingbird Route and it was great! At the very bottom, there was no bridge to cross the river so we were about to ford it. But, then the ranger came out and made a bridge for us with a few planks of wood. We tried to pay but he didn’t accept it, so we passed through (after 9 AM) without paying at all.

The one change from your Wikiloc map is that a farmer planted a new field right in the middle of the Hummingbird Route near the start of the trail. It’s very well fenced off with barbed wire, so I’d recommend staying on the Direct Route/Camino 14 up until the covered wooden bridge then beelining up the hill to meet up with the Hummingbird Route.

Hummingbird Route

This route past the hummingbird reserve and the moss forest is the western (left) path marked out here on Wikiloc . In terms of steepness and distance, it falls in between the other two routes.

Be sure to make it past the ranger station before 9 a.m. or else be prepared to pay the 50 USD reserve entrance fee (or a much more reasonable 20,000 COP for Colombians). [APR 2019 UPDATE: According to Diana in the comments, the fee is now a much more reasonable COP50,000.]

Direct Route:

This is the route to take if you’re in a rush to get up to the Paramo del Sol or back down. "Camino 14," as our guide said it’s called, is the route mules have been taking ever since potato farmers lived in the paramo over a hundred years ago.

We walked—ok stumbled—down it and were glad we didn’t come up it. It’s steep . And it’s not particularly beautiful, especially since we had to keep our heads down, focused on the loose rocks on the path to avoid breaking our ankles. We could have passed right under a family of spectacled bears without even knowing.

Camino 14 isn't all bad though. At times the path is so eroded you walk in a dramatic three-meter high moss-covered gulley.

If you download Wikiloc and pay 2.99 USD for the three-month subscription, you can use this map to guide you on GPS.

Slow but Steady Route

This third option is called Camino 15. We didn’t take it and couldn’t find anyone who’d recorded the route on WIkiloc, but according to our guide, it’s the slowest, most relaxed way to get up to the Paramo del Sur.

You might consider this route if you’re doing a three-day trek since you’ll have more time to get up and down.

What to Pack for the Colombian Paramo

If you’re worried about having the right gear for a Paramo del Sol trek, you’re right.

We were definitely worried. We came to Colombia to chill in tropical weather, not freeze in the alpine cold. But even though we didn't have ideal camping gear, we survived.

Chris packed everything from his  minimalist packing list minus the electronics, shorts, and sleeveless shirts, and adding in a warm hat. Aside from those clothes, here’s what else you should consider packing.

Absolutely Mandatory

• Food – See Food section below
• Cooking stove – If you hire a guide, they will be able to provide one, but confirm with them in advance nevertheless.
• Tent – The guide can provide a tent if you don’t have one. Ask in advance.
• Sleeping bag – Our guides were unable to provide these.
• Sleeping mat – We forgot about sleeping mats and paid the consequences with a freezing cold sleep.
• Waterproof covers for gear – If you don’t have proper waterproof covers for your packs, garbage bags will do the trick. Bring extras just in case.

Makes the Trek Much Better

• Waterproof boots – Your feet and ill-equipped running shoes will thank you.
• Crocs sandals – We were all jealous when we met a guy at Alto Campanas wearing a cozy pair of dry socks in Crocs sandals.
• A warm hat – Also known as a toque in Canadian. You'll want this at night and in the early morning when temperatures hover around freezing.
• Extra socks – …Especially if you don’t have waterproof boots. No matter how many pairs you bring, you’ll use them all.
• Bright colors – My red hat was a beacon for hummingbirds. A few even landed on it, probably mistaking it for one of the feeders of the same color. The more you look like a flower, the more you attract hummingbirds.

Make your hike easier by not packing more food than you need, but bring some luxuries if you’d like. The hike up to the Paramo del Sol isn't so hard you need to ration down to the last grain of rice or anything.

For example, we brought a 250 ml. juice box of rum up and mightily appreciated taking fiery swallows at night when it was too wet to get our campfire going.

Here’s the food we brought:

• 1st day lunch: Fiambres from El Punto de Sabor in Urrao’s town square (see: Map and Urrao Info below). Though our guide said these were like tamales, they're better described as bandeja Paisas wrapped in a banana leaf. They had rice, potato, chicharron, ground beef, a big chorizo. They were so big Chris suspected the name “fiambre” was derived from a mash-up of “finita la hambre.”
• Dinner: Dried pasta with a salsa made from powdered pasta sauce and powdered milk and some chopped up garlic.
• Drinks: Rum, Water.
• Breakfast: Granola and granola bars.

Don’t worry about water. Streams with fresh, clean water are abundant. We, and the others we met en route, all drank from it and we promise we're not writing this from a toilet seat.

How to Find a Guide?

Send a Whatsapp to Toño. His number is +57 310 330 2304. As Liz mentions in the comments, he's excellent.

Phillip did the hike in 2021 and left a comment recommending his guide, Brayan, too. His WhatsApp number +57 313 582 5484.

Do You Need a Guide?

We first thought 200,000 COP was overpriced for a guide, but it turned out to be an excellent investment.

Without Toño and Chano we wouldn’t have known the best routes and where the best water sources are, had access to the secret stash of gear and tarps on the paramo, learned interesting facts about the flora and fauna, and had the number of a taxi to pick us up after the hike.

But if you're an experienced hiker, have all the gear, and can find whichever route you want to follow on Maps.Me or elsewhere, and rather sacrifice on local knowledge to save money, you could get away without a guide.

How to Get to Urrao and the Paramo del Sol

Medellin to urrao.

Buses to Urrao leave from Medellin’s south terminal, take five hours, and cost about 30,000 pesos. Three different bus companies cover the route.

Important: Beware that the last bus from Urrao to Medellin leaves at 4 p.m.

If you come by car, it can take four hours instead of five to get between Medellin and Urrao, but you’ll probably take longer because you’ll want to stop along the way to properly absorb sights such as Cerro Tusa, the world’s tallest natural pyramid (which you can hike) and the death-defyingly steep coffee farms around Betulia.

Urrao to the Paramo del Sol Trailhead

The trailhead for the Paramo del Sol is about 40 minutes from town at what’s called la Terminal de Chuscal. You have three options to get there:

• Chiva: The public bus/cargo-vehicle/colorful-crate-on-wheels leaves daily at 5:15 a.m. and returns to town at 3:30 p.m.
• Taxi: From town it costs 50,000 to 60,000 COP
• Your own car: There is a small parking lot at the trailhead. It’s unguarded, but the owners of the four cars that were parked there when we went by didn’t seem to mind.

Tip: Write down the number of the taxis before setting off on your Paramo del Sol trek so that you can call one in advance to pick you up at the bottom of the hill.

Where to Stay in Urrao

For unparalleled hospitality:.

If you’re coming in your own car, Villa Laura ( Booking.com | Tripadvisor | Official Site ) is a can’t miss choice. Sandra, the owner, takes hospitality to levels as high as the Paramo del Sol itself.

To give you a couple examples, she made us breakfast at 4 a.m. before we set off on our hike and offered us hot tea, an empty room, and towels to clean up and warm up after our trek even though we weren’t staying there.

Villa Laura's rooms are tidy, in great shape, and affordable (about 60,000 COP per person per night).

For Convenient Location:

If you come by bus, you’re better off staying in town. We would’ve stayed at Hotel Colonial Urrao ( Booking.com | Google Reviews ) because it has great reviews and an ideal location right on Urrao's main square, where the chivas and taxis leave for the trailhead.

Help us help you: Wherever you stay in Urrao, if you book on Booking.com after clicking our links to the site, you'll be thanking us for this guide by rewarding us with a small percent of the booking at no extra cost to you.

Where to Eat in Urrao

Healthy pre-hike food.

Eco Tienda Urrao ( Facebook Page | Google Reviews ) uses local ingredients to prepare both vegetarian and meat-based meals. Service was slow but friendly. Even us meat-eaters preferred the veggie burger to the meat one.

Hearty Hike Food

As we mentioned in the Food section above, the fiambres from El Punto del Sabor (see Map) are enormous, hearty, portable, and cheap energy packs perfect for the hike up.

Sweet Cheese

Urrao’s famous artisanal treat is called queso dulce . Maybe it’s called queso because there’s milk in it, but it’s not cheese. It’s fudge. You can buy bricks of it all over town. We got some from the house right beside Villa Laura for 1,000 COP a brick, a third the price it was in town. It went well with tea.

For your reference, here’s a summary of some of the expenses you can expect on a Paramo del Sol trek:

• 200,000 COP total for a guide (2 days), including all the gear he can help you get ( Dec 2019 Update: A reader in the comments says they paid 300k for 3 days and got a stay and dinner with with Toño's mom the night before included.)
• 60,000 COP per person per night at Villa Laura
• 10,000 COP fiambres from Punto del Sabor
• 30,000 COP bus from Medellin to Urrao
• 5,000 COP chiva from Urrao to the Paramo del Sol trailhead
• 50,000 COP taxi from Urrao to the Paramo del Sol trailhead
• 11,000 COP dinner of a veggie burger with fries and salad from Eco Tienda restaurant in Urrao

Can Anything Top the Colombian Paramo?

In a literal sense, there's not much that can top the Colombian Paramo. The Paramo del Sol is the highest point in Antioquia after all.

But there are lots of adventures that come close—including hikes to waterfalls, pyramids, and prisons. And most are easily doable as day trips from Medellin. See our extensive list of hike guides here .

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Disclosure: Whenever possible, we use links that earn us a cut if you pay for stuff we recommend. It costs you nothing, so we'd be crazy not to. Read our affiliate policy .

38 thoughts on “An Unforgettable Trek in Colombia's Supernatural Paramo del Sol”

Thanks so much for the write up Chris, was great having you guys as company. What an adventure it was!

And thanks to your photos, because without them everyone who reads this would think I'm overexaggerating about how out-of-this-world the paramo is. Can't argue with those photos though.

Ahahaha I agree, nobody can't argue. It looks fu***ng amazing mate!! I've never heard about Paramo del Sol. You found, once again, a great place to explore ;). I HAVE to get there!

Do you know if you can rent rubber boots in Villa Laura or Urrao? And where did you book the tour? At Villa Laura?

Yeah, Tom, if you've got the chance, don't miss out.

Since we didn't know rubber boots were such a necessity until it was too late, we didn't rent them and don't know exactly who to ask. But as you suspected in your question, I bet Sandra can sort you out…. as long as your feet are Colombian-sized (size 10 or smaller). Size 12 and above might be a bit of an issue, since nobody sells shoes that size around the country. Laura can also hook you up with a guide—she was the one who connected us with our guides, Toño and Chano.

Hope you manage to sort out the trip and have an even better time than us. If you do, keep us posted on how it went.

Thanks so much for writing this fanstastic guide. Questions: how far in advance did you organise your guides, and would it be possible to book without staying at Laura’s? I’m thinking about going in a few days, but googling hasn’t yielded much more.

Hey Marielle. Our guides were booked pretty last-minute. We only met with Toño to make arrangements the evening before our hike and Chano was an unexpected (but pleasant) surprise. Even if you don't stay with Laura, there's no doubt she can put you in touch with him or another guide if need be. We're not exaggerating in saying how hospitable she is. I don't think she speaks English though, so if you don't speak Spanish you'll need to find someone to call her on your behalf.

If you could, please let us know what you end up sorting out so we can help future Paramo-ers out with your added insight.

Great blog bro so glad I found this little gem!

Whether the gem you're referring to is our site or the Paramo del Sol trek, we're glad you came across it! Gracias, Mark.

Hi, loved the write up so much we are thinking about going this weekend! (Its Nov 27 right now). But as its rainy season we are worried about it being super rainy, and were thinking it might be better to hold off until dry season say January? What's yr take on likelihood of endless miserable rain? Ideally we would have a clear summit morning..

Thanks in advance!

Dang, sorry we couldn't get back to you sooner Justin (we were lost somewhere on our "Hectic Route" in South Africa). In any case, I don't know the weather there well enough to know what to tell you other than suggest possibly asking Laura from Villa Laura. The trek definitely wouldn't be too pleasant if it's raining all the time.

Hi guys great trip report and great blog overall. We're nearing the start of a 7mo sabbatical trip and headed down and planning to do the trek. Any chance you have the contact info for the Tono?

Also, we're debating whether we try to drag our camping gear around with us or rent. We plan to do a fair amount of trekking while in SA but the idea of packing tent, stove, bag, pad) for 10-12 days of camping seems not smart. Any advice?

Hey Brandon – Sorry, we don't have Tono's contact, but Laura from Villa Laura would be able to give it to you. Jorge from Las Cometas Hostel, who did the trek with us, should have it too (you may want to spend some time in Jerico and hang out with him there anyways). As for whether to bring gear or not… we're not too helpful there, sorry, cuz this was the only real trek we did. Oh, I know: Ask our friend Oskar. He did way more trekking than us and brought his own gear. Ask him if he felt it was worth it, or if he would've been better off renting. You can find him at renounce_the_cubicle on Instagram and message him there.

Big thanks man! Keep up the great writing.

Hey. Thank you for this great guideline. I will be in Medellin in March and now I´m thinking about organizing this Trek. Do you know how I can contact your guides or how I could find a serioud guide online? I would like to plan things in advance but I´m not sure how to find a guide. Greetings from Germany Adrianna

Hey Adrianna. It's definitely a good idea to plan in advance. As I mentioned in previous comments, I don't have Toño's contact, so I recommend reaching out to Laura from Villa Laura or maybe even Jorge from Las Cometas Hostel in Jericho. Buen viaje!

Hey Adrianna, Our guide Toño just tagged us on Facebook out of the blue, so now I have his Facebook profile through which you can possibly contact him about guiding: here it is: https://www.facebook.com/antonio.restrepo.908

Hello there,

I have read your article with great interested and I want to do a similiar type of tour in the Paranamo. I have trouble finding a guide. Could you please give me the contact of your guide please? Or maybe you can recommend me an agency that offers these tours.

Your help is greatly appreciated. Looking forward to hearing from you.

All best Michael

Hello Michael. It just so happens that I found Toño's Facebook yesterday. (Actually he found me.) I shared it in response to the previous comment here and also linked to it in the post.

I reached out to Toño today about this trek, and the fee has been increased to 300.000 COP per person (!!!) for a trek of two nights and three days. Sadly, it doesn't seem to be very affordable anymore.

Hmmm… sounds like Toño's taking advantage of the PR this post is giving him. He's far from the only guide in town. I suggest reaching out to Laura of Villa Laura, or your host wherever you'll stay in Urrao, to ask if they know any other guides. There's no way prices should have jumped so much in just one year.

Update…the entrance fee fare for the non residents just changed on April 12, 2019, it is now COP50.000=

Thanks Diana! I really appreciate it, and so too will readers who will benefit from the correct info… and from a more reasonable park entrance fee! 50USD was crazy. COP50k makes sense.

Hi, I am reading this and sounds very interesting! Link to to the guide Tono (antonio restrepo) is broken, could you help me get in touch with him please? Tks for sharing all your experience!

Hi Simone. Yeah, it looks like Toño took down his FB profile. Since I don't have his phone number your best bet is then to reach out to Laura from Villa Laura and ask her for his contact or that of another guide.

How did you find your guide for the hike and was it necessary, or can my girlfriend and I hike it on our own, like is the trail well marked?

Hey Liz, I've updated this post with my answer and opinion on your two questions (see: Guides ).

We did the 2 days trek starting from yesterday. The bus ride is horrible (155km in 6 hours). The hike up is incredibly hard, we had quite a bit of rain (can happen). The reward at the top wasn't worth the trouble, compared to other hikes we did. But we couldn't make it to the top at the laguna, cause our guide (Alfonso, a really good one!) Said it was not possible today. Could not recommend this to anyone.

But the tips of the website here were very very helpfull, thank you! And if anyone wants a guide, our guide Alfonso gave us his telephone number and he has WhatsApp! 3113346983

Hey Katrijne. I'm really sorry your experience was nothing like ours. We too had some rain plus we dealt with miserable cold (mostly due to being unprepared), but were more than compensated by some of the sites I tried to describe. Sounds like you got the short end of the stick. Once again, I'm sorry about that. Thanks a ton for the contact of your guide. We get the question a lot, so I'm sure plenty of readers will benefit from it. All the best!

Thank you Chris and Kim for all the useful info and tips. My wife and I just completed a three-day trek with Tono. We can absolutely recommend it. I suppose we were quite lucky with the weather as there was no rain. I would say the trek is quite challenging and I'm not sure we would have been able to make it without a guide. It would have certainly been much more difficult and possibly less fun. The price was 300k/person. But it was well worth it as it included food and accommodation at Tono's mom the night before we set out.

Thanks to you Martin and Denisa for your comment. We're so happy you had a great time, too. You made our morning!

300k for 3 days, so at 100k/day it was the same as what we paid, but you got dinner and accommodation, too. $86US. What a deal!

Hi Kim and Chris! Thanks for the info. My husband and I did this hike last week without a guide, so your Wikiloc map came in handy!

I haven't seen any comments since COVID so I thought I'd write. We did your route in reverse, starting along the right side of your map up the Direct Route/Camino 14. We did this because a bunch of fellow hikers told us that the Hummingbird Route was closed because there was no bridge. However, by the top, many guides told us that the route was open, so we decided to go for it.

We descended along the Hummingbird Route and it was great! At the very bottom, there was no bridge to cross the river so we were about to ford it. But, then the ranger came out and made a bridge for us with a few planks of wood. We tried to pay but he didn't accept it, so we passed through (after 9 AM) without paying at all.

The one change from your Wikiloc map is that a farmer planted a new field right in the middle of the Hummingbird Route near the start of the trail. It's very well fenced off with barbed wire, so I'd recommend staying on the Direct Route/Camino 14 up until the covered wooden bridge then beelining up the hill to meet up with the Hummingbird Route.

Thanks again, guys!

Hey Alex. Nice to hear from you again! Thanks for the updated info. I'm going to put this above so everyone sees it.

Hello! I am looking to do this hike in April 2021. Since this post was written, COVID has changed everything, especially security in the country. Can you comment on how you got to Urrao (I'm guessing by bus?). And if you felt making the transfer from MDE to Urrao was safe. Thanks a bunch! ~Phillip

Hi! Just got back from Paramo del Sol! It was AMAZING. We did a 3 day, 2 night trip.

One word of warning. It's extremely wet out there. Get the boots!

If anyone is looking for a good guide, we had Brayan Flores leading us through the Paramo. He was great – knew all the routes, showed us hummingbirds & orchids, took us to a spectacular peak overlooking Urrao. He speaks basic English. Took really good to of us!

Contact info for Brayan: WhatsApp +57 313 5825484

We met Toño too, but he couldn't go due to a family emergency. Brayan was just as great!

Oh, also, GET THE BOOTS!

Hey Phillip. Glad to hear you had just as wet and wonderful of a time as we did. And thanks so much for sharing Brayan's contact. I've added it to the Guides section of the post.

Hello guys!

I'm Liz, I just came down from the paramo del sol and it was absolutely lovely. I had two incredible starry nights, I saw the Milky Way and dozens of shooting stars, in addition to the most beautiful sunrise and sunset I have ever seen. I went with Toño and he made the journey an unforgettable experience. I do not know other guides, but he has a particular charm, his mystery, magic and discretion made him an excellent guide to walk the mountain. The paramo del sol is a place between the mountains that is as beautiful as the sea but closer to the stars.

This is Toño's Whataspp: (+57) 310 330 2304.

Glad to hear it. And big thanks for Toño's number! I've updated the post accordingly.

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• Lost City Trek (4 days)
• Lost City Trek (5 days)

Lost City Trek (6 days)

Come and discover the Lost City of Colombia.

You can choose your hike intensity according to your capabilities or the number of days you want to spend in contact with nature., a unique and amazing experience that you will never forget, you can choose your hike intensity according to your capabilities or the number of days you want to spend in contact with the nature., what is included in the lost city tour.

ACCOMODATION

The accommodation during the tour is in hammocks, beds or tents, depending on availability. We provide mosquito nets and blankets.

Typical food prepared by local chefs and fruits and snacks during walks.

TRANSPORTATION

Round trip transfers from the hotel or where you stay to the starting point of the tour (El Mamey) in 4WD vehicles.

Our professional guides are from the region trained by SENA, with years of experience.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

During the Lost City Trek, you will have a medical assistance insurance that cover accidents and illness occurred during the tour.

ENTRANCE TO THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

During the Lost City Trek, you will have medical assistance insurance that covers accidents and illness occurred during the tour.

Lost City Trek Colombia

The Lost City is located in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia. The diversity of fauna and flora of the road, the opportunity to interact with the indigenous communities that inhabit it and the conditions of the trail, have made the tour to the Lost City one of the best treks in South America .

The Lost City  is the best opportunity to connect with nature and prove yourself everything you are capable of. Doing the Lost City Trek will allow you to know part of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia . You will also have the opportunity to have direct contact with the Kogui ; who still preserve the traditions of the Tayronas, the first inhabitants of the Lost City. If you want to know more information about the Lost City , clic here!

CHOOSE THE BEST TOUR FOR YOU

We offer you three options to do the Lost City Trek: Adventurous (4 days tour), Knowing nature (5 days tour) and Trek Slow (6 days tour). You can choose your hike intensity according to your capabilities or the number of days you want to spend in contact with the nature.

Lost City Trek (6 days) The Lost City Trek (6 days) is ideal for people […]

Lost City Trekking (5 days)

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Trekking to Ciudad Perdida (4 days)

Trekking to Ciudad Perdida The Trekking to Ciudad Perdida (4 days) is the most adventurous […]

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Tourism and Peace The route to Lost City “Teyuna” in the Sierra Nevada de Santa […]

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We are a tourism agency specialized in the Lost City Trek Colombia , with more than 10 years of experience, offering a complete service to our tourists.

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The Lost City Trek in Colombia – Everything You Need to Know

Trekking to the Lost City in Colombia

Sweat dropped from my eyelashes onto my sunglasses, obscuring my view. I could not remember ever having been this hot.

Ten meters in front of me, José-Luis, our indigenous Wiwa guide did not seem bothered by the heat at all. He kept running up the hill as if this was a walk in the park, not the beginning of a five-day hike that would take us to the Lost City.

Located in the Sierra Nevada in Northern Colombia, the Lost City ( Ciudad Perdida in Spanish ) was built by the Tayrona people from the 7th century on, some 650 years earlier than Machu Picchu .

Not much is known about its history. When the Spaniards arrived, the indigenous population abandoned the city and destroyed all of the paths leading there. It wasn’t discovered until the 1970s, when looters came across it and started searching for valuable artifacts.

These days, the Lost City is one of Colombia’s most remote, yet at the same time also most famous, tourist attractions .

Since it can only be reached on foot, visitors do not have a choice but to trek here.

If you are thinking about doing the Lost City trek, in this guide I’ll try to share everything you need to know about hiking to the Ciudad Perdida (Lost City).

Before You Start the Lost City Trek

1. Choosing Your Tour Operator

At the moment, the Lost City cannot be reached independently. All travelers have to go on this track with a licensed tour operator.

There are five companies that can take you there and all are based in the coastal city of Santa Marta (which can easily be reached by bus from Cartagena or by plane from Bogota, Medellín , and other destinations).

When choosing a tour operator, make sure to ask a lot of questions. Here are a few things you might want to consider:

Length of the trek – The shortest trek to the Lost City is four days, the longest option is six days. I will give you more information on this later.

Included meals – All meals on the Lost City trek should be included, but some companies do not offer lunch on the last day. This means you might not get any food until the evening.

Responsible Tourism – Do they give back to indigenous communities? Do they treat the locals with respect?

Optional activities – Depending on the length of your chosen hike, you might have optional activities included. This could be a short excursion to a waterfall or a visit to an indigenous community. Ask in advance if you are interested in any of these.

I went with G Adventures, who cooperate with Wiwa Tours. We had two tour guides, one from G Adventures and one from Wiwa Tours, who belongs to the indigenous Wiwa community. I got to learn about his culture and traditions along the way, which was a great bonus.

2. Choose the Length of the Trek

Once you have chosen your tour company, you need to decide on the length of your Lost City trek.

The minimum is four days, the maximum is six days.

If you go for four days, you will have four long days of hiking. The five-day treks break up the way back, so you can take more time and rest or swim in waterfalls. The six-day treks will give you lots of time to enjoy the jungle.

I did five days and personally, I think that is the best option. Four days can seem rushed whereas six days are too long.

At the end of day five, I was more than happy to leave the jungle and take a long shower in our hotel room to wash that mixture of sweat, DEET, sunscreen lotion and dust off my skin.

Also Read: A Personal Story of Getting Dengue While Traveling & How to Prevent It

3. Best Season for the Lost City Trek

The Ciudad Perdida can be visited almost year-round.

In September, it is closed for reparations and also for a cleansing ceremony by local people, for whom this is a sacred place. That period of closing used to last for two weeks, but after the Lost City got hit by a hurricane for the first time in 2017, it closed for a whole month.

Ask the tour operators, they will know when and for how long the site is closed exactly.

The hike to the lost city can be done both during the dry and the wet season.

Dry season lasts from December to March and means less rain and lower water levels. The trek includes a couple of river crossings. In high season, the water can reach up to your chest whereas when I went, in March, it did not even go up to my knees.

4. What to Pack for the Lost City Trek

Now that you have decided on your tour operator, the length of the trek and have set a date on which to go, you need to pack.

You have to carry your own luggage, so make sure not to take too much. The hike to the Lost City is already exhausting enough without having to carry useless items.

Here Is What I Packed for Hiking to the Lost City & What I Recommend:

• A good backpack for all your hiking essentials . If possible choose a backpack with a waist strap so it is more comfortable to carry.
• 1 set of hiking clothes – I hiked in shorts and a light t-shirt, which I wore every day. By the evening, my t-shirt was soaked in sweat, so I washed it and put it on again the next morning. Due to humidity, clothes do not dry. If you have a t-shirt for every day, you will end up with a bag of sweaty, used shirts that are constantly wet and will smell more and more moldy. Take one set of clothes instead, wash it in the evening, and put it on again the next day.
• 1 set of comfortable clothes/pajamas – After having showered in the evening, you will want a set of clean clothes that you can put on. These also serve as your pajamas. Long sleeves and long trousers are best, to protect you from insect bites.
• Hiking shoes.
• Flip flops or sandals to wear in the camp.
• Toiletries – soap, shampoo, toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, and a hairbrush.
• Sunscreen lotion.
• Insect repellent – be prepared to use this a lot. The mosquitos and sandflies have no mercy.
• Head torch – electricity switches off at nine at the latest, so you need a flashlight.
• Emergency medication – take everything you have to take regularly, some painkillers, and anything you might want in case of an upset stomach.
• Towel – a small, lightweight towel that dries quickly works best.
• Swimsuit – for swimming in rivers and waterfalls.
• A power bank or spare batteries – while there is electricity, sockets are limited and you might not get a chance to charge your electronic devices.
• Rain cover for your backpack – in wet season, bring a large garbage bag to keep it dry during the river crossings. Also, bring an extra zip lock bag to keep your electronics safe.
• Light jacket – the humidity can make the nights seem cold.
• Sleeping bag liner – bring one if you have one. If not, blankets are provided at most camps.
• Trekking poles – if it rains, the trail gets wet and muddy and these help a lot.
• 2 water bottles of 1L each – you can refill those at various places along the way.

On the Lost City Trek

1. Itinerary

I have decided not to break this down into a day-by-day itinerary as, depending on your tour operator, this will vary.

Instead, I am going to provide you with the approximate information that you need, so that you have an idea of what to expect.

The hike to the Lost City starts in the small town of Machete . It takes about two hours by jeep to get there.

If you leave Santa Marta early in the morning and it is a very clear day, you could be lucky and get a view of the snowy twin peaks of the Sierra Nevada on the way to Machete. They play a huge role in the life of indigenous tribes who believe that this is where their gods live (fun fact: their white clothing represents the snowy peaks).

From Machete, you start walking uphill. The first part of the trek takes you through farmland with barely any cover, so make sure to put on sunscreen and stay hydrated.

Depending on where you spend the night, you will either have another downhill and uphill ahead of you or you will have to conquer the next hill in the morning.

On the afternoon of the first day or the morning of the second day, you will reach the jungle. From there on, you have more cover from the sun, but the trail remains a constant up and down. There are barely any flat parts and the heat makes hiking especially difficult.

You’ll come past a local Kogui village and after a couple more up- and downhills, you will have to do your first river crossing. Depending on the water level, this can be very easy or challenging.

The good news is, shortly afterward, you will reach the Paraiso campsite, which is the base camp for the ascent to the Lost City.

Depending on your tour operator, you’ll see the Ciudad Perdida on the afternoon of day two or on the morning of day three.

To get to the Lost City, you have to once more cross the river and climb up 1200 steps. Leave everything you don’t need at Paraiso – you will return the same way.

After spending some time in the Lost City, you have to walk back down. The way back is exactly the one that you took to get there. Every single downhill is now an uphill and vice versa.

Depending on the length of your trek, you might have half a day to rest and swim in a river or waterfall.

2. Accommodation During the Lost City Trek

All accommodation along the trek is basic, with shared showers and toilets. You will either sleep in a bed or in a hammock, depending on availability.

Some beds had blankets and pillows on them, while others didn’t. If you are missing them, ask your tour guide and he can organize them for you.

The nights can be colder than you think, with humidity creeping in.

When sleeping in a hammock, you need to completely wrap the blanket around you or your back will get cold. At the same time, you need to balance so you don’t fall out of the hammock. It takes a bit of practice but it’s not impossible. Good luck!

Oh and for the workaholics and internet addicts amongst us: you won’t find wifi on the Lost City trek and there is no cell phone reception so you will be going off the grid for a few days!

3. Food and Drinks on the Lost City Trek

As mentioned above, the meals you get while trekking to the Lost City are included in the package.

Since all food has to be transported by mule, they are usually simple dishes, while at the same time tasty and filling.

Our cook trekked with us, running ahead of us every day to make sure she could start with lunch and dinner preparations before we arrived.

Besides breakfast, lunch, and dinner, we also got a small snack box every day and had various stops along the trail where we ate fresh fruit. A hot drink was included for dinner and we could refill our water bottles at the camps.

Along the way, you will find many shops that sell drinks; usually water, Gatorade, coke, and beer. Prices increase as you get closer to the Ciudad Perdida. But, considering that everything has to be transported by mule, they are still reasonable.

The Lost City Trek: Summing it Up

The Lost City trek is a lot of fun.

Expect to get sweaty and muddy along the way, and to fall asleep at nine at the latest because you are too exhausted to stay awake. In return, you get to experience Colombia’s jungle, the indigenous cultures and, of course, you get to see the remains of a large Tayrona city.

Don’t worry too much. The hike might be exhausting but many have done it before.

And if you really feel you can’t do the hike , you can always hire a mule to take you there and back again.

I hope you will enjoy the Lost City Trek as much as I did!

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9 thoughts on “The Lost City Trek in Colombia – Everything You Need to Know”

Awesome, your feedback is amazing, I will certainly do the trek

Hi Mark, That’s great to hear! I hope you’ll have a great experience 🙂 And if you have any other tips to share afterwards of course feel free to leave another comment!

If you are including the trek as part of a longer South America adventure, you’re unlikely to have much say in when you do the hike – it’ll just be ‘when you get to Colombia’. If however you’re heading to this part of the world for a much shorter trip, you’ll want to consider weather conditions before booking. The northern part of Colombia has two seasons – dry and wet. Both are incredibly hot and incredibly humid, but between the months of May and September you can add torrential downpours into the mix. People continue to do and enjoy this trek in the wet season – including a friend who enjoyed her rainy experience so much last time, that she wants to do it again – but it is not without its challenges.

Thank you very much! I’m glad you found this post helpful. Should you ever go to Colombia, I can highly recommend the Lost City trek. Yes, it is long, but I’ve found it very exciting to go on such a long trek into the jungle. And I was surprised by the quality of the accommodation, it was far better than I thought it would be.

It is a very doable adventure. Thank you, I am glad you found the guide useful. And I think braving the humidity is totally worth it. Yes, it was exhausting, but it was also one of the highlights of my South America trip.

I have never been on a trek that lasts so long! The Lost City trek sounds pretty exciting, it’s good that they allow only licensed tour operators, I guess its always better to go with reliable people and in a group. The trek looks pretty good and it seems that the accommodation is also quite comfortable. Thanks for a comprehensive list of things to carry, should someone decide to go on this trek. It’s a helpful post!

That does sound like a very doable adventure. Very clear picture of what to expect when trekking to the Lost City, and lots of useful, practical advice. Now if only I could bring myself to brave the humidity!

Hello Susanne, Colombia is definitely a great place to go trekking!

As for responsible tourism, I think both G Adventures and Wiwa Tours are a great choice. They work with the indigenous population, for whom the Ciudad Perdida is a sacred place. It is a great chance to learn more about their culture and it also helps the indigenous population to make money without having to move to the cities and to leave their heritage behind.

Oh my gosh, my husband and I have been looking into South America trekking and I had not thought about Colombia. I loved how you broke this down and I feel like I would now know how to prepare if we go to the Lost City. I’m big into responsible tourism, you said to look into who is responsible, but was the company you worked with the best option, do you think?

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The Complete Guide To The Lost City Trek Colombia

• Backpacking
• November 16, 2021 November 16, 2021
• Backpacking , colombia , Lost City , Trekking

Guide to the Lost City Trek Colombia or Ciudad Perdida Tour, has been at the top of my ‘to do’ list since I arrived in Colombia. Despite reading a lot of different blogs and speaking to others I still felt unsure what to expect leading up to the trek. So, to help you be as prepared as you can for taking on this challenging hike here is my complete guide to  The Lost City Trek .

The Colombia Lost City Trek

The Ciudad Perdida trek is a 46 km (28 miles) hike through the Sierra Nevada mountains. It is a jungle trek, so think hot and humid!

After day one you will be completely ‘off road’ and the only mode of transport other than your legs is a mule. The Ciudad Perdida hike takes you through the jungle to visit the abandoned city known locally as ‘Teyuna’.

It is believed that the city was founded in 800 CE (FYI that’s 650 years before Machu Picchu). The Lost City was ‘rediscovered’ in 1972 by a father and son who began to loot the site. After the ancient artifacts began to appear on the black market Colombian Archeologists found out about the site and began reconstruction, which was finished in 1982.

What is the food link on the Lost City Trek?

As a vegetarian food on tours is always a bit of an issue for me. When you are doing something this physical you need to be well fed to sustain your energy. I can honestly say that I was really, really well fed over the 3 days. In fact, I was so well fed I didn’t eat my snacks! I ended up giving away all my snacks as I didn’t want to carry them around anymore. We had a whole catering team who traveled with us.

They were total rockstars! The food was incredible and we were told right at the start that if we wanted more food all we had to do is ask.

Is the Lost City Trek in english or spanish?

This is a general thing in South America. If you don’t speak Spanish you need to make sure you communicate this to the tour operator.

Some operators will charge you extra for having the tour in English. Either because they will need to provide you with a translator or they will need a guide who speaks English, this is seen as an extra skill so the guide could be better paid. With Magic Tour Colombia, we had both a Spanish and English speaking guide at no extra cost.

If you need the tour in English make sure to request this when  booking .

What To Pack For The Ciudad Perdida Tour

Rule number 1, only take what you absolutely need!

You are going to have to carry this stuff on your back for 4 days. This is what I would suggest taking with you.

• Small hiking backpack – make sure you have a waist strap (for comfort) and a place to keep your water for easy access.
• Quick-dry towel
• Hiking boots/ Hiking sandals/ sneakers with a good grip
• 4 pairs of socks
• 4 t-shirts to walk in (ideally these would be quick dry)
• 2-4 pairs of shorts/ long pants/ leggings
• Sun Care products
• Bug spray – super important!
• Toilet paper
• Mini first aid kit (Make sure you have ibuprofen and plasters)

What To Expect On The Ciudad Perdida Trek

In this section, I’m going to talk you through each day of the trek. To be clear this is my personal experience of it. Everyone experiences it differently depending on their fitness and preferences, I have tried to be as neutral as possible, but this was my experience of the  Lost City trek with Magic Tour .

Be sure to get a good night’s sleep and eat a decent breakfast! We were picked up at the hotel at 8:45 and taken to the magictour office. This is to sort out the paperwork, pay the final balance and listen to the pre-trip brief. We drove for approximately 2.5 hours to El Mamey.

We had lunch at Restaurant Edel Mira in El Mamey at 1 pm followed by a more detailed pre-hike talk from our guide Tomas. Using the map, he talked us through each day of the trek letting us know what to expect. Then we started the hike, from here you will have no phone service until you return after the hike.

On day one you have 3 hours of hiking. This was the worse day for me. The hike was brutal! It’s all uphill, you are at a low elevation so it’s still very hot, there is little shade and my bag was at its heaviest due to water. Plus it was a bit of a shock to my body after being sat in class for 4 weeks prior to this.

Be warned you will have early starts every day! We were up at 5 am, breakfast at 5:30 and on the trail by 6 am. Expect a lot of uphill in the morning, but as you are shaded and it is early it’s pretty cool. We stopped at an indigenous village to learn more about it. This village is still in use but just for special occasions and celebrations.

After 3.5 hours of hiking, we then stopped for a swim and lunch. BEST. THING. EVER. after all of that walking. If you get lucky and it is sunny you can hang your clothes up to dry. We did get lucky and in an hour managed to dry everything off. This was the only time this happened during the trek! From here on expect to be wet!

The afternoon hike was tough (but not as tough as the day before). The views are spectacular during the pm so take your time and soak it all in.  You will have to walk through a river so make sure you wear shorts on day 2!  If you have hiking sandals now is a good time to wear them! Otherwise, you will need to take off your boots to cross the river.

On night 2 everyone for all of the tour groups stays together in Paradise Camp. Because of so many people, a lot of the groups slept in hammocks. Lucky for me Magic Tour made sure most of us had a bed. A few of the younger group members who volunteered to sleep in a hammock. There was a river to swim in here, but as you are at a higher altitude it is COLD. So I gave it a miss, the cold shower was enough for me!

The big day! Be sure to get up early and get ready to leave at 6 am. You will be able to lock your bag up in a storeroom and all of the groups leave at a different time to avoid ‘congestion’ on the trail. The hike to Teyuna in the morning is pretty short compared to the other days. But it’s 1000+ steps up! Great workout for your butt though.

It actually wasn’t so bad. But save some energy for when you get there as the Lost City is built on the side of the mountain so you will keep climbing up if you want to get the iconic photo.

Once we had finished exploring the Lost City we continued on to see a traditional casa up close, where If you get lucky you will get to meet the Mamo (leader of the Kogi people living in the area).

Here we learned more about the indigenous people of the 4 tribes Kogi, Wiwa, Kankuamo, and Arhuaco. After passing many Kogis and Wiwas it was so interesting to learn more about them.

My ‘Little’ accident

On my way back not long after leaving the camp, I fell pretty badly and I managed to sprain my ankle and twist my knee. It was a bit of a shock and I’m not going to lie I was pretty worried! Mostly because I knew I had another 22km to go and my only option other than walking was to get a mule! Having had many injuries as a dancer I’m well acquainted with ankle sprains so I knew my best bet was to get straight up and keep walking.

So that’s what I did. I activated my yoga breathing and just kept going. It was hard, I was in a lot of pain but Tomas stayed with me checking in and making sure I was OK. When I got back to camp I cried! I think part relief I’d managed to do it and part pain! I was worried about it swelling and not being able to walk the next day so I went to bed early with a tone of arnica and ibuprofen!

Because of my ‘little accident’, I was pretty nervous about today. Especially as I knew a lot of it was downhill (which was so much more painful than uphill). I’m pretty stubborn so I decided I was going to try and at least walk the first 3 hours back to camp 1 and after that, I would be able to get a Moto back. I did send my backpack on a mule for 20Mil though!

I was slow and careful and it wasn’t much fun. So I can’t really tell you much about day 4 as I spent most of it heavy breathing with my head down focusing on putting one foot in front of the other! When going uphill I felt nothing and dreaded going downhill. In some ways, I think my focus and breathing actually made it easier!

Anyway, after making it back to camp 1 I decided I had to finish this on foot or I would just be super disappointed in myself. So I just kept going! I may have been slow but I made it all the way back and felt so proud of myself. It wasn’t a terrible time either and I wasn’t the last in our group back surprisingly!

I got a round of applause from my group for making it, we all had a beer and another great meal before heading back to Santa Marta!

Final Thoughts This hike was a huge challenge mentally and physically. But I LOVED it. Even with my injury. I’m also really glad I went with Magic Tour, once again they were incredible and I felt so well looked after by them. All of the groups have the same cost, they don’t all have this level of service though. If you are planning on doing the hike I highly recommend choosing them as your tour guides.

Author: Claires Itchy Feet. Visit his blog here

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You are here: Home » Treks Around the World » The Lost City, Colombia: A Guide to Hiking to La Ciudad Perdida

The Lost City, Colombia: A Guide to Hiking to La Ciudad Perdida

Last Updated on January 6, 2023 by Audrey Scott

The hike to the Lost City in northern Colombia takes you 46km (28 miles) round trip through the jungles, hills and river valleys of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. We’d had our sights set on the Lost City Trek for years, so expectations had built up. Fortunately, the challenge, landscape, and experience exceeded so many of them.

This Lost City Columbia Hiking Guide shares why that is and includes a day-by-day overview of the Lost City Trek, all you need to know to choose the right tour, how to pack and organize so that you can enjoy the Ciudad Perdida and this multi-day hike to the fullest.

We were out of breath, having just climbed 1,200 stone steps when Celso, our indigenous guide, called for us to join him around a group of stones arranged in a circle in a clearing. In the middle of the circle stood another square stone on top of which lay a pile of coca leaves placed as an offering. Celso explained with trademark calm in a slow, deliberate voice, “This is a place where we should let go of our impurities, our negative thoughts and emotions.”

We stood in silence, not only to “cleanse” ourselves so that we might better experience this sacred site, but also to enjoy its peace and quiet. To Celso, we were then prepared to further visit Teyuna, otherwise known as the Lost City ( La Ciudad Perdida ) in Colombia, the ultimate destination to which we’d been trekking in the rain forest for the previous two days.

Here’s why you might want to consider putting the Lost City or Ciudad Perdidia in Colombia on your travel or hiking wish list , in case it isn’t there already. In this Lost City Colombia Guide we include the day-by-day hiking experience plus all you need to know about to choose a Lost City tour and how plan, prepare for and pack to be able to enjoy the complete Lost City Colombia experience.

Update: This article was originally published in June 2015 and updated in May 2022 with information about the new G Adventures Lost City Trek itinerary.

The following experiences are from our G Adventures Lost City Trek . If you are considering this tour and want to know what to expect, here’s a taste of the itinerary and route, interaction with local indigenous guides, campsites and Wiwa community project. Disclosure: This tour was sponsored and provided to us in conjunction with our partnership with G Adventures as Wanderers .

Table of Contents

About this Lost City Colombia Trek Guide

When I researched the Lost City Trek as part of our travels in Colombia , I found a fair bit of conventional history about the site, often paired with a photo or two of the final destination, including what I refer to as the “golf course” shot.

What I didn’t find much of was information on what the actual journey to the Lost City was like, including the hiking experience, difficulty, landscapes, sleeping and eating conditions, weather, and more. That's the goal of this Lost City Trek day-by-day section.

The landscape along the trail is more beautiful and varied than we had expected and the Lost City site itself is far more extensive than most photos indicate. We especially appreciated having an indigenous guide to put everything into cultural and historical context.

Celso, a member of the local Wiwa indigenous community, shared his culture with us and linked it to the other indigenous communities, their relationship to nature and their shared connection to the ancient Tayrona civilization.

Our days usually began early, around 5:00 A.M., so we could get on the trail while it was still cool and so that we could complete our day’s journey before the rains of the mid-late afternoon. We appreciated getting up early, and we enjoyed all the benefits of the early morning – light, coolness and silence among them.

Lost City Trek Map

The map below shows the basic Lost City trail with different options for campsites and sections. We did a four-day hike, but if you opt for a five-day Lost City trek then your second and third days will be shorter as you'll have two days to complete that same route. The current G Adventures Lost City Trek is five days.

Hiking to the Lost City in Colombia: Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1 of the lost city trek.

• Start/Finish: Machete (El Mamey) to Adán or Ricardito Camp (Campsite #1)
• Distance: 7-8 km

All Lost City treks, no matter which tour company you choose, seem to set off from Santa Marta in northern Colombia. From there, a jeep or van transfer takes 45 minutes along the highway.

You’ll likely stop at a convenience store for last minute snacks and water. From there, you’ll head up a dirt track into the mountains.

After you arrive in Machete, you’ll have lunch, say goodbye to the driver and meet your local indigenous hiking guide. Then, the hike begins. ( Note: this is when you should ask the people coming off the trek if they have a walking stick they can give you. It is really helpful for balance and ease on the trail.)

The beginning of the walk eases you into things, with a swimming hole a close 25 minutes from the trailhead. After cooling off in the water, you’ll have a steep uphill for around 45 minutes, then a bit of a break, then a long descent into the valley where the first campsite is located.

Day 2 of the Lost City Trek

• Start/Finish: Adan or Ricardito Campsite #1 to El Paraiso or Paso Lorenzo Camp (Campsite #3)
• Distance: 14.7km ( Note: for the 5-day Lost City Trek this day is 7-8 km)

If you are doing a 4-day Lost City Trek, then this is a long hiking day. If you are doing a 5-day route like the G Adventures Lost City Trek then this will be a similar distance as the previous day, 7-8 km, to Wiwa Camp (Campsite #2).

The first segment of the day takes you uphill and across some beautiful terrain, including some local farms. After a jump in a swimming hole and lunch at Campsite #2 (Wiwa Camp), we continued all the way to Campsite #3 (El Paraiso or Paso Lorenzo Camp), located only 1 km downhill from the site of the Lost City.

If you are doing the 5-day Lost City Trek, then you would stop at Campsite #2 for the night.

This day takes you through a great deal of varied landscape — deeper into the tropical jungle, across rivers and by a couple of Kogi village communities along the way.

Day 3 of the Lost City Trek: Visiting La Cuidad Perdida

• Start/Finish: El Paraiso or Paso Lorenzo Camp (Campsite #3) to Wiwa Camp (Campsite #2), via the Lost City / Ciudad Perdida
• Distance: 13.6km
• Note: This is day 4 if you are doing a 5 day Lost City Trek.

You rise very early on this day (around 4:30A.M.) so that you can set off at dawn and enjoy the Lost City in the softest light and coolest air possible. After a short walk from the campsite, you reach the starting point of the 1,200 stone stairs you’ll need to walk and scramble to reach the terraces of the city above.

It’s not an easy climb, and can be a bit treacherous if wet or damp, but if you take care and get into a meditative rhythm, you’ll find it goes very quickly.

After the steps, you’ll have reached the lower chambers of Teyuna, also known as The Lost City or Ciudad Perdida. It is believed that this was a capital city built by the Tayrona civilization in 800 A.D., approximately 600 years before the Incas built Machu Picchu in Peru .

When Spanish colonialists came close to finding or approaching the in the 16th century, the Tayrona people opted to abandon the city instead of allowing it to fall into Spanish hands.

Of course, the Lost City Colombia was never truly “lost.” Teyuna was overtaken by jungle for the next several hundred years, as only the shaman (holy men) of the four indigenous groups who live in the area were aware of its existence and would visit it regularly for ceremonies.

It wasn’t until the early 1970s that the site was “discovered” by the outside world. Tomb thieves cleared out much of the gold, valuable artifacts and other remains. Due to this misfortune and the fact that no written record of the Tayrona exists, much about the city and civilization remains the subject of speculation.

The Wiwa, Kogi, Arhuaco, and Kankuamo indigenous groups that remain in the area are believed to be the descendants of the Tayrona and have carried on their stories and traditions.

We noticed when we arrived at the Lost City, Celso let down his hair, the surprising length of which is said to represent the wisdom that flows from the sacred mountains through the rivers to the coast. He was dressed in white, as was his custom, to represent the purity and integrity of the snow-covered peaks of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, out of sight in the distance.

Throughout our journey, he shared stories that had been passed on to him, through generations, from shaman to shaman, from elders to children, about the Lost City / Ciudad Perdida. The stories told of its creation, the symbolism of the different terraces, and the Tayrona relationship with nature.

The indigenous people that inhabit the area around the Lost City in Colombia believe they are the symbolic “elder brothers,” there to protect both the sacred Sierra Nevada Mountains and their “younger brothers” – meaning the rest of us.

The sense of responsibility to the equilibrium and the good and health of others was evident.

After your visit to Teyuna, the Lost City, you return to El Paraiso or Paso Lorenzto Camp (Campsite #3) for a quick lunch and begin your return all the way to Wiwa Camp (Campsite #2).

For us, we were met with an afternoon downpour that made it feel as though we were skiing through mud crevasses in the rain forest. We were glad for the experience. It was actually more delightful than it sounds as the rain was warm and everything around was so green and lush drinking in the much appreciated water.

Day 4 of the Lost City Trek

Start/Finish: Wiwa Camp (Campsite #2) to Machete and Santa Marta Distance: 12.7km This is another early rise since much of the trail is uncovered and therefore becomes quite hot as the day goes on. Try to make it as far as you’re able before the sun becomes too strong.

As you’ll remember from your first day, much of the trail is up or down, without much in between. After a stop for fruit at the first campsite and a jump in the swimming hole, you find yourself back where you began, with a celebratory lunch in Machete.

Then you'll transfer by vehicle to Santa Marta for a nice, hot shower and to reunite with the rest of your stuff.

Lost City Trek Difficulty and Hiking Conditions

We’d give this trek a medium-high difficulty ranking for all the reasons we’re about to elaborate. This means that you should not require special training to hike the Lost City Colombia trail, but you should be relatively active and in good physical shape.

You should either be accustomed to or be prepared for day-long treks with steep, slow uphill climbs and long walks in intense heat and humidity.

Lost City Trek is Not a Technical Trail

The Lost City Trek is not at all technical, meaning that you will not need any special equipment (e.g., climbing ropes or other fittings). The trail is well-maintained and for the most part, it’s an easy path to follow. But, it’s necessary to have a guide to navigate the rivers and some turns.

You’ll have to cross a few streams or rivers — with river shoes on or with your shoes and socks in your hand — but that is part of the fun.

Altitude, Steep Hills and Valleys

Altitude is not really an issue, as the trek’s highest point is around 1,500 meters/4,920 feet. However, the Lost City trail seems to either be straight up or straight down without much flat so there's a lot of steep ascents and descents on the trail.

Our advice is to take it slow and steady on the uphill. Keep in mind that it’s not a race. It’s better to hike deliberately and slowly and take fewer breaks than to go quickly and wear yourself out with frequent and longer stops to recover.

Heat and Humidity

One of the challenges of the Lost City Colombia Trek is the combination of heat and humidity. I’m not sure we’ve ever poured sweat with such intensity and consistency. It actually felt great, like a cleansing process.

Just be sure that you drink plenty of water to replenish. Note that respite from the heat comes a couple of times a day in the form of rivers and swimming holes to jump into.

Bugs Along the Trail

Another challenge and irritation of this trek: bugs and their bites. There are lots of them, especially mosquitoes at the Lost City itself. We suggest applying plenty of bug repellent (bring on the DEET if you need to).

If you are especially susceptible to mosquito bites consider hiking in long trousers as Dan did. Finally, pick up a pack of generic B-complex tablets (“Compejo-B generico” runs 25 pills for $1.00) in a pharmacy in Santa Marta before the hike, as certain B vitamins are said to repel mosquitoes.

Another thing to watch out for are fleas and/or bedbugs in the hammocks and/or blankets at the campsites – this is where we collected most of our bug bites (especially campsite #2). We recommend carrying a sleep sack , so that you have another layer of protection while you are sleeping.

Finally, check your body closely for ticks when you emerge from the Lost City Trek. We each had a few on us; they are very tiny and difficult to see, so look closely. (Note: For advice on how to properly remove a tick, check out this article .)

Rain and Mud Along the Lost City Trail

We had been warned plenty about rain and mud, but didn’t find wet weather too much of a hindrance. Yes, it rained from time to time (usually mid-afternoon), but it was often so hot anyway that the cool rain was welcome.

Be certain any valuable electronic gear is well-protected and any dry sleeping clothes are at least wrapped in plastic (e.g., ziploc, garbage bags or a dry sack ) inside your backpack. Then, have an outer backpack cover to protect your backpack from the elements.

If you fall in the mud, just go with the flow and don’t think about it too much. You can always wash yourself and your clothes later.

Best Time to Hike the Lost City Trail

While you will experience heat and humidity almost all year round in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of northern Colombia as it is a rain forest, there is still a rainy and dry season. December through March is considered the dry season and so it often is considered the bet time to hike the Lost City Trek.

In general, May through September is considered the rainy season for the region. This means expect more downpours and higher river crossings. That doesn't mean that you should avoid those months altogether as the rain can be a welcome relief from the heat and provide an interesting experience. For example, we did our G Adventures Lost City Trek in early June and thought the few rainfalls were kind of pleasant and added to the experience.

Note: The Lost City Trail is usually closed in September for trail maintenance and to do upkeep on the campsites and other services.

Lost City Trek Food

You will certainly not go hungry on the Lost City Trek. Each group is assigned a cook and not only will you be served three large meals a day (e.g., fish and rice, pasta, chicken and potatoes), but you will also enjoy well-placed fruit stops along the trail. These are very welcome for the additional boost of energy and hydration just when you need it.

If you are vegetarian or have food restrictions (e.g., gluten or lactose free), alert your trekking company and your guide in advance so they can respond accordingly.

Lost City Trek Campsites and Sleeping

There are a handful of different campsites along the way that the tour companies use. We can only speak firsthand to the ones that we stayed in — Adán Camp, Wiwa Camp, and El Paraiso — but we understand that the other campsites are quite similar in design, comfort and services.

Not always, but often, you’ll have an option to sleep in a hammock or on a mattress/bed (both with mosquito nets). We always chose the hammocks, but some may prefer mattresses.

There are cold water showers and flush toilets at all the campsites. Clotheslines will be strung around so you’ll be able to hang up your wet clothes from the day. However, the rain forest is damp so do not expect anything to fully dry overnight, if at all.

Evenings also get cool, so keep a long-sleeved shirt or fleece jacket handy at night.

Organizing a Lost City Tour: Your Options

Choosing a trekking operator.

You cannot do the Lost City Trek independently (at this time), meaning you must go with one of the four or five authorized tour operators. We took our Lost City Trek with G Adventures and can highly recommend the experience.

G Adventures work with a local organization that provides indigenous guides so that their travelers are able to learn about the indigenous cultures and communities still living in the Sierra Nevada mountain area.

Regardless of which operator you choose to take you on the Lost City Trek, we suggest you select one that works with indigenous guides. The cultural and living history background is essential to a full Lost City Colombia experience.

How many days do you need for the Lost City Trek?

Most trekking operators offer four-, five- or six-day trek options. We did the Lost City Trek in four days, but now all the standard G Adventures Lost City Trek offerings are five days. As the route is the same, the main difference is that a five-day trek includes a relaxed day #2 with only a few hours of trekking to the second campsite.

As for the six-day option, we can’t really imagine taking that much time to do the trek. But if you are worried about your trekking abilities and stamina then talk with an operator regarding what they suggest.

Leaving your luggage behind during the trek

Most accommodation and tour operators/trekking agencies will allow you to leave your big bags or luggage with them for the few days that you're doing the Lost City Trek. We left our big backpacks at our hotel in Santa Marta and we saw other travelers leave their bags at the tour operator/trekking agency office.

Lost City Trek Essential Gear and Packing List

Much of what we include in our Hiking Essentials Checklist holds true for the Lost City Trek. However, we offer a customized Lost City Trek packing list with recommended hiking gear for this specific hiking experience. The goal is to ensure you have what you need for the tropical rain forest conditions but that don't overpack and weigh yourself down with a heavy backpack.

While there is the option on some of the route to hire a mule to carry luggage and belongings, it's best not to count on it. You should pack and plan as if you will be carrying your pack the entire length of the trail.

Trust us, pack light. You’ll quickly begin to feel the extra weight going up those steep hills.

Hiking Backpack for the Lost City Trek

When we did our Lost City Trek we just repurposed our regular travel and laptop daypacks. This worked fine at the time, but since then we have invested in real hiking backpacks that fit our backs better and don't cause any aches and pains in the shoulders or back.

Here are two recommended options for hiking backpacks that will fit the hiking clothing and gear you need, but not be too big or bulky:

• Women's Hiking Backpack : I have a larger version of this Deuter ACT Trail Pro SL Backpack (22-Liters) and love it. The SL backpacks are designed for women's bodies and I find this backpack fits me really well, is well designed with its own backpack cover and zippered areas, and is both light and sturdy.
• Men's Hiking Backpack: Dan loves Osprey hiking backpacks as they fit his body type (e.g., tall) and back really well. He likes the Osprey Stratos 24-Liter Hiking Backpack for day hies or for multi-day hikes like this where you don't need to carry a lot of gear.

Refillable Water Bottle for Drinking Water

You will go through several liters of water each day (if not, then you’re not drinking enough) since you’ll be sweating constantly. Bring with you 1-2 refillable water bottles or a water bladder so that you always have at least one liter of water on you at all times.

Each campsite offers clean water, so you can refill your water bottles every couple of hours on the trail. If you really want to play it safe consider carrying with you a SteriPEN or sterilization drops .

Consider bringing electrolyte sports drink tablets or packets with you to help you replenish some of the minerals that you’ll sweat out each day. And let’s face it, sometimes drinking liters of water gets boring and you want some flavor.

Walking Stick

We highly recommend carrying a walking stick. We were very thankful for ours, especially when things got muddy and slippery. Hikers just finishing and on their way out of the trail donated their wooden sticks to us. If this doesn’t happen, then ask your guide for one and he will find a walking stick for you, or fashion one for you with his machete.

Alternatively, bring your own walking sticks (these are good travel-friendly walking sticks ). We usually just use one stick each so a set of two is sufficient for two people.

Hiking Clothing for the Lost City Trek

You really don’t need much in the clothing department. Don’t worry about packing clean clothes for each day. You will be sweating buckets within minutes every morning of getting out on the trail.

Here’s what we suggest for hiking clothing and gear essentials:

• 1 set of hiking clothes: T-shirt (preferably quick dry ), shorts, hiking socks . This means you will wear the same clothes every day. Don’t worry about it. Everyone does it. And you’ll be thankful not to carry the weight of extra clothes.
• Note: if mosquitoes love you, consider wearing hiking pants the whole time. Dan did this and it cut down on his mosquito bites considerably. If you are especially sun-sensitive, consider bringing a very light long-sleeved hiking shirt , but be aware that you may be warm.
• Hiking shoes: We wore low-rise hiking shoes ( his and hers ) and these worked great for us. Other people wore light trainers, however some mid-ankle support is useful because of the pitch of the terrain.
• 1 set of evening clothes for post-shower and sleep: T-shirt, long pants (or pajama bottoms), socks. To ensure these remain dry, pack them in a plastic bag or other impermeable container inside your backpack.
• Extra t-shirt: Just in case.
• Underwear for every day of your trek : With an extra pair thrown in for good measure, if you like. Recommended his and her s quick dry underwear for men and women .
• Extra pair of socks: Just in case your first pair get soaked beyond comfort while rock jumping at the river crossings.
• Bathing suit: Keep near the top of your backpack to have handy for swimming holes.
• Long-sleeved shirt: For cool nights or sleeping (recommended his and hers ).
• Fleece jacket : For cool nights or sleeping (can double as a pillow, too).
• Rain jacket (optional): We didn't use ours due to the heat and humidity. We appreciated the cool rain. Not to mention, a rain jacket in the tropics can feel like a personal sauna.
• Flip-flops or river shoes: To use in river crossings, showers, and evenings when you wish to get out of your hiking shoes. Women's Tevas | Men's Tevas

Other Essential Hiking Gear

• Waterproof backpack cover : You never know when a rainstorm will hit, so it’s essential to keep a rain cover for your backpack close at hand. Your guide will likely also have a supply of plastic garbage bags in case you need extra rain protection.
• Quick-dry travel towel : To dry off after showers, and also after a swim. Hang it on the outside of your backpack in the morning so it dries quickly in the sun and air as you move.
• Silk sleep sack : To provide an extra layer between you and the hammock (or mattress) and blanket. Fleas and other bugs in the hammocks bit us and other travelers we spoke to.
• Headlamp : Most of the campsites do not have electricity, so be prepared. Carry your own headlamp to find your way to the toilet and to sort through your stuff at night in and around your hammock.
• Silicone earplugs : A precaution in the case your camp has a snorer. We know from our Lost City experience that this can demolish a good night’s sleep.

Toiletries and Health Kit

You will have access to a shower every evening, and you will be so thankful for the cold water shower to wash away all the sweat and salt on your body from the day’s efforts.

• Shampoo, soap, toothbrush and toothpaste : The basics.
• Sunscreen : The higher the SPF, the better
• Sunglasses: Of course.
• Bug repellent : You will apply this frequently, especially at the Lost City itself. The mosquitoes there are big, aggressive and plenty.
• Hand sanitizer: To be on the safe side.
• Pack of tissues or toilet paper: The campsites all have toilet paper, but it’s always a good idea to carry a pack of tissues in case of messes, spills or emergencies.
• Vitamin B Complex: Take one pill per day (called Complejo-B in Spanish, available at pharmacies in Colombia). Supposedly, mosquitoes don’t appreciate the smell and taste of your blood when B-1 Thiamine is present. It is debatable whether this really works to repel mosquitoes, but we appreciated using it and felt that it helped.
• Foot care and blisters: Duct tape is very effective for hot spots and blisters on your feet. Also consider picking up some Compeed , which is magic when you already have blisters.
• Medical Kit (for emergencies): Your guide will also have some basic first aid items with him, but it's always good to be prepared. Our basic medical kit includes: Band-Aids , anti-bacterial gel (for cuts), rehydration powders or electrolyte tablets , Azithromycin/Ciprofloxacin (or another medication against stomach bacteria), Tylenol/Panadol (anti-headache/aches), Immodium (or some sort of “stopper” if you get diarrhea), tea tree oil (great to apply to mosquito bites) Note: all these are easily and inexpensively purchased at local pharmacies, including in Santa Marta from where you depart for the trek.

Electricity and Charging Batteries

While a couple of the campsites do have electricity, it’s unreliable. Prepare yourself for not having access to electricity during the trek. Some tips to handle this and further your battery power.

• Put your smartphone on airplane mode. There is no connectivity along the trek anyhow, so don't waste your phone’s battery power trying to find a network.
• Consider buying a phone case that doubles as an extra battery . It provides another 1-1.5 charges.
• Take an extra camera battery or two.
• Don’t spent time reviewing your images, as this will eat up your battery power quickly. Unless you are reviewing images to determine whether you’ve captured a specific shot, there will be time enough for photo review when your trek is finished.

G Adventures Lost City Trek Options

G adventures lost city trek tours.

Here are some of the G Adventures Lost City Trek small group tour options. These G Adventures tours all include an indigenous guide and all the support you need for a successful hike to La Ciudad Perdida in northern Colombia.

Colombia - Lost City Trekking (7 days)

The Lost City Trek tour we took that included all the experiences in this article, including an indigenous guide and cultural experience. The tour is 7-days and begins and ends in Santa Marta with 5 days of hiking the Lost City Trek.

Colombian Culture, Caribbean and Lost City (22 days)

This comprehensive 22-day G Adventures tour in Colombia takes you from the capital city of Bogota through Colombian coffee country to Medellin and finally to the Caribbean coast to explore Cartagena and Tayrona National Park before ending with the Lost City Trek (5 days). This tour is very similar to the experience we had with G Adventures in Colombia when we combined the Colombia Journey tour with the Lost City Trek . It's a great overview of the main regions of Colombia. Highly recommended.

Colombia Caribbean Adventure: Lost City Trek and Medellin (12 days)

This 12-day G Adventures tour in Colombia takes your from Cartagena to Medellin with the Lost City Trek in-between. This allows you to explore two of Colombia's most dynamic and fun cities with the adventure of the 5-day hike to the Lost City or Cuidad Perdida.

Colombia's Caribbean Coast & Lost City (14 days)

This 14-day G Adventures Colombia tour allows for an in-depth look at northern Colombia's Caribbean coast in Cartagena and Tayrona National Park before heading into the Sierra Nevada mountains for the 5-day Lost City Trek.

Have other questions about the Lost City Trek in Colombia? Just ask in the comments below and we’ll incorporate the information into the article so others may benefit.

Disclosure: Our Lost City trek was provided to us by G Adventures in cooperation with its Wanderers in Residence program. Check out this article for all the different G Adventures tours we've taken and recommend . As always, the thoughts contained herein — the what, the why, and the how — are entirely our own.

About Audrey Scott

150 thoughts on “the lost city, colombia: a guide to hiking to la ciudad perdida”.

Thanks for all of the detailed info. We’ll be doing this trek in November, so we’re looking forward to it all the more now.

You’re welcome!! Glad to hear that this information is timely for your upcoming trek. Enjoy!!

can anyone recommend a well equipped outdoors store in santa marta. thank you.

I don’t know of an outdoors store in Santa Marta, but I’m sure the trekking agency you decide to work with will be able to recommend a place to either buy or rent equipment. Otherwise, you could pick trekking gear up in Bogota.

whoa – what a massive, amazing resource! Thank you so much for writing all of this up — can’t wait to put it to good use. It’s pinned away now 😉

Glad you found this article useful and hope you can put all the info to use soon!

Was in Colombia recently and missed this … next time!

The Lost City will be still there whenever you return 🙂

Colombia is a excellent place to visit it is beautiful the food ,nature and the people

Great travel expedition in Machete. I am thrilled about the encounter you had with Teyuna, the Lost City. I am planning to tour all such attractions during my stay in Columbia so that I could have an amazingly beautiful trekking experience as well. Thanks for sharing!

Hello there! thank you so much for the very detailed article. i am actually going to colombia in 2 weeks and planned to do the same tour. you helped me a lot with your information. thanks a lot enjoy travels! isabella

You’re welcome, Isabella! Really glad that the article came out in time to help with your upcoming Lost City trek. Enjoy!

Great read! Trek looks fab, definitely plan to do this when we head to Colombia! Cheers Guys!

Breathtaking place. Its always wonderful to go and experience an isolated, totally disconnected civilization.

Loved the beautiful images as well.

– Cheers, Rajiv

Great photos! I am also thinking of going there. Did you find it safe to travel?

Yes, we definitely found the Lost City trek route very safe. The area had a history over 10 years ago in paramilitary and guerrilla activity, but it is currently not an issue for trekkers. If you’re curious about our thoughts on safety throughout the rest of Colombia, you might enjoy this article; https://uncorneredmarket.com/colombia-travel/

Fantastic resource! We’ve really started to get into hikes and trails and this is precisely the information we really appreciate but seldom find! We’re looking to head that way, sooner rather than later, so we’ve bookmarked this for when we make it there!

We often write resource articles after a trek with all the information we would have wanted to know beforehand. So, glad you found this article useful for your upcoming trip to Colombia. Enjoy!

Awesome article, very helpful! What time of year did you complete the trek? Just looking for some weather tips for a November adventure 🙂

Laura, we completed the trek in early June. As Colombia is so close to the equator we’re told that the temperatures don’t vary much throughout the year, so expect it to be hot and steamy. We’re told November is usually part of the rainy season so you may have more rains than we did, but with it being so hot the rains are actually kind of refreshing 🙂 Have a great trek!

This is a great overview of the trek. I did it three years ago and it would have been handy to have this info beforehand. We signed up for the five-day trek and ended up shuffling groups and doing it in four. From what I remember, day three would have been pretty short with a lot of sitting around, and we were eager to get to the city!

Thanks for the kind words about this post! Our goal was to write all the information and advice we would have wanted to know before taking this trek. Definitely understand wanting to get to the Lost City faster and opting for the four days instead of five 🙂

Very detailed and helpful post, lots of pictures. I appreciate the reality check of the weather, bugs and sleeping arrangements!

You’re welcome! Glad you found it useful, especially the reality check on weather and bugs and such. Better to be prepared than not 🙂

What an adventure … hopefully this doesn’t turn into another Machu Picchu one day!

Definitely understand, Adam! Don’t imagine that it will turn into another Machu Picchu, but that’s where limits on the number of trekkers per day might help.

What did you do with the rest of your things during the trek? We hope to be in Colombia for 3 weeks. I certainly don’t want to carry three weeks worth of stuff on the trail!

Emily, good question! We left our big backpacks with the majority in left luggage at our hotel in Santa Marta. When we finished the trek we were very thankful to have some clean clothes in those bags 🙂

Thank you! This experience seems established enough to have worked out a solution. Very grateful!

Loved the article. Great insight and information! Heading there in a couple weeks and your advice will be great! Thanks again!

Thanks, Matt! And great to hear that you’re headed out on this Lost City trek soon. Hope you have a wonderful time!

Lot’s of great info, we will be doing the trek with G adventures in Feb. 2016.

Great to hear this Bryan! Enjoy your trek and let us know if you have any questions before then!

Sounds like quite an adventure. The rappelling actually sounds like a lot of fun.

Hola Audrey, awesome blog. You would be laughing i am from Colombia but living in Colorado, USA. I am a photographer. So, i am concerned in hiking with my slr camera, lenses and tripod. Do you have time to photograph landscaping? Can you photograph the natives ? Thanks a lot for your help, G

Germán, thanks for your kind words about our blog! as for your questions, we did trek with a DSLR camera (but no tripod) and found there was time to photograph landscapes. I would recommend packing a dry sack for your gear as you may run into crazy rains along the way. As for photographing the indigenous people we met along the way we would always ask permission through our guide or directly. Some people were OK, while others preferred not to have their photos taken. So, it really depends on the situation and the people you happen to meet.

Enjoy your trek!

This was a really great post! We are going to do this trek in January and I can’t wait!

I am curious if you got any vaccines before going. It looks like they aren’t necessary but for the jungle trek would you recommend getting the yellow fever and hepatitis A/B vaccines?

Great to hear that you’ll be on this trek in just a few months! As for vaccinations, there are no special vaccines needed for this trek. However, we usually recommend that people traveling in this region have Hepatitis A & B vaccines, as well as checking whether you might need a tetanus or typhoid booster. Here are a couple more medical-related articles that might be useful: https://uncorneredmarket.com/world-travel-resources/travel-health-insurance-vaccinations/ & https://uncorneredmarket.com/around-the-world-travel-health-tips/

Have a great trip!

Hi – thanks so much for this information – so useful! I have two questions for you as I’ve heard a couple of horror stories. Firstly, were there parts where you found yourself clinging to cliff-edges with sheer drops below? Secondly, I know it’s the jungle and there’s a host of wildlife around – it’s their habitat! But were you finding gigantic spiders and snakes at every corner?

Leila, thanks for your questions. I’ll answer them the best we can.

1. I don’t remember any cliff-edges or sheer drops from our Lost City Trek. Dan is afraid of heights and really hates that type of stuff, so he certainly would have remembered that 🙂

2. No gigantic spiders or snakes that we saw. What you do need to watch out for are the little bugs – mosquitos, fleas, bedbugs. That’s why it’s good to bathe yourself in bug spray and wear loose long sleeves in the early evening when the bugs like to come ou.

If you have any other questions, just let us know!

Sounds like a lot of fun and you documented the trip well! I have a question though, are reservations required to do the trek? It is a little pricey for me but I would love to see the lost city!

Hanah, it is required that you trek with an authorized company for the Lost City Trek so reservations are required. The reason for this is that it’s a natural heritage area and site so this requirement is for conservation and protection. Maybe it’s possible to adjust some of your itinerary to prioritize this expense? It is a great hike!

Thank you for getting back to me. It looks so great I’ll make it work 🙂

Just back after our four day trek and your check lists was a great resource. We had a wonderful time and would highly recommend this to others. A few updates which I think are worth mentioning.

* Although not a technical trek, a high level of fitness is suggested. You will enjoy the walk much more. There are only up bits and down bits. And on the way back this is reversed. * Parts of the track are very poor and require good footwear and concentration. We walked in the dry season, I would hate to think what the mud would be like during the wet. * It is possible to buy water and other drinks along the route to supplement what you cary. We did take our own purification tablets as extra precaution to what was used by the local camps. * All out bedding seemed to be clean and fresh and no bed bugs. Perhaps this is more seasonal. However I would suggest a sleep sack.

In response to Leila above there are no sheer drop offs or cliffs. There is one section where the track gets very narrow and you need to watch your step. As our guide warned us “stop before taking a picture”. No ropes were needed.

All in all a GREAT trip

Mark, great to hear that this article was helfpul for your trek and thanks for your feedback and follow-up from your recent trip. I do agree that a certain level of fitness will help you enjoy the trek more, as we saw a few people who decided to go by horse/donkey for part of the time because they didn’t feel good in the heat and hills. Very glad to hear that the bedding was clean and fresh! Hopefully, that’s the norm from now on, but a sleepsack is always good to be on the safe side.

Glad you had a great time on the trek!

Great article. Any comments on visiting there in late February early March. Thanks.

We trekked in late May/early June, but I believe February and March would also be good times for the Lost City trek as it’s in the dry season. That means you won’t have to deal with as much mud or flash storms. And, the mosquitos might possibly be less as well 🙂 Good luck and enjoy your trek!

I really wanna do this trail, but is insecure about the wildlife out there 🙂 I am totally panicking if there is mice around me, especially in my camp. I can’t really find anything about this online, so either they are so common that people are not even bothering mentioning them, or they are not there? And what about other wildlife?

Happy to hear you didn’t encounter any big spiders 🙂

Thanks in advanced,

Hi Sisse, I really do not remember mice at the Lost City Trek campsites. This is in contrast to the Torre del Paine campsites in Chile where mice were everywhere ate through people’s food bags. As for other wildlife, the biggest bother are mosquitos and fleas/bed bugs (although someone who trekked more recently said he didn’t experience them). We didn’t see any snakes or other such creatures on the trails (as opposed to Australia where we came across several poisonous snakes), but as this is a jungle you should be prepared that it’s always a possibility. Hope this helped push you over the edge to do the trek!

Thank you so much for your answer! It definitely helps a lot. I know that you never know, but if you didn’t see 50 mice every night in camp why should we? I have been to Alice Spring and meet 100s of mice, and that was a great surprise and really freaked me out 😉 So I guess that Torre del Paine isn’t the place to go 😀 Now I can’t wait to go, thanks for this great blog post with so many great advices 🙂 Happy Spring!

I never wrote a big fat thank you! This blog post really made me take the jump doing this, and me and my boyfriend had such a great experience! It was a hard trek, but it was worth it! So thank you SO much!

Great to hear this, Sisse!! Thanks for letting us know about your trek and glad you had such a good experience! Now, where will your next trek be? 🙂

Thank you so much for this detailed guide, it is exactly what we needed and we will now be changing a few things as we prepare for the trek!

You are welcome, Victoria. Glad to hear we could help inform your Lost City Trek!

We will travel to Colombia in June for three weeks. We were thinking to do this trek, (certainly after reading this article) but we have one more question: What with your big backpacks? We’ll both have a large backpack with us packed for three weeks, is there any place/option you can leave your big backpack and take your smaller one with you for the trek? 🙂

Greetings from Belgium!

Tine & Fabio

Hi Tine, You have two good options for your big backpacks. Leave them at the hotel where you’re staying before (and after). Or, leave them at the trekking agency’s office. We did the first option, and saw others do the second. Hope you do the trek – it’s really wonderful!

Thank you so much for your quick reply! We can’t wait to take off! 🙂

We are now one week back from our amazing trip to Colombia. The Lost City Trek was our highlight. It was amazing. All things you described were spot on. Thanks again for the article, it’s an experience we’ll never forget!

This article is great! I’m traveling through Peru right now and headed to Colombia next and am really hoping to do this trek. But I also have some questions about backpacks. K have two with me right now: one 65 liter and one 20 liter. The 65 liter one is way too big and I’m assuming the 20 liter is too small. Did you see any companies renting out backpacks for the hike? Say around 30-40 liters?

Lauren, I didn’t see any companies renting out backpacks, but it’s always worth asking the trekking company you’re going with whether they offer that service. I imagine that someone in Santa Marta must.

You might be able to get away with just 20 liters since you really don’t need all that much with you…it’s really hot and everyone wears the same thing every day 🙂 With our trek, Dan carried a 30-liter backpack, but this was essentially for the two of us as I my backpack was mostly filled with camera equipment.

HI Audrey Thanks for this reply about the backpack size to take. I’m doing the Trek at the end of this month ( Dec – 17) and initially though of taking a laptop bag.. but realised it would be too small. I had asked a colleague of mine who goes on big treks – 15 -20 days and he suggested a 25 liter backpack. I wanted to check with you if that seems like an ok size – I’m going on my own.

Hi Vivek, We did take our laptop backpack with us on the Lost City Trek and it worked fine. Since it’s a hot climate and food it provided at the campsites you really don’t need to take very much with you. If you do want to get a more proper trekking backpack, a 25-liter backpack would be a good size. Have a great trip!

This is an amazing guide, and your photos are spectacular! What camera do you use? How did you protect it from the humid/rain/river crossings?

We had both an iPhone and a DSLR (Nikon D7100) on the trip. The photos you see are a combination of the two. We also carried a 10-liter dry sack for emergencies. Fortunately, we didn’t need it!

Hi Arleen, Thanks! Glad the guide is useful! We carried a Nikon D7100 and for most of the time we had it in the camera bag, but when it did start raining or with river crossings we put the camera bag into a dry sack. Our guide also carried extra thick garbage bags to help protect things from the rain. Hope this helps!

Your blog has helped me immensely in my thoughts of preparations for this hike. I have bookmarked this site, and will use it as a bible in the next few weeks prior to. I’ll look forward to more of your inspirational travel stories as well. Thank you, and cheers!! Instagram: kirbythekoala

Hi there, thank you so much for your informative guide; I was quite nervous when a friend suggested doing this trek but am feeling more confident about doing it since reading your blog.

One question; I’ve been told by friends that you need to cross rivers that are chest deep. Did you find this to be the case when you went? I’d be doing it at the same time of year you did (soon!). I guess I’d be OK with that if there was a rope to hold onto and the water flow wasn’t too strong, I’d be OK with cage thing as per your picture – it’s just the getting swept away part that concerns me. Any insight specifically on river crossings much appreciated, Sarah.

Hi Sarah, We certainly did not have any river crossings that were chest deep. The most I remember was perhaps a bit below the knee (I’m not that tall) so it wasn’t a problem with getting my shorts wet. When we did reach a crossing with high water our guide found a different area where the water wasn’t so high (eg, or had the cage). But, water levels do vary each year so perhaps it’s good to ask the trekking company in advance to be sure. Enjoy the trek!!

Thanks for the article, it’s really useful and well written. A friend and I are thinking of doing the trek in July, we’re wondering if you or anyone else knows how frequent the tours are e.g. Do they leave Santa Marta every day?

Thanks a lot Caroline

I believe that between the 3-4 companies offering tours you should find at least one departure a day in July. As mentioned above, we recommend going with a trekking company with indigenous guides. Enjoy!!

I’m planning this hike in July to celebrate my 40th and the fact that I’m now moving out of Colombia… this guide has been so helpful- thanks! 🙂 I have a question about footwear: I have a good pair of hiking boots, but would prefer keeping them dry-ish. Do I need a good pair of shoes for river crossings or will flip-flops be sufficient?

We used our Tevas (river shoes) for the river crossings and they worked fine. The currents weren’t very strong when we went, so a sturdy pair of flip-flops should probably be sufficient. Good luck and enjoy the trek! It’s a great way to celebrate!

Hi! Thanks for the care you put in to this blog! A friend and I are considering this trip but we only have 10 days in Colombia –arriving and departing in Cartagena. We are not sure that doing this trek will leave time to do anything else. I just had a clarifying question –Is there transportation arranged for the way back or do you have to walk back the same way you came in? Meaning is this really an 8 day trip? I am guessing not, but thought I would make sure.

Thanks in advance!

Hi Ana, Yes, transportation is arranged for your return to Santa Marta. From there you can easily hop a bus to Cartagena. It’s possible to do the trek in 4 days, and get returned to Santa Marta after lunch on that fourth day so you still have the afternoon to clean up and regroup. If you do the tour with G Adventures, they offer it in 5 days. Either way, you should be able to fit this trek pretty easily into a 10-day trip. Good luck!

I’m so glad I found your blog! This is all very helpful. This trek will be my second trip with G Adventures! I’ll be doing it next month. Do you think it makes sense to buy a mosquito net for my head during the day? Also, you mentioned ticks, That makes me extremely nervous. Were you able to easily remove them? Which vaccinations did you get before your trip? Do you suggest bring trekking poles or just using a stick? Last question (hopefully), did you encounter bed bugs? I hope to pack light like you and all your photos look amazing.

Hi Cheryl, Glad this post was useful for your upcoming G Adventures Lost City Trek! I don’t think you need a mosquito net for your head during they day – they weren’t nearly as pesky and annoying as the bush flies in Australia (where we did end up buying a net to maintain our sanity). The ticks we picked up were quite small, but were easy to pick out with tweezers. If you’re concerned, perhaps pick up a proper tick-removing kit. At other times of year you might not encounter any ticks. As for vaccinations, it’s probably best if you have Hepatitis A and Typhoid vaccinations to be on the same side (More info: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/colombia ). We did notice either bed bug or flea bites (not sure which), but another commenter who went on this same trek after us said no one in his group got any bites like that. So, it may be that they’ve gone through and switched out/cleaned the hammocks or blankets.

We did not bring trekking poles with us, but instead when we first started the trek the group before us handed over their stick. Otherwise, your guide can easily find one along the way for you.

Also, I forgot to ask, what size was your backpack?

We both carried backpacks that were around 30L, but we could have probably gone even smaller as they weren’t completely full. Those were just what we were using for the rest of our Colombia trip so we repurposed them for the trek. As you know, the smaller and lighter, the better 🙂

Fantastic and informative overview. We just completed the trek and found the information here to be very useful in preparing. Thanks so much!

Great to hear this, Linda!

Ms. Scott… I am researching, writing and producing a 72-page curriculum guide about Colombia for the non-profit Memphis in May International Festival for the festival’s 2017 salute to their honored country of Colombia. This guide is printed and distributed to teachers in all elementary, middle and senior high school teachers throughout Memphis and Shelby County, and also presented in PDF form on their website (www.memphisinmay.org). I want to include a lesson plan about Colombia’s Lost City, but I think it would add a personal touch by having students reference your blog about your trek through the Lost City. The lesson plan would describe the Lost City, its location, history, ecological significance… and then would encourage students to “plan” for their own exploration of the area…. then referencing your blog for details from someone who had actually explored this great place (what to pack, how to prepare, what to expect, conditions). To do so, obviously, I would need your permission… and hopefully, to provide your permission for us to use on of the photos from your blog for reproduction with this lesson plan. I appreciate your consideration.

Hi John, We received your email about this as well and I just responded. If you didn’t get it for whatever reason, please let me know! Cheers, Audrey

Hi Audrey and Daniel, this post about the Lost City is superb. I am flying to Colombia on Sat only for this trek. I initially was thinking G Adventures but then switched to a local company ( Expotur). However, Im very apprehensive about the possibility of diseases. I’m thinking malaria, zika etc. Can you please give a few pointers? Did you take any special vaccines/injections before doing this trip ? Please advise. Thanks

Hi Mayank, Best protection is to try and prevent mosquitos and other bugs from biting you. As mentioned in the article above, we took B-Complex pills (bought at pharmacy in Santa Marta) and lathered on lots of insect repellent to keep away mosquitos (and other bugs). Dan also wore trousers the whole time as he often gets eaten by mosquitos. However, the mosquitos in the Lost City Trek area are not malaria mosquitos.

When we did our trek Zika was not an issue, but as I read on the CDC website there have been Zika cases found in Colombia recently. You should ask the tour company whether any Zika cases have been found specifically in the Lost City Trek area. Again, the best course of prevention is to try and avoid being bitten in the first place.

We always have the standard travel vaccinations up to date — Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid, MMR, Tetanus — so we didn’t get any special vaccinations before doing this trek. Given that you are only going to Colombia for this trek, which is only a few days, I wouldn’t worry about getting special vaccinations for the trip.

Hope this information helps!

Hi! I’m really interested in doing this trip and am in the middle of preliminary research. G Adventures looks like a great group to book with, but I found another trip through TripAdvisor for much less – just $399 for a 4 day trek. TripAdvisor doesn’t say which company will be in charge of the trek, however. Do you know why G Adventures charges so much for their trip (i.e. are they THAT much better than the other ones), and do you know of any reason why I shouldn’t book through TripAdvisor? Thanks so much for your tips and any additional insight you may have!

Hi Lizzie, Some of the difference in price is probably connected the following reasons: G Adventures’ tour is seven days, meaning that the price is for a five-day trek and also includes hotel in Santa Marta the day before the trek and the day the trek ends. Additionally, they usually work with two indigenous guides if the groups are bigger than a certain size. This allows more interaction/engagement with the guides and also provides more support as one indigenous guide is at the front and the other is at the back. The G tours also have one of their own guides (CEOs) who helps with translation (as the indigenous guides don’t speak English), organize meals, sleeping arrangements, etc., and just work to smooth things over in case there are any heath or other issues. And, as it’s a big international company they also have lots of experience and a set process for handling emergencies or other unusual situations.

As I don’t know which tour is being offered through TripAdvisor, my thought is to see if you can ask a few questions before you book. Here’s what I would want to know: 1) Does the tour have an indigenous guide? For us, this indigenous perspective on history, nature, and culture really added to the trekking experience. Most of the tour companies operating Lost City treks do not have indigenous guides.

2) If you do not speak Spanish, then is there someone to translate for you? We saw that some of the other groups would have a translator in addition to the official guide.

Good luck with your planning!

Thank you so much, Audrey! That was immensely helpful (as is this blog post more generally). I think I’ll probably end up booking through Expotur, for the sole reason that I (unfortunately) don’t have 7 days for Santa Marta/the trek. Not sure if you keep in touch with the folks at G Adventures, but if you do, you may want to suggest that they look into possibly hosting a shorter 4 day trek. If they had that option now I would 100% go with them. Thanks again for your guidance. Your blog was actually the reason I started looking into this trek in the first place, and I can’t wait to spend my 30th birthday on it 🙂

Hi! I’m wondering where people stay before and after their hike to the Lost City. I’m planning to fly into Santa Marta from Bogota in a week from today, and wonder if it’s easy to go directly from the airport to the trekking office/departure location, or if it’s necessary to stay in Santa Marta on the eve of the trek. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for all the other info and tips in your article!

Hi Mary, We stayed in Santa Marta the night before the trek began and I think this is the safest option. On the first day of the trek we began in Santa Marta and then had 2-3 hours of transport to the starting point of the trek. So, it may be kind of risky to try and go from the airport directly to the trekking office in case there’s a flight delay. The trekking company you are working with should be able to tell you what time they depart in the morning and then you can make your decision based on that. Good luck!

Great insight into the trek! I’m thinking of doing this in December going solo? Would you recommend this? We’re there others doing the same?

Matt, I don’t remember seeing any solo trekkers with a guide, but I’m sure you can put in a request with one of the authorized trekking companies to get your own private guide. Since a trekking guide/company is required for this trek it’s not really possible to walk it completely on your own. Some of the campsites are shared between trekking companies and some are independent.

Hi Audrey, I loved your story on the Lost City. All your comments are so well thought out. Many thanks. My question is about the swimming holes and swimming in the river. I am a non swimmer. Are they very deep? How do I prepare? Thanks.

Bhanu, Some of the swimming holes do get deep in the center (e.g., a few meters), but you can always just stick to the edges and dip your body in the water there to cool off. One of the holes also had a sort of sitting area under a waterfall where you could just relax. The other thing is that you don’t have to go into the swimming holes. You can always just stick your feet in there to cool off and enjoy the atmosphere under the trees.

Thanks Audrey. I have one more question: did you wear a water proof sandals when crossing the river? I am planning to take my trekking shoes for the trek… but did not want to get them wet; hence is my question. Thanks, Bhanu

Bhanu, we both carried river shoes with us (e.g., Teva sandals ) and sometimes we would change into them to cross rivers and other times we would take off our trekking shoes and just walk barefoot. It depended upon the depth and also whether the bottom of the river was rocky. We do recommend bringing a pair of river shoes/waterproof sandals/flip flops with you also for changing into at night to give your feet a break, wearing in showers/toilets, and walking around the campsites.

I have a question about this trek, as I am doing it in October (2016). I am not planning to take malaria tablets and just use DEET and take some precautions like wearing long sleeved top/bottoms etc. Could you please advice me on that?

Great that you’re doing this trek soon! The mosquitos along the Lost City Trek are not malaria mosquitos, so your plan of not taking any malaria medicine and focusing on preventing bites makes sense. If you really do dislike mosquito bites consider taking B-Complex pills as this is supposed to make you less attractive to mosquitos.

Hey Audrey,

Thanks so much for this useful post, I really appreciate all of the detailed advice. Nick and I are planning on South America for 2017 (finally getting there!) and will hopefully do this trek as well. We’ll be in Colombia in November / beginning of December so I’m hoping the rains won’t be too bad. We’re in Grenada (southern Caribbean) right now and the rains have been few and far between this rainy season 🙂

Cheers and happy travels!

Hi Dariece, Great to hear that you’re descending upon South America soon! It seems like every year the rainy season and weather cycles change, so fingers crossed it won’t be too wet for your Lost City Trek later this year. Even if it is rainy, it’s warm rain and a great experience either way.

Thanks so much for your very informative blog. We are going to do this trek in February – what will the temperature be? And will it be very humid at that time of year?

February is a great time for the Lost City Trek! This will be the end of the dry season so you should have very little (or perhaps no) rain so it shouldn’t be very humid. I believe temperatures will be in the 80s, so you’ll likely start your walking early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat in the middle of the day.

Hi, did you take your main backpacks or do the mules take these or is it best to leave them at the hostel and just take small day bags? Thanks

I’d recommend to leave your main backpacks in Santa Marta either at the hostel or at the office of the trekking company you’re using. Then, just carry day packs with some clothes, camera, water bottle, sleep sack, etc. You can take a look at the packing list in this article for recommendations on what to bring. Enjoy the trek!

Hi Audrey What a great blog, so useful, and wonderful photos. Do you think telescopic walker poles would be helpful or would a stick picked up along the way suffice? Thanks, Annie

Hi Annie, Glad this blog post was useful! We found that a stick picked up along the way sufficed, but if you would feel better with your own walking poles then bring your own if it’s easy to do. Just know that they may get a bit muddy along the way 🙂

Cheers, Audrey

Of your campsites (Adán Camp, Wiwa Camp, and El Paraiso), did all have the option to hammock camp? We have our own, bug-netted hammocks and would like to use them. This would solve the tick, flea, bedbug issues that you had. Tx -alan

Alan, at the campsites the hammocks were tied between wooden poles. You could either add yours or take one of the standard hammocks down and replace it with your own for the night. I don’t think this would be a problem at all, but perhaps just double check with the tour/trekking company you’re working with that it’s OK.

This article helps me a lot. would for example never had thought of bringing TP or a long sleeve shirt for sleeping in. 😀 going there at the end of the month for a 4 day trek. can’t wait. Do you have any recommendations for hikes or tours around Sao Paolo, Brazil?

Gísli, so glad to hear that this article was helpful for your upcoming Lost City Trek! I’m afraid we haven’t yet been to Brazil, so cannot make any first-hand recommendations for Sao Paolo. Have a great trip!

My partner and I are planning a trek to the Lost City next month, February, 2017. We would be most grateful if you could help us with some logistics and other questions.

We are looking at the possibility of flying into Bogotá, Columbia and from there taking a flight to Santa Marta. Questions:

1. Is it necessary to begin from Santa Marta? 2. Did you book your trekking company in Santa Marta? Is that where you started? 3. Did you stay in the area before/after the trek? If so, were there other interesting adventures? 4. Did you explore the National Park, Tayrona nearby? 5. Did you find the bugs exceptionally bad on the trek to the Lost City? 6. We will have a couple of weeks to enjoy Columbia and would love to hear of any other activities you may have found in the area.

Thanks for inspiring us!

Hi Cecilia, Great to hear you’re thinking of doing the Lost City Trek. As for your questions:

1) As far as I know, all of the treks begin in Santa Marta with a transfer out to the starting point (Machete). However, you could always coordinate with the trekking agency to meet the group at Machete if there’s something in the area you’d like to do first.

2) Our trek was through G Adventures and it was booked before we got to Santa Marta. However, there were other people we met at other tour companies/trekking agencies who booked their trek once they got to Santa Marta.

3) We only spent the night before/after in Santa Marta and it was a nice town, but don’t know that we needed to spend much more time there. Prior to Santa Marta we were in Cartagena and that’s worth spending a few nights.

4) Yes, we did explore Tayrona National Park before our Lost City Trek (and Cartagena). We did a great day trek out to Cabo San Juan. It’s also possible to spend the night out there if you prefer. It’s a beautiful area.

5) The bug were bad, but I don’t know if they were exceptionally bad. As mentioned in this article, we were also taking B-Complex vitamins which is supposed to deter mosquitos.

6) Colombia is beautiful and fascinating. For more ideas on what to do, check out our Experiential Guide with 25 things to do.

Hope this helps and have a great trip!

Thanks very much, this is an amazing resource.

My friend and I are planning on going the end of March, the beginning of rainy season, that makes us slightly worried. could you help us out what to expect regarding: (1) height of rivers / slipperiness (2) amount of rain / sun (3) mosquitoes

It seems like you had a great adventure regardless of the visit being in the middle of the rainy season. I’m hoping that the rivers will not yet be too high and that part of the trip will be dry and sunny.

Thanks very much!

Hi Aliz, Our trek was in early June, so more towards the end of the rainy season. The height of the rivers were fine for us – there was one spot that was high, but they had the cage contraption already set up to get across. All the other rivers were easy enough to walk across. But again, we went a couple of months later. As for rain, we had sunshine for most of the time, but there was one day with a big downpour that we waited out a little bit and then just decided to walk in the rain as it was warm. The mud did get a big slippery so the guide found me another stick and I used two sticks to go down some of the more slippery hills. But, it was all quite manageable.

Mosquitoes can get bad at times, which is why we recommend in this article to pick up B-Complex pills in Santa Marta (supposedly repels mosquitos), lather on bug cream, and wear long-sleeve shirts/pants (if necessary). The hammocks usually have mosquito netting around them so you shouldn’t be bothered at night.

Hope this helps and good luck with your trek!

Thanks for the write up. I have been to Colombia many many times, and always wanted to go to la ciudad perdida. Problem has been the age of the kids. They will be 10 and 13 at the end of the year and are fit and active (we trekked from Leticia in Amazonia 4 years ago, but that was a single day)..

What do you think about the 5 day version?

Hi Andrew, Good question regarding your kids. I’m inclined to say that if they are accustomed to heat and humidity they should be fine if you take things slowly with 5-6 days. However, I’d ask the trekking agency you’re planning to go with whether they have experience with kids of a similar age doing the trek. Also, donkeys can be hired for certain segments of the trek that might help as well. Good luck!

We’ve just done the trek and a 13 year old girl was part of our party. She doesn’t regularly do evercise but had no problem, she had to wait for us 50/60 year olds. She loved it, had a great time. What an amazing experience. We did the five day trek. Pack light, bring a warmer long sleeved top and trousers for evenings, itcanget a bit chilly. . Flip flops are good, we forded streams in bare feet. They were up to knee level at worse. We slept in beds every night, some had pillows, all had blankets and mosquito nets. Wear comfortable supportive shoes or boots, well worn in. Blisters aren’t icy fun. It rained once at night. The best thing we brought? Silk sleeping bag liners. It was tough, I’m a reasonably fit 60 year old and found the long uphill climbs exhausting, but well worth it.

Wow, you guys are pretty hardcore, backpacking in the jungle, so to speak. Colombia has a rich culture, one I am only beginning to explore. It is as close to Eldorado as possible, and ancient artefacts reflect it. I will probably set on my own journey of Colombian discovery one day, route will be slightly different. Or possibly, I will digress to Los Nevados National park on my road there.

What great and wonderfully helpful information you have posted!!! We will be traveling for the trek in mid-March. It seems that you recommend the typhoid vaccination and felt that malaria pills may not be necessary, but I saw no mention of yellow fever?? Can you please comment on what you feel the latest vaccines and/or precautions might be to consider. Also, did you find the river to be moving quickly and difficult to cross??

Thanks so much….

Julie, for the latest information on recommended vaccinations for Colombia you can check out this CDC page: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/colombia And for Yellow Fever specifically: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2016/infectious-diseases-related-to-travel/yellow-fever-malaria-information-by-country/colombia#4753

The last article seems to indicate that Yellow Fever may be present in the Santa Marta/Tayrona National Park/Lost City area. I’d check with a nearby travel clinic just to confirm. One thing that has changed since our visit is the appearance of Zika in certain parts of Colombia. Unfortunately, there’s nothing that can be taken to prevent this so best thing is to cover up as much as you can.

When we trekked in early June the rivers were easy to cross. There was one place where it was high and fast, but there was a sort of cage contraption (see photo above) that was set up to go above the river. Our guide was quite careful in testing the waters first to make sure it was safe, and then finding another spot if he thought it could be dangerous.

Enjoy your trip!

Thought of just a couple more questions. We know the highest elevation is 5000 feet, but wondered if you knew the altitude in Santa Marta where we will be starting and/or at the Tayrona National Park where we have planned a day trip. Also, did you bring tablets, use a filter or steripen to treat the water provided at the campsites? Really appreciate your help. This is our first trip to hike in South America 🙂

Santa Marta and Tayrona National Park are both on the coast, so you’ll be starting at sea level and then working your way up to 5,000 feet. The campsites provide clean drinking water and we just drank that straight. However, if you do have concerns then I’d bring a steripen with you to be extra sure. As mentioned above, you might also want to bring some gatorade or electrolyte powder to mix with the water to replenish some of the minerals you’re sweating out.

Enjoy your first hiking trip in South America! Hope it’s the first of many!

Audrey…..Thanks so very much for your quick reply. Try as I might, I can’t seem to find the article you referenced about possible yellow fever in Santa Marta. Is there a way you can further guide me to that information.

So sorry for any inconvenience

Julie, I just checked the Yellow Fever in Colombia link and works ok so give it a try again: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2016/infectious-diseases-related-to-travel/yellow-fever-malaria-information-by-country/colombia#4753

Are people allowed to do this trek without a guide do you know? Thanks in advance!

Great question. I was wondering the same thing.

Connie, it’s not allowed to do the trek without a guide from an authorized trekking agency. You can choose to do a group or individual trek with one of these trekking agencies.

Thanks for the write up, Audrey! Just booked the 4-day Trek for mid-March.

You’re welcome, Jonathan! Hope you enjoy your upcoming Lost City trek!

Thank you for the information it was helpful and accurate in most circumstances. However, I was surprised with the food at the camps. Frankly, I never figure out who was the cook …

I went with Expotur , which has relatively large groups – When I went it was roughly 10+10 people. Moreover, different companies seem to share the same accommodation and food (with some exceptions). That brought the number of guests roughly to 30-35. Now add 10-15 of support staff and guides. We are talking about around 50 to be fed!

Cooking was thus done in mass production and the serving time was the same for all groups. In fact, at the peak time of lunch/dinner you may have around 10+ people in the kitchen doing various jobs including preparing food and salad. Obviously, if 10+ people are handing the food the notion of the cook is lost.

My impression was that in the kitchen “anything goes”. Several people (if not all) got a stomach ache during the trek but the last day was a “mayhem” at the toilets from the pasta and chicken. Also, a young man served me coffee in a dirty cup because he couldn’t find a washed one. I understand that during camping such events can happen, but the way I experienced it was a systematic lack of roles in the kitchen something which is a disaster waiting to happen and in fact, it did happen.

It is a shame that it is not allowed to do it on your own…

Stavros, thanks for your comment and information about the cooking/eating situation on your trek. When we went on the G Adventures Lost City Trek there were other people staying at the campsites, but we had our own cook who traveled with us and only cooked for our group. It’s unfortunate to hear about the disorganization and questionable hygiene on your trip.

My friend and I just booked the G Adventures tour for the end of July / early August and we are super excited! Thank you for this very helpful article. Will definitely help us in preparing and packing, and knowing what to expect.

You’re welcome!! Glad this post was helpful to get you ready for your upcoming Lost City Trek. Enjoy!!!

Hey Audrey! I’m writing a post on Colombia and I’d love to link this post for any reader who wants further information! You guys have so much invaluable info here.

It looks like you had the time of your life. Definitely adding this to my bucket list!!

Of course! please provide a link to our post! Hope it’s helpful for your readers.

Those are really helpful information and a nice teaser for the trek. I’ll be doing the trip with G soon as well. Could you tell me how they’ve organized the big luggage? Do you leave behind at some accommodation or it will be brought all the way with horses/mules?

Hi Mircea, Great to hear that you’ll soon be on the G Adventures Lost City Trek. As for your big luggage, just leave it behind at the hotel in Santa Marta. They will keep it for you until you return from the trek.

Have a great time! Audrey

Think about leaving it in the hotel you will be going to AFTER the trek. If, for example, you are staying in Palomino after (lovely, and closer than Sta Mta) it would be a pain to go back into town (90 min) and out again.

Thanks for the clarification, Andrew. If you aren’t planning to return to Santa Marta then arrange for your luggage to be left wherever you will go after the trek.

Thank you so much for such elaborate article! I’m going to Colombia for 3 weeks and thinking about fitting this in my schedule. But do wander whether it will suit me as I’m not an experienced hiker and physically not super fit. I’ve done some tough hikes, but I’ve always been very afraid of descending, especially if you can see the edge of the mountain.

Is the Lost City hike steep and narrow? Do you get the ‘falling of the edge’ feeling there?

Do you have any other wonderful but relatively flat hike to advice?

Thanks a lot.

Hi Dongqing, Although the Lost City trek does have some steep hills, I don’t remember it as being particularly narrow or feeling like we were close to cliffs or edges where we could slide off. Most of it is in a rainforest so the path goes between the trees.

As for other hikes in Colombia that might be flatter, perhaps look into hiking in the cloud forest of Cocora Valley in coffee country (Armenia), This is more of a day hike vs. multi-day hike, but it is beautiful and really unique (see #10 here: https://uncorneredmarket.com/25-travel-experiences-colombia/ ).

Enjoy your three weeks in Colombia! It is a beautiful and diverse place!

I asked on this site almost a year ago about travelling to the lost City with kids. We returned last night from the four day trek with 4 adults and kids (15, 13, 10, 10). We used Wiwa tours.

Absolutely unforgettable experience and well worth it with the kids. They were younger/ significantly younger than anyone else we saw but all made it through and were delighted despite 1x fever and 1x stomach bug.

3 of the 4 (the younger ones) were very physically active anyway, and this showed through.

However we did realise on day 2 that with illness we would need help. We thus hired a mule (350,000 pesos for the rest of the trek) which was an absolute godsend. Meant the kids could take turns for a short break if they wanted to (or if they simply wanted to ride for fun). The mule also carried the 2 heaviest backpacks which helped (they were quite heavy as had most of kids stuff in as well as adults).

Worth noting that there are parts of trek (including final climb to the city) that the mules cannot do/ cannot do with riders, so they should be considered a help with the trek, not a substitute for some pretty significant walking (middle 2 days were 12 hours long with breaks).

Also need to be conscious that sleeping conditions are basic (at each site the organisers made sure kids got beds, not hammocks which helped), and they need to be non-fussy eaters. There is no choice of menu (the food is good), and the fuel is needed.

This trip has really made the holiday. Now time to chill by the Carribean Sea. (Hotel Aite in Palomino is fabulous- stayed on the way up, but unfortunately fully booked for the New Year)

Thanks for all the advice on this site.

Andrew, thank you for returning and letting us know how your Lost City trek went with children. Really appreciate you sharing this invaluable first-hand experience. So glad that it was such a great experience and this was one of the highlights of your visit to Colombia! Sounds like you and the guides were able to adjust and figure things out with the mules and other help. Yes, the campsites are pretty basic (hopefully you didn’t come across fleas!) and the food is hearty and meant to fuel you for the long walks, but doesn’t offer a lot of options.

Enjoy your chilling time by the Caribbean Sea and a very happy 2018 to you and your family!

Hi , Thanks for the detailed info, I would like to ask about your luggage whilst doing the trek did you leave it in your hotel/hostel? or can you leave your stuff with the company you’re booking your trek with?

Nikka, Both options are possible. We left our luggage at our hotel in Santa Marta and then stayed there for another night when we returned from the trek. This was the easiest option for us. We also saw other travelers leave their luggage at the trekking agency/tour company’s office. Have a great trek!

Dear Audrey, thank you for this wonderful post. This has made me even more excited about goingto Ciudad Perdida! I have a question concerning bedbugs. My nightmare. A traveller suggested carrying a personal hammock, which I found a genius idea. Do you think I should get a random small backpack that I could throw away after the trip in case I would find any bedbugs, or will it hurt my back too much? Should I buy some anti-bedbugs spray to spray all of my belongings, just in case? What kind of bed linen would you recommend for it not to be attacked by bedbugs?

Thank you a lot for the kind help!

Dear Maze, We just talked to a traveler who did the Lost City Trek recently and he said there were no bedbugs or fleas at the campsites. Hopefully, you’ll find the same during your upcoming trip.

Couple of thoughts regarding protecting yourself from bedbugs: 1) Use a silk sleep sack as the silk is supposed to not let bedbugs through. 2) Carry a plastic garbage bag and wrap your backpack and clothes in it at the campsites. This isn’t 100% foolproof, but it will add an extra layer of protection to your items. 3) Immediately take all your clothes and backpack to a laundromat at the end of the trek. 4) You could spray your things, but I imagine bedbug spray is pretty toxic so you may not want those chemicals on your skin.

Hope this helps!

Cheers for this Article! It looks beautiful and it’s great to see travel content on Columbia, as I feel as though it wasn’t as popular previously!

Thanks, Tash! Colombia has become a more popular tourist destination these last years, but there’s still so much to explore there.

wow. super helpful and thorough, thanks so much! i wasn’t aware of the ticks, a bit nervous now but still considering.

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How to Trek Colombia’s Lost City (Ciudad Perdida)

• 1 Colombia's Lost City: An Overview
• 2 The Lost City trek: What to expect
• 3 When to go
• 4 Getting there
• 5 Where to stay
• 6 Booking a trek tour to Colombia's Lost City (Ciudad Perdida)
• 7 What to pack
• 8 The Thrifty Gist

H idden in Colombia's deliciously green jungles lies an enticing secret. A secret unknowingly swallowed up by forest for 1,200 years, speckled with gold, jewels, and human sacrificial sites. Its ruins are 650 years older than Machu Picchu, and have only been publicly accessible in the last few decades. Known as the Ciudad Perdida or the Lost City, this ancient site is one of Colombia's most remarkably concealed gems.

Reaching these epic ruins is no simple feat. River crossings, steep hills, and tropical heat make the four day hike here a gruelling one. Despite being accessible to tourists for the past 10+ years, the Lost City is still surprisingly under-visited. One thing is for certain, those who make it here are left in awe.

Colombia's Lost City: An Overview

The Lost City was built by the Tairona people who first created this settlement in 800 A.D. Spanning over 12,000 square meters (129,167 square feet), the city was once home to an estimated 2,000-4,000 people in its peak. This is thought to have been the Tairona's biggest city, and was the epicentre of economic and political activity.

The Tairona were an advanced civilization, with a political structure and impressive engineering skills. Evidence of the latter lies in the complex bridges and drainage systems built to ensure the city withstood heavy rains. Stone-lined paths and staircases snake about the terraces, storehouses, ceremonial and feasting areas. All of this is but a fraction of what we know existed here. Only about 10% of the Lost City has been uncovered , further cloaking these ancient grounds in mystery.

The Tairona were skilled craftsmen and spiritual people. They practiced meditation and made symbolic offerings. Shamans were important to maintain natural order, sometimes even making human sacrifices to do so.

Stunning gold jewellery, intricate gold idols, and colourful beadwork have all been uncovered throughout the ruins. The Tairona are said to have worn feathered headdresses, shawls, and jewelled chest ornaments. Today, much of these artefacts can be seen in museums throughout Colombia. I highly recommend doing this, as the detail and intricacy is astounding, further enriching one's understanding of the civilization behind the Lost City. The Museo del Oro (Gold Museum) in Santa Marta, as well as in Bogota, both have fantastic collections.

Like many indigenous South American populations, the Tairona were wiped out with the colonization of the Spaniards, most likely due to smallpox. Their disappearance left their entire city to be swallowed up by the forest for centuries. Today, their nearest descendants, known as the “Kogi”, continue to live traditionally in huts without electricity or running water. You may encounter the Kogi people while entering the Lost City, as we did.

The Lost City trek: What to expect

After a steep venture up, the lushness of the Lost City is revealed. Much of the hand-carved stone terraces, which once housed huts and structures, are engrossed in moss and plants. It is eery, beautiful, and reminiscent of other nature-engulfed ruins like Machu Picchu.

The Lost City is further explored on foot with your guide who will explain various areas of significance. That includes sacrificial sites, stones with engravings, and the various terraces and plazas. Besides the spectacular ruins, the scenery en route to the Lost City is majestic. Sweeping mountain views, colourful butterflies, sputtering waterfalls, and gorgeous rock pools (which you can dive into) are just some of what's in store.

Hike difficulty

The Lost City trek is a 44km hilly hike that takes 4-6 days to complete (round-trip). The journey begins with a bumpy 4WD up a mountain to the start of the hike. There is only one trail in and out to the Lost City, meaning that you will retrace the route. The first three days of the tour are generally inclining (approaching the Lost City), and the last two are declining as you return to the start. The only difference in tour duration is the amount of hiking completed each day. We did the 4-day (shortest) option and found it was fine, and this is a popular option for travellers.

In terms of difficulty, this is a challenging hike. General fitness is required, and there are steep hills throughout. Ultimately, an elevation of 1,100 metres (3,600 feet) is reached. Climate-wise, it is hot, humid, muddy, and buggy. There are several river crossings (i.e. you will literally walk through rivers), so you will get wet. If being hot, fatigued, sweaty, dirty, and bug-bitten is a suitable trade-off for you in exchange for incredible landscapes and ancient ruins, then you'll find this hike well worth it (we certainly did!).

Accommodation, food & water

Accommodation throughout the hike is humble. There are small open-air huts with dirt floors, simple bunk beds, and hammocks inside, both of which have mosquito nets. Most tours have 10-12 people, so the sleeping area is small and quiet (imagine a rustic hostel dorm set in the jungle). Cold showers are available at the camp on the second day, though river swims are available on day 1 of the hike.

Food is provided on all tours, which is usually three meals and two snacks per day. It is home cooked Colombian food, such as stews with rice and salad. Filtered water is available at each of the camp sites, so you can refill at each station. You should carry 1.5-2L each day to be well hydrated.

Colombia has warm weather year-round, so the Lost City trek can technically be done anytime. The dry season runs between December and March. Temperatures are slightly lower during this time and there is less rain, making the hike's several river crossings easier. On the flip side, this is the busier season, increasing the number of tourists on the trail.

The rainy season (April to November) can involve anything from a light drizzle to torrential downpours. Rivers will be fuller, sometimes raising the water as high as one's chest, so keep this in mind.

Getting there

The closest city to the starting point of the Lost City trek is Santa Marta. It is accessible by bus or car transfer from nearby major cities like Barranquilla and Cartagena.

Colombia is well connected by bus. For example, you can get a bus ticket online from Medellin to Santa Marta from $38 USD , or from Bogota to Santa Marta from $27 USD . Bus prices can sometimes be negotiable outside of peak season. A gentle, “Hay discuento?” will reveal if you can get a better rate. To purchase tickets, go to the nearest bus station or buy ahead online on Busbud .

If flying into Colombia, the nearest major airport to the Lost City is Cartagena. Use Skyscanner and select “Whole Month” to visualize the cheapest dates to fly. From there you must transfer onwards to Santa Marta.

Where to stay

Santa marta.

Santa Marta is a small colonial city located along Colombia's northern coast. It is home to a small variety of bars, restaurants, and beaches. There are several hostel, hotel, and AirBNB  (as low as $10 USD/night for a private room ) options here suitable to various budgets and travel styles. We stayed at the bright and spacious Drop Bear Hostel ( read reviews here ).

Drop Bear Hostel

Owned by a friendly Aussie, this vibrant hostel is set in a rustic Colombian mansion. It has a swimming pool, games room, restaurant, bar, pool table, cinema room, large kitchen, and hammock lounge. Those wanting some screen time can make use its computers (there is also good Wifi throughout the hostel). It's slightly removed from town so that it is a quiet paradise, but still has proximity to the beaches and city.

Pricing : $9-$13 USD/night dorms (varying sizes), $20-$44 USD/night private Book here – Read reviews here

A fairy-tale like city nestled on the sparkling waters of the Carribbean, Cartagena is not to be missed. Speckled with brightly coloured colonial buildings, even a wander through the streets here is stimulating. Cartagena's Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, teeming with stone-brick walls and cobblestone roads. The city is a delight to explore at dusk into nightfall, as its street lamps romantically illuminate the colonial buildings and stone walls.

There are a dizzying number of hostel, hotel, and AirBNB  (around $20 USD for a private room ) options on hand here. We stayed at Hostel Mamallena ( read reviews here ), covered more below.

Hostel Mamallena

Quaint, vibrant, and clean, Hostel Mamallena is a great option for a central pad in Cartagena. Basic breakfast is provided and the staff are friendly to help with any queries you may have. Dorm and private rooms are tidy and have air conditioning too. The backyard chill area and bar are great for socializing with other travellers at nightfall.

Pricing : $14 USD/night (8-bed dorm), $41 USD/night private Book here – Read reviews here

Booking a trek tour to Colombia's Lost City (Ciudad Perdida)

A guided trek to Colombia's Lost City is the only way to visit the site, as it is sacred indigenous land now protected by the Colombian government. You can book tours online in advance with instant confirmation on Viator or G Adventures , or in person at your accommodation or tour company.

When you do book, request an English speaking guide (if you don't speak Spanish), as this will majorly impact your overall experience and understanding of the site. If that's not possible, the guides will often ask a bi-lingual member of the tour to do the translating (this happened on our tour), so it's unlikely you'll miss too much.

Ciudad Perdida: 4- or 5-Day Trek from Santa Marta ($568 USD)

• This is the standard Ciudad Perdida tour, with options for 4 or 5 days of hiking.
• Both options offer similar experiences, but you move at a faster pace on the 4-day option (this is what we did).

Colombia – Lost City Trekking – 7 days, Santa Marta to Santa Marta ($679 USD – $849 USD)

• This tour is 5 days of hiking. Day 1 and day 7 have no planned activities.
• Comparable to the Viator tour , but includes a community lunch at the Gotsezhi Village women's community (day 6) as well as exploring nearby waterfalls before returning to Santa Marta.

What to pack

Firstly, pack light . When you're hiking through humidity and heat that's as thick as pudding, every bit of weight adds strain. We packed 2 day hiking outfits each (plus nighttime wear) and alternated drying them. You will become dirty/sweaty within minutes of putting your clothes on each day, so it's up to you whether you want to add bulk for the sake of clean options. Some hikers wash their clothes in the river and hang them to dry in between (though with the humidity, items never fully dry). For tips on travelling light, be sure to check our men's and women's  packing guides.

Note: if you're travelling with much bigger bags, it may be possible to store extra luggage/items at your Santa Marta accommodation if needed (check in advance – Drop Bear Hostel let us!).

Here is what we recommend to pack for the Lost City trek:

• 2-3 quick-dry tops (tank top or t-shirt)
• 1 long sleeved shirt (for night)
• 1 pair pants or leggings (for night)
• 2-3 pairs of socks
• 2 sports bras
• 4 pairs of underwear
• Hiking shoes (we used running shoes)
• Sandals or flip flops (we wore flip flops)
• 1 bathing suit
• Rain jacket (mainly for wet season; we didn't use ours as it was hot and dry)
• Toothbrush & toothpaste
• Deodorant (ESSENTIAL!!!)
• 1 fast-dry towel
• Small first aid kit (Bandaids, hydrocortisone cream, Polysporin, Immodium)
• Insect repellent (DEET-containing is most effective, you can buy a soap-like version in Colombia called Nopikex. Natural alternatives include citronella, eucalyptus, tea tree oil, etc.)
• Sunscreen that is waterproof and sweat proof

Miscellaneous

• Water bottle (we use the Platypus as it folds flat. Pack extra empty bottles if you don't have a large one already, you'll need 1.5-2L per day)
• Portable charger
• Sleeping bag liner (on our hike there were bed bugs in the bunk beds; a liner does reduce the risk of bites, otherwise wear at least 3 layers)
• Rain jacket
• Flashlight and/or headlamp
• Waterproof backpack cover (we love our Deuter bags because they come with these!)
• Dry bag (very important for keeping electronics etc. safe during heavy rains and river crossings)
• Cash: the camps sell chocolate bars etc. in the evenings if you wish

The Thrifty Gist

• The Lost City Trek in Colombia is an incredible trek. Booking a tour is required (check G Adventures or Viator for instant online confirmation, or book at your accommodation)
• Pack as light as possible, as you will be carrying your luggage on the trek
• A visit in dry season is advisable (Dec – March), but shoulder seasons are still okay
• Pack all essentials (refer to packing list above), as you will have no stops at shops on this remote trek

• Book Travel
• Credit Cards

The Lost City Trek: Colombia’s Best Jungle Adventure

While I was in Colombia, I did a four-day adventure hike to the Lost City. Nestled deep in the jungle of Colombia’s mountains, the archaeological site also known as Teyuna can only be accessed on foot.

The Lost City Trek is one of Colombia’s most popular tourist attractions, an appealing mix of cultural significance, physical challenge, and natural beauty. I made sure to prioritize it during my visit to the country.

In This Post

Preparing for the lost city trek, the lost city, camp life & meals, what to pack (and what not to pack), the tayrona civilization and its descendants, reflections on a society in turmoil, reflections on adventure travel with a group.

The Lost City is in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains, on protected Indigenous land which is actively used by those communities today. You are only allowed to visit with a licensed tour company, all of whom run very similar itineraries and have an agreement to charge the same price (1,400,000 Colombian pesos as of 2022, roughly $450 Canadian dollars ).

I did my trek with Expotur , the oldest tour company organizing trips to the Lost City. Tours depart daily, and they generally try to scale up to meet demand. You may also consider a smaller outfitter owned and operated by Indigenous guides, but beware that you might get stuck with a small group – we met one guy who was the only person on his tour!

The hike is hardly a walk in the park by any means, but it is designed to be accessible for able-bodied tourists. You’ll need to have a baseline level of fitness before undertaking the trek, but there isn’t any technical skill required.

Pack accordingly but minimally – you’ll want to bring as little as necessary, as you carry your kit through the jungle. (See below for a detailed packing list.)

You’ll also have to arrange to leave the rest of your “city” travel gear in Santa Marta. Many accommodations and tour organizers will be able to hold it securely for you, including the AC Hotel Santa Marta where I stayed, or Expotur themselves. (I’d recommend the latter if your onward journey after the hike takes you away from Santa Marta, as your bags will meet you at the trailhead when you finish.)

The yellow fever vaccine is recommended, but not mandatory, to visit the coastal jungles of the Lost City Trek. You can get it for free at a clinic at Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport, on the landside departures concourse.

The Lost City Trek starts in the city of Santa Marta. Expotur picked me up from my hotel bright and early before convening at their office located in the centre of town, where we took care of the final administrative details before setting off.

Our group consisted of 11 travellers, plus a guide and a translator. We were a broad mix: husband-wife, father-daughter, North Americans, Europeans, even a Colombian on a domestic holiday.

To get to the trailhead, we rode by bus an hour east on the highway, then an hour inland on dirt roads into the mountains. The vehicle journey ends at the town of Mamey, where we did a final orientation and ate lunch before beginning the hike.

The four-day journey on foot is an out-and-back on the same route, consisting of two half-days and two full-days of hiking. Here’s a rough breakdown of what to expect:

• Day 1 afternoon: 8 kilometres, 550 metres of ascent
• Day 2 morning: 7 kilometres of rolling terrain
• Day 2 afternoon: 9 kilometres, 500 metres of ascent
• Day 3 morning: short hike with 400 metres of ascent and descent to and from the Lost City
• Day 3 afternoon: 7 kilometres of mostly descent
• Day 4 morning: 15 kilometres of mostly descent but with two summits

(Some tour groups offer an alternate itinerary with a fifth day, which is an extension of the return journey with some extra time spent interacting with the locals. I got the sense, both from my experience and from others’ opinions, that the extra day is unnecessary.)

The terrain is varied, but well-maintained. Workers and residents in the area use the same trails for their daily activities.

The route begins with a mostly uphill hike along a dirt road. This part is quite open, a double-edged sword of being exposed to both sun and rain, while affording sweeping views of the lush valleys and mountain ranges.

Local Colombian farmers use motorcycles on this part of the route. On the cusp of the rainy season, the road was very muddy and quite slippery on the occasional downhill slopes.

Beginning on the second day, the trail narrows as it enters the jungle. From here on out, we shared the route with Indigenous tribes native to the area, and the mules that they use to transport goods.

The trail weaves in and out of dense jungle, crossing a few streams.

Along the way, there are a few communities of traditional huts where the locals still live today.

There are also shops throughout the trail, mostly at the crest of each ridge. Locals sell refreshments such as water, beer, and coffee, as well as souvenirs ranging from touristy t-shirts to traditional woven satchels. Our guides also used these checkpoints as apt occasions to provide snacks such as fresh fruit.

We got up bright and early on the third morning, with our go-getter guide keen to have us beat the crowds so we could get unspoiled photographs.

Shortly after hitting the trail, we encountered a river crossing with a fun zipline which had only been installed a few months ago.

The final push is a 30–60-minute hike up 1,200 steep rocky steps. (What ancient ruin is complete without an arduous home stretch that leaves you on your hands and knees in submission to the gods upon your arrival?)

At the end of the hike, the Lost City sprawls across a terraced ridge, with marvellous jungle views in every direction.

The most picturesque views are from the top, the farthest point from the entrance.

Once the political, industrial, and residential centre of the Tayrona civilization’s communities living in the Sierra Nevada mountains, excavation of the expansive site continues today. Its telltale circles have been restored to delineate where over 200 homes and other wooden structures used to stand.

Often compared to Machu Picchu, the Lost City is hundreds of years older despite being commercialized more recently. While lacking the same visual grandeur, the ruins and the surrounding landscapes are striking in their own distinct way.

The Lost City route has a handful of camps situated at convenient locations. Each camp has sleeping accommodations, a kitchen and dining room, power, and toilets with running water.

The camps are managed separately and shared by the various tour outfitters passing through each day. Our itinerary with Expotur put us at the following camps:

• Campamento Alfredo for our first night
• Campamento Paraiso (at the foot of the Lost City) for our second night
• Campamento Mumake for our third night, and lunch on the second day

Our group slept in bunk beds with mosquito nets every night. Some groups may be assigned to hammocks or tents, which appeared to be far less preferable.

There were also cold showers to rinse the sweat off, a huge difference-maker after hiking uphill in the humid climate and before changing into clean evening wear.

All of our meals (and just enough snacks) were provided and prepared for us at camp, plus lunch at the trailhead on the first and last day. We had a chef assigned to our group, who hiked ahead of us for meal prep and behind us after clean-up.

Meals were a well-balanced mix of chicken, fish, and beef dishes, nutritious and substantial enough to fuel our energy needs for the hike. We had a number of vegetarians in our group, all of whom were impressed with the quality and variety of protein-packed alternatives that were served.

The camps are stocked with amenities for purchase, such as toilet paper and beer. Limited charging stations are available, and there is Wi-Fi for purchase – although I didn’t make use of either, nor do I think they’re necessary. In any event, I wouldn’t count on any civilized conveniences, as there are occasional power outages if the generators go down.

Additionally, our camps for the second and third nights were situated on stretches of the Buritaca River that were very inviting for a refreshing pre-dinner swim.

Overall, our eating and sleeping setup was rustic while still being significantly more comfortable than I’m used to in the great outdoors.

Our long days in the jungle aligned with daylight hours. Each morning on the trail, we woke up at 5am, ready to seize a full day of hiking. After breakfast and coffee, we were on the move by 6am every day. We typically arrived at the next camp before 5pm, with enough daylight to freshen up and relax before dinner. In the evenings, very few of us had the energy to stay up past 9pm.

Whether due to rain or sweat, expect that everything will get wet. At each camp, we rinsed our sweaty hiking attire, and hung them on clotheslines to air dry. In the humid climate, don’t expect anything to dry properly overnight, and be prepared to wear damp clothes the next day.

We were lucky that the weather gradually improved over the course of our four days. We arrived to moody clouds and intermittent showers for our uphill hike into the jungle, reached the Lost City under pristine blue skies, and had downhill slopes on the return to temper the effects of the scalding tropical sun.

There are a good number of animals on the trail, both domesticated and wild. The local residents use livestock such as mules, chickens, and pigs, the latter of which had just had an adorable litter.

Colombia is home to the largest number of species of birds in the world. Around the Lost City, we spotted a few small and extremely colourful ones fluttering around – they look, sound, and move in a distinctly tropical manner.

There are also a ton of frogs inhabiting the area near one of our camps. We saw a few, but the crepuscular creatures were most noticeable by their constant chorus of croaking as we went to bed. Frogs are a symbol of fertility in the Tayrona belief system; I wasn’t aware of any increased human activity in that regard on the particular night we stayed at the frog-filled camp.

Much to our disappointment, we didn’t encounter any jaguars. Instead, there were a few very playful cats at the Lost City. (Well-cared-for semi-stray cats and dogs were quite common throughout Colombia.)

I have a tendency to overpack and overprepare, and I’m not afraid to carry a couple extra pounds of gear for peace of mind. I found a 24-litre backpack was perfect: it forced me to make judicious cuts, without leaving me wanting for anything. It was light enough to carry comfortably, although you can certainly pare down further if weight is a concern.

Here are my recommendations for what to bring, and what to leave behind. This is based on my experience; your needs may vary depending on season, tour outfitter, or personal preference.

• Outdoor backpack. You can get by with a city backpack, but expect it to get very dirty. I was glad to have something comfortable and well-supported for mountainous hiking.
• Plastic garbage bags for separating your wet and dirty clothes from your dry and clean clothes.
• Hiking boots. Proper ankle-supporting, well-broken in, well-fitted footwear will save you from blisters on steep, slippery terrain with a heavy pack. Running shoes may not quite cut it. Waterproof boots are ideal for muddy patches and stream crossings.
• Hiking shirts. Quick-drying and moisture-wicking material, such as polyester or wool, is critical – and even then, don’t expect your clothes to dry overnight. I’d recommend two shirts so you can alternate daily. I brought t-shirts; loose-fitting button-ups would be suitable as well.
• Hiking shorts. Same idea – something athletic. You don’t need long pants while you’re exerting. I got by with one pair of shorts.
• Synthetic underwear. I brought one per day – ultra-lightweight packing is a nice idea, but I’m not a barbarian!
• Extra socks. You absolutely don’t want to risk getting a blister from wet socks when you’re far from civilization in a tropical wilderness, with no way out but the power of your own two feet. For four days, I brought six pairs of comfortable hiking socks (wool/nylon blends or similar).
• Insect repellent. All of it. The mosquitos won’t want anything to do with the cocktail of sunscreen and sweat dripping off your skin, but you’ll definitely want bug spray for good measure, and certainly in the evening. I used it somewhat liberally and didn’t have any significant issues. I’d also recommend After Bite, which was helpful when my preventative measures failed.
• Sun protection. You’re at the equator, for crying out loud – apply sunscreen early and often. Parts of the route are sheltered in the jungle, but not all – in particular, the part of the trail closest to the trailhead, and the Lost City itself, are extremely exposed.
• Deodorant. Some people go without, but it’s nice to not feel like complete garbage all of the time.
• Evening layers. Long sleeves and pants are useful to minimize exposure to mosquitos. Also, nighttime temperatures are mild in the mountains even at the equator. I’d recommend one long-sleeve cotton shirt, one pair of pants (I brought synthetic hiking pants which doubled as backup daytime bottoms), and two pairs of cotton underwear for sleeping (alternating nightly).
• Flip-flops or lightweight slip-on sandals for hanging around camp. I had packed full-fledged water shoes suitable for rocky scrambles, which proved unnecessary for stream crossings and a bit of a nuisance for casual wear.
• Quick-drying camping towel for showering and swimming.
• Lightweight rain jacket, but don’t expect to use it much, if at all. Anything waterproof works both ways, and it’ll end up a sweaty mess inside while you’re hiking. Besides, I found an occasional light rain to be very welcome and refreshing. (To be fair, we got lucky that most of our rainfall was on uphill days.) Camps are quite well-covered, so you’ll stay dry in the evening. I didn’t use mine once, but it would be foolish not to bring one just in case.
• Rain cover for your backpack. I picked up a form-fitting one from MEC, designed for 20–30L bags. Some hikers go with a garbage bag, which amounts to a flapping superhero cape that does little for dryness. I much preferred having an outer dry shell rather than lining the inside of my backpack with waterproofing strategies. The rain cover was the one item I picked up on a whim that I was disproportionately thankful for.
• Be sure you don’t drink untreated water! As a backup, I would bring a small chemical or ultraviolet purifying solution, or a bottle with a physical filtration system. A few hikers in another group got quite ill from drinking water directly from the river.
• Toothbrush. Just because you’re roughing it doesn’t mean your oral health is put on pause.
• Basic first aid kit. I brought some blister treatment items like bandages and moleskin, but otherwise you don’t need much – your guides will set you straight if you get an infection or injure a limb. For medication, I always hike with anti-diarrhea tablets (Pepto-Bismol), an anti-inflammatory for muscle swelling (ibuprofen/Advil), antihistamines for mosquito bites (Benadryl), and electrolytes for low energy. You may also consider bringing painkillers (acetaminophen/Tylenol).
• A camera, if you’ll use it. Half the time I found it easier just to take photos with my phone in my pocket, instead of getting my full kit out on the sweaty trail.
• A deck of cards, for social games around camp in the evening.
• A headlamp for after the camps shut off power at night.
• Money for purchasing amenities and souvenirs along the way.

Don’t bring:

• Sleeping bag liner. Some people recommend this for cleanliness; however, all of our accommodations with Expotur were beds with pillows, sheets, and duvets for adequate warmth and proper hygiene.
• Things you know you won’t use. For example, I’m not a big hat guy, and between sufficient tree cover and being sweaty all the time, I never once felt compelled to wear mine.
• A book. Odds are it’ll get wet, and you’ll either be too tired or chatty at the end of the day to read.

For thousands of years, the Tayrona people had built a thriving society in the jungles of northern Colombia. Their territory included the coastal area now known as Tayrona National Park, and the adjacent Sierra Nevada mountains where the Lost City is found.

Going by a handful of names today, Teyuna was the name used by the Tayrona people for their capital. The Lost City, or La Ciudad Perdida, are commercial names referring more accurately to the adventure trek.

The Lost City was never lost, so to speak. In fact, it was never found in the first place. Spanish conquistadors were never able to advance into the mountainous jungles. As a result, Teyuna was spared from European diseases for much longer than other parts of the Americas.

Ironically, it was the Indigenous people themselves who contracted these diseases on the conquered coasts, and accidentally spread them to their mountain-dwelling cousins.

Believing the city to be cursed, the locals abandoned Teyuna in the 1600s, retreating further into the mountains. But they never forgot about their traditional home.

It wasn’t until the 1970s when Colombian treasure hunters uncovered the Lost City – the first outsiders to find it. As the successor tribes of the Tayrona civilization caught wind of increased activity in their ancestral homeland, they believed the curse to be lifted, and they descended from the mountains to return.

Although the Tayrona civilization collapsed in the face of colonization, its successor tribes have maintained their way of life. The Wiwa and Kogui tribes continue to inhabit the area, wearing traditional dress and hairstyles, and adhering to classical gender roles within their modest society.

On the second day of our hike, we were invited by a Wiwa chief to witness a demonstration of their customs. He showed us how they strip plant fibres which they use to make bags and other fabrics. We also had quite an in-depth risqué discussion about coming-of-age rituals for men and women.

The Wiwa people are quite removed from modern society, with most of them only speaking the Wiwa language. At some points during the demonstration, our guides had to translate from Wiwa into Spanish, then our translators from Spanish into English. It was a sobering reminder of how remote this experience was, despite its relative accessibility as an organized tourist activity.

(As part of our agreement to visit their land, it is forbidden to take photographs of the local Indigenous people without their permission.)

The first few days of my trip to Colombia coincided with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. I was born the year the Soviet Union collapsed. I and many of the travellers I met had never reckoned with a nuclear reality, the kind of event with the potential to upheave everything we know – just like what the Tayrona civilization faced with the onset of diseases mistaken as a curse.

The Tayrona people fled when everything they knew was threatened, returning centuries later when it was safe to do so. Through it all, they’ve maintained most of their traditional customs. However, they’ve also begun to embrace some modern conveniences, like the use of money. (Like the street gangs of Medellín , they’ve seen how the tourist economy can benefit their standard of living).

What parts of your old civilization do you choose to rebuild when your way of life is reduced to rubble? Seeing what the Wiwa have kept, given up, and adopted, I reflected momentarily on what aspects of my society and lifestyle I might fight to maintain when they are threatened, or happily surrender if a clean slate were to present itself.

I also noted the difference between loss and abandonment. I can only imagine how painful it must have been for a whole society to choose to leave a place that was so fundamental, just because it had become too difficult to stay.

I’ve done my fair share of self-guided backcountry hiking , where I’m responsible for carrying my own food, shelter, and cooking equipment. This was the first time I’ve done a guided multi-night adventure activity, and the first time I’ve done a trek with amenities provided.

By not having to coordinate or carry a large portion of my usual backcountry kit, I was able to experience the journey in a different way than I’m used to. It was a good introduction to hiking in the taxing jungle environment, and it certainly eased the challenges of arranging a wilderness survival strategy in a foreign country.

I certainly feel like I earned the reward at the end for the hard work I put in to complete the journey. That being said, despite the arduous terrain and climate, I never felt pushed beyond my limits. The creature comforts afforded just enough balance to feel satisfied with my efforts while capably and happily pushing onwards.

As a traveller and in life, I’m a proponent of putting myself in the right place at the right time as best I can. The risk with a guided tour, off the grid no less, is that you’re at the mercy of a lot of things out of your control, and the quality of the experience is really determined by the hand you’re dealt.

We got very lucky that our group all clicked – everyone got along well, and many of us met up afterwards as our travels continued. There was also no weak link in terms of physical fitness. Furthermore, I enjoyed the opportunity for communal après-hike jungle beers a lot more than I expected I would.

(We suspect that Expotur split the day’s departures roughly into under-30 and over-30 groups, which certainly helped foster conditions for bringing the right people together.)

However, I found the harsh equatorial elements and constant potential for social interaction pulled me away from the presence of my natural surroundings a bit, in a way I’m not used to – none of which was a bad thing, just different.

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience doing the Lost City Trek, but looking back, what impression did it leave me with? I think this is a natural limitation of group trips, especially for people like me who have solo backcountry experience. Even if the curated experience is authentic, it may not feel as organic.

Would I recommend the Lost City Trek to anyone? Absolutely. Did it resonate with me in a life-changing way? Not really, although I did indeed take a lot from it. (And I do admittedly have a high bar for what constitutes a life-changing experience.)

I think it’s an exceptional tourist activity if you approach it in that way. Personally, I found it was more of an activity than an adventure, despite being a great one.

It’s not an experience I need to have again, but I’m thrilled to have done it. I definitely felt like I was in the right place at the right time.

Colombia is a diverse land in many ways: the cultures, the geography, the food, and the activities. My trek to the Lost City captured yet another magical slice of the wonderful country. It was a fantastic highlight of my itinerary, and I’m very glad that I lengthened my trip to have time for it.

I’ve been fondly referring to the Lost City as “hipster Machu Picchu,” and I’d say it lives up to its billing. Despite its popularity and infrastructure, it’s still relatively undiscovered, likely because it’s inaccessible by any method other than hiking.

A friend from the trek had recently completed the Inca Trail and had great groups of people for both, and he preferred the Lost City experience. As he put it, the Lost City journey had more to offer, while the Inca Trail was all about the destination.

If you’re at all considering the Lost City Trek, it’s without a doubt worth doing, even if it won’t be all things to all people. I’d highly recommend it to any able-bodied traveller looking to inject an off-the-grid experience into their trip.

It’s a great way to immerse yourself in the country’s cultures and landscapes, to connect your body and mind with the travel experience through a demanding adventure, and to meet other like-minded globetrotters – with the ever-present caveat that your mileage may vary on the latter point, and the acknowledgement that I was very fortunate in that regard.

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Nice post, looking forward to that hike one day.

Excellent write-up Josh, was looking forward to this and it was worth the wait.

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The Lost City Trek in Colombia: 27 Things I Wish I Knew

Discovering remains of ancient civilizations. Hiking through lush jungle. Swimming in cascading waterfalls.

If this sounds like the adventure you’re after, then the Lost City trek in Colombia should be on your bucket list.

But it’s certainly not a walk in the park!

The multi-day trek to the Lost City (or La Ciudad Perdida) is a tough hike that involves lots of walking in brutal heat.

Is it worth the expensive price tag? Is it too crowded? And is it as difficult as people say it is?

I answer all those questions (and more) in this guide to 27 things I wish I knew about the Lost City trek, Colombia.

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Lost City Trek Overview

• Time needed: 4 or 5-day tour
• Costs: 2.150.000 COP (2024 fixed price 4-day tour)
• Distance: 46 – 60 km
• Difficulty: Medium to difficult
• Type: Out and back route meaning you’ll follow the same route back (unless you’re doing the 5-day tour)

Is the Lost City Trek Worth it?

Yes, the trek to the Lost City is 100% worth it. Not only is it an incredibly scenic hike but the site itself is filled with so much wonder and mystery.

It was built by the Teyuna People around 800 AD (that’s 650 years before Machu Picchu was built), and was only recently discovered.

I had no intention of doing the Lost City trek in Colombia – but after it was recommended to me by numerous travelers, I decided to give it a go.

And I am so happy I did.

But it is expensive, and you need at least 4 days to complete the tour.

So, if time and budget aren’t on your side, you might need to rethink whether you include Ciudad Perdida in your itinerary or not.

This post will hopefully make that decision easier for you.

It’s not a hidden gem like it used to be

A few years ago, the Lost City was regarded as an off-the-beaten-track destination in Colombia.

Nestled deep in the Sierra Nevada mountains, few people made the trek to Ciudad Perdida. And those who did were met with isolated communities, remote landscapes, and very few creature comforts.

That has since changed!

The Lost City trek is no longer a hidden gem and the trails are busy, especially during December and January. It’s a backpacker haven where you’re guaranteed to meet like-minded travelers.

The camps are crowded, and you may be stuck behind a large tour group during certain sections of the hike, especially on the last day.

But the crowds don’t ruin the experience

Despite the crowds, hiking to Ciudad Perdida was one of my highlights of Colombia.

Nothing beats walking through the Lost City, which is a lot bigger than I had ever thought, and imagining what life was like for the people who once lived there.

But it’s not only reaching Ciudad Perdida that makes it a worthwhile adventure.

The trail is surrounded by dense forests with swimming holes next to each camp.

Cooling off in the rivers, sipping on ice-cold beers after a grueling 6-hour hike, and meeting people from all over the world – it was the entire journey to and from the Lost City that made it special for me.

Lost City Trek Difficulty: It’s not easy

The Lost City trek involves a lot of walking on uneven, muddy terrain, often uphill. And in high humidity.

But overall, it’s not a technical hike nor overly challenging. It’s the temperature and jungle setting that get to most people.

You’ll walk at least 6 hours a day and there are a lot of steep sections. When you reach the top of a hill, you’ll be huffing and puffing, and drenched in sweat.

The final stretch to the Lost City involves hiking up 1200 stairs. They are steep, slippery, and very narrow so you need to watch your footing.

I found this day (day 3) to be the most challenging.

Because it’s a long day as you’ll not only trek to the Lost City, but you’ll re-trace your steps to the halfway point where you’ll spend the night.

You need 4 or 5 days for the Ciudad Perdida trek

The most popular Lost City trek tour is 4 days. This is the perfect amount of time for most people.

And trust me, you don’t want to do any shorter!

There is also the option to do a 5-day tour. For this, your first 3 days will follow the same route as the 4-day tour. And you will still reach the Lost City on day 3.

But it differs from the standard trek as you won’t rush to get back to the trailhead on day 4.

Instead, you will take a detour along a quieter route and have an extra day to get back to the start.

Some people prefer this alternative exit route that’s taken on days 4 and 5 because it’s not very busy and you’re likely to have a large part of the trail to yourself.

I did the 4-day tour and was very happy with my decision.

The Lost City Trek is expensive

The 4-day Lost City trek costs 2.150.000 COP per person in 2024. That’s an increase from 1.750.000 COP per person in 2023 – nearly $100 USD more.

Yes, you read that correctly! It’s one of the most expensive activities to do in all of South America.

All tour costs are fixed no matter which operator you go with – so you won’t be able to negotiate a better price.

And no, you’re not getting anything luxurious in return.

The accommodation and food are very basic, and the hefty price tag is due to money that goes back to the communities that call the Sierra Nevada mountains home.

You can’t do it independently

The only way to trek to the Lost City of Ciudad Perdida is by booking a tour. It’s a requirement and you need to use a certified company that follows strict rules and regulations.

I booked my Lost City tour the day I arrived in Santa Marta and had no problems finding an operator with availability.

However, if you do not have flexibility in your schedule or if you have preference for a particular tour operator, I recommend contacting a few companies a week before your planned departure date.

November to April is the best time for the Ciudad Perdida hike

The dry season for the northern part of Colombia is from November to April. It’s best to plan your trip during this time.

You’ll have long days of clear skies and optimal hiking conditions.

But there’s no escaping the heat and humidity, no matter what time of year you do the Lost City trek hike.

May to October is considered the wet season with daily rain showers. Despite this, many people choose to hike to the Lost City during this time and enjoy the quieter trails.

I have heard that the rain can be quite intense from August to October so you may want to reconsider your plans if this is the only time you can go.

But December and January are extremely busy

I did the Lost City trek in February, and it was busy!

But after speaking to my tour guide, it seems that December and January are even busier.

70 people entered Ciudad Perdida the same day as we did, but apparently, during December, this number is double!

You’ll start your tour in Santa Marta

The coastal city of Santa Marta is the gateway to the Lost City trek. This is the departure point for all tours and is a 90 minute drive to the trailhead.

All tours depart early in the morning, so you’ll need to spend a night in Santa Marta before your start date.

Santa Marta wasn’t my favorite place to visit so don’t stay any longer than you have to!

Some operators will arrange transport to and from Minca and Palomino

I wish I had known this!

But yes, you can request a drop-off or pick-up in one of the nearby towns (which are more interesting than Santa Marta) such as Minca or Palomino.

But you need to check that the company offers this service at no extra cost. I didn’t and so the option wasn’t given to me.

However, a few people in my group had specifically requested to be dropped off in Minca after the tour. Arrangements were made for them, and their stored luggage was brought to the trailhead on the last day.

I believe the bigger tour companies offer this service at no extra cost so inquire about it if you have plans to visit Minca.

2024 Update: Unfortunately, the tour operator I booked with (Magic Tours) no longer offers this complimentary drop-off in Minca after the Lost City Trek. They will drop you off at the bus station in Santa Marta, and you can take the bus from there. Luckily, a reader has let me know that Teyuna Tours does drop-offs in Minca.

If you’re reading this and have found another operator that offers this Minca drop-off service, please let me know in the comments section!

This brings me to my next point…

Visit Minca after your Lost City Trek Tour

Minca is a mountain town about an hour south of Santa Marta.

It’s the perfect place to rest and relax after trekking to Ciudad Perdida.

You’ll finish your hike at lunchtime and from there, you’ll take an hour’s drive back to Santa Marta. But don’t spend the night here.

Head straight to Minca and treat yourself to a mountain hotel where you can chill for a day or two.

Tour group size: How many is too many

When doing my research, I made every attempt to find a Lost City tour operator that had good reviews and offered small group tours.

Despite my efforts, I somehow managed to book the most popular tour with the biggest group of travelers – there were over 20 of us in our group with 2 guides and a translator!

But this ended up being a blessing rather than a curse.

I met so many amazing people who made the difficult hike that much easier.

We sang, we drank, we sweated buckets – and I formed real connections with people from all over the world.

Lost City Tour recommendations

I booked my tour with Magic Tours, and I highly recommend them. I paid for the trip myself and they did not know that I was a travel blogger (so this is my totally unbiased opinion).

When I initially enquired about the tour, they said their group size was maximum of 12 per guide. What I didn’t realize is that they were quite happy to pair their groups together with 2 guides.

As I mentioned above, I was actually happy with this because it gave me the chance to meet 24 of the most amazing, diverse, and interesting people.

Teyuna Tours and Expo Tours also seemed to have big groups – and they also came with positive reviews.

However, if you’d prefer a smaller group, then you may want to avoid these tour operators.

There are showers

This one really surprised me!

Yes, there are showers at each camp (and no, they are not bucket showers). The water is cold but at least you’ll feel fresh at the end of the day!

There are also flushing toilets.

You have to carry everything

You must carry your own bags with all your clothes and toiletries.

Food and bedding is provided at the camp so you won’t need to lug those around.

Because you’ll be carrying everything yourself, it’s important to keep your pack as light as possible. You don’t need a new outfit for every day – you’ll thank me later.

Know what to pack

When packing for the Lost City trek, it’s important to bring light and breathable clothes to walk in.

There’s no avoiding the humidity and sweat! I brought two sets of exercise clothes and switched them after two days.

I also recommend bringing a clean set of clothes that you can change into after showering.

Bring your own sheet (if you can)

Clean bedding (sheets and blankets) will be waiting for you at each camp on the Lost City trek.

I had read online that there are bed bugs, with a few people suggesting bringing your own sleeping bag. But I wasn’t going to go out and buy one specifically for the trip.

So instead, I went to a fabric shop in Santa Marta and purchased 3 meters of fabric which I used as a fitted sheet. It was light, small, and cheap so I’m glad I took it along.

But no one else on my tour had taken their own sheet or sleeping bag. And no one got bed bug bites!

But if you’d prefer to err on the side of caution, you can find the sheet shop here.

You’ll need money for beer and snacks

You can buy cold beers and snacks at all camps along the Lost City trek.

But things get more expensive the further up you walk.

I paid 6000 COP for a beer at the first camp at 10 000 COP at the other two. But it was worth every penny.

I recommend taking 200.000 COP in cash with you.

Drinking water is provided

Filtered drinking water is available at all camps so be sure to bring a reusable bottle with you.

Many people question the quality of this water and if it’s really safe to drink. I used my Grayl Ultrapress waterbottle to filter the drinking water that was provided and didn’t have any issues.

But everyone else on my tour drank the water without filtering it, and they were all fine.

The stories of the Wiwa tribe are fascinating

Several indigenous tribes call the Sierra Nevada mountains home.

Most tours to the Lost City take you to one of these communities where you learn more about their customs, beliefs, and rituals.

We met the leader of the Wiwa tribe and it was a fascinating experience. I absorbed so much information in that short presentation and was blown away by their stories and lifestyle.

There’s constant development

To cater to the growing number of tourists, there is constant development along the Lost City route.

This is particularly true for the trail on day 1. As you go deeper into the jungle, there’s a lot less going on.

There are also new camps being built as tourists have previously had to sleep in hammocks (and even on tables).

You can get a moto-taxi on day 1

The first day of the Lost City trek is mostly on a dirt road leading to the first camp.

I assume this was once a small path surrounded by jungle that has been cleared to make way for motorbikes and supply vehicles to get to camp 1.

Tourists now have the option to pay an extra fee for a moto-taxi to the first camp.

Taking a moto-taxi (instead of walking) is not common and you will need to request this – but it is an option if you choose.

But are you missing out by not walking on day 1?

Tough question.

If you’re traveling in a group tour, then I definitely recommend walking to Camp 1 (instead of taking the moto-taxi option).

That first day is the perfect opportunity to get to know your team and form connections. You’ll miss out on this if you take the easy way!

In terms of scenery, day 1 is still beautiful and offers plenty of spectacular views. But you’re walking on a gravel road for most of the way, not a small trail covered by lush jungle.

The scenery on days 2 and 3 is better. But I still recommend walking on day 1.

There are rivers and waterfalls along the route

I’ve never been so happy (and relieved) to see a river as I was on the Lost City trek.

There are streams and small waterfalls next to each camp where you can cool off and chill after the day’s hike.

Don’t forget to bring your bikini or bathing suit.

You can’t hide from the Mosquitos

Bring Deet bug spray with you as there are lots of mosquitos.

Most of my group, including me, got bitten all over, but thankfully the bites weren’t as itchy as those in the Bolivian Amazon .

All bunk beds have mosquito nets, and they were in good condition.

Some tour operators camp next to the Lost City

There is a small camp alongside the Lost City which is without a doubt the best place to stay!

I was surprised when I first heard this and was so bleak that we weren’t camping next to the ruins.

But this particular camp is very small and can’t accommodate many people.

I also heard of groups that were promised they’d stay at the Lost City camp, but when they arrived there was no space for them and so they had to go back down to another camp.

Some tours have translators

Most guides and people from the local communities do not speak English. Because of this, some tour operators (including Magic Tours) offer the service of a translator.

I am so happy we had a translator on our tour as we were able to really appreciate the stories from the Wiwa people and learn more about the history of the Lost City from our guides.

If you cannot speak Spanish, you may want to choose a Lost City tour company that includes a translator – this wasn’t an additional expense.

Embrace the Lost City Trek experience

The site of Ciudad Perdida is truly a special place and is more impressive than I ever could have imagined.

While the Lost City trek is gaining popularity amongst all travelers, it still has an authentic charm and is one of the best things to do in Colombia.

Are you planning on doing the Lost City trek in Colombia? Let me know if you have any questions!

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Hi, I'm Carryn. I’m an adventure travel blogger trying to figure out my way through life by traveling and exploring. Join me as I share my travel guides and tips for life abroad. Find out more about me here .

Visiting the Bolivian Amazon Rainforest: A Complete Guide 2024

Cenote diving in tulum: everything you need to know, 11 thoughts on “the lost city trek in colombia: 27 things i wish i knew”.

Hi Carryn, thanks for this post! I’m pretty sure I’m heading to Colombia, and doing the Cuidad Perdida Trek very soon, but your post opened my eyes to the many tour operators guiding the trek! I’m actually thinking about Minca too, but are the views not pretty much the same after you’ve been on the Trek?!? … though no doubt, much more relaxed in Minca. Heading to Minca right after the Trek seems like a neat thing to do … Do you remember which tour operator allows for this option? Thank you … & keep on travelling!

Hey Martin,

I’d say the views from Minca are from up above, where as with the Lost City Trek, you’re mostly deep in the jungle. I recommend going to Minca after if you want a few days of down time as it’s a much better place to recover than Santa Marta.

I did my trek with Magic Tours and they offered a complimentary drop off in Minca after the trek. But they don’t advertise this so I wasn’t aware of it at the time – until I heard via other people on my trek. The best thing to do would be to message them directly and confirm (please let me know the outcome). I think most tour operators will offer this service so if you have a particular company you’d prefer to go through, you should ask them too.

Hi! Thank you for very useful information regarding the hike and tour operators! I am also planning to go to Minca after the hike. I just messaged Magic tour and they did not offer drop off in Minca. They said I could be dropped off at the bus station in Santa Marta and from there take the bus to Minca. I can imagine being very tired on the last day so I might do some more research to find someone that does drop offs in Minca 🙂 Cheers!

Thanks for the update regarding drop offs in Minca. It’s a pity they’ve dropped this service given how expensive the tour is! If you find a tour operator that does a complimentary Minca drop off after the Lost City Trek, please let me know so I can update the post and recommend them.

Thanks, Carryn

Hi, I just booked with Teyuna tours and they will drop me off in Minca 🙂 Jenni

Thanks for letting me know Jenni! Have a great time at The Lost City.

ooops, I didn’t see your reply! I’m actually in Calabazo right now … hiking Tayrona tomorrow … then getting picked up by Expotur outside El Zaino entrance, to go on their 4-day trek. I wish I had seen Jenni’s reply. I brought up, at the Expotur office today, that I would be heading to Minca after, and I was offered being dropped off at Mamatoco, which I thought was great, until I took a good look at the map just now. I should probably go to the market in Santa Marta instead, and catch the bus to Minca.

I was dropped off at TRANSPORTADORA SIERRA MAR SAS MINCA (Diagonal 39 #5-148, Santa Marta), for a 10mil COP trip to Minca (3/2/2024).

Thanks for the update Martin!

Do you have any recommendations for lodging in Minca? Your photo with the hammock over the hillside is exactly the kind of R&R I’m looking for!!

That photo in the hammock is from Sierra Minca (here) . We spent the day here as they allow for day visitors to make use of their pool and restaurant which is what I recommend. It was stunning!

There are lots of options for accommodation high in the mountains (like Sierra Minca). They downside is that many are difficult to get to and you need to go by moto taxi. I paid 35 000 COP for the one way ride from Minca which took 40 minutes on a bumpy road. So if you stay at one of these lodges, you’ll probably spend most of your time there. If that’s what you’re looking for – then they’re perfect! But if you want to explore the town, eat at different restaurants, do a few waterfall treks, then you will spend a lot of time and money on moto taxis to and from Minca.

I suggest staying at a place like Casa Loma Minca (here) . I went for sunset drinks here and it’s a beautiful spot only a short walk from town. It is a popular place for sunsets though! You can then do a day trip to Sierra Minca instead.

Enjoy Colombia.

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Lost City COLOMBIA

• Lost City Trek

“Lost City Colombia” are simple words in the mind of every hiker who visit South America. Explore the scenic backcountry of Colombia on a 4- or 5-day trek to this legendary site, hidden deep in the dense jungle. You’ll hike 29 miles (47 kilometers) passing unspoiled waterfalls and rivers along the way, eventually reaching this amazing archaeological treasure built by the Tayrona Indians between the 11th and 14th Century in the northern foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.

Day 1. Santa Marta – Camp Site #1

After collecting you at your hotel in Santa Marta , we will ride in a jeep for about 45 minutes on the highway. We will stop at a convenience store to buy snacks and drinks, and from there, we turn off the highway, up a dirt track into the mountains. After arriving in Machete, we will have lunch and then have a short swim to cool off. Then we hike a steep uphill grade for around 45 minutes before a long descent into the valley where Adán, the first campsite, is located.

(L& D/ ½ day hiking to Adán – 7.6 km (4.7 mi)  1,900 ft ascent, 900 ft descent)

Day 2. Adan- Camp site # 3

The 15 kms route starts along the Buritaca River, taking you further into the vivid green jungle past small villages en route to the evening campsite. We will walk uphill and across some beautiful terrain, including some local farms. After a jump in a swimming hole and lunch at Wiwa Camp (Camp Site #2) we will continue to Paraiso Camp (Camp Site #3), located only 1km downhill from the Lost City . Today’s journey takes you through a varied landscape, deeper into the tropical jungle, across rivers and past a couple of Kogi villages.

(B,L,D/ 14.7 km -9.1 mi  3500 ft ascent, 2000 ft descent )

Day 3. The Lost City

We will wake up at about 430A.M so we can can set off at dawn and enjoy the Lost City in the softest light and coolest air possible. After a short walk from the campsite, we will reach the 1,200 stone stairs that ascend to the terraces of the city above. Climbing the steps, we will reach the lower chambers of Teyuna , also known as The Lost City. It is believed that this was a capital city built by the Tayrona civilization in 800 A.D., approximately 600 years before the Incas built Machu Picchu in Peru. After visiting the Lost City , we’ll return to El Paraiso for a quick lunch before heading to Campsite #2 for overnight.

( B,L,D/12 km -7.5 miles,  1800 ft ascent, 3500 ft descent )

Day 4. Camp Site # 2 – Santa Marta

We will start early again, since much of the trail is unshaded, and therefore becomes quite hot. After a stop for fruit at the first campsite and a jump in the swimming hole, we’ll find ourselves back where we began, in Machete, for lunch.      We will drive back to Santa Marta to end this exciting trek, feel free to check mark “ Lost City Colombia ” in your thoughts.

(B,L/ ½ day hiking to El Mamey,Return to Santa Marta 12.7 km (7.9 mi) 2200 ft ascent, 3000 ft descent )

• Items to Pack
• Best Season
• Price & Payment
• Level Of Difficulty
• Transportation & Flights
• Accommodation
• Geographic and Nature Facts

Unlike other treks, there is no porter service in this trek, so all your personal belongins will be carried by you! Please don’t take more than 6 kilos in your backpack.

Read/ Download our “What to pack?” Checklist here

The area of the Northern part of Colombia has 2 very different seasons: “winter” (rainy season) and “summer” (drought) . From the middle of May until September you can count on heavy rain in the Sierra Nevada where the Lost City trek takes place. Don’t let this stop you from taking this trek and travelers actually seem to like it, simply keep it in mind as an extra challenge. If you think it is going to be quite difficult then consider taking it in the dry season. Our blog has very updated information it all! Click here! 

US$ 330 per person all inclusive. Book with only US$ 33 and pay the balance on the same day of departure. 

Contact us for information of our different departures and prices.  Click here!

Our Blog offers valuable information about our tours!   Click here

It is not a walk in the park! It’s a challenging jungle trek – not for the black out fainted. This trek is a physical challenge but 90% humidity and hot conditions make them way more difficult. You will find clear spots but mud is an issue especially in rainy season. 4-5 days like that? By the end of the trek, you will be really proud!

We provide everything in the 4 days. Car transfers are made in a Toyota for 6 people each. 

We can also arrange your flights IN & OUT Santa Marta. 

The accommodation and food spaces belong to the local communities, we collaborate together to provide a quality service, however they are independent and the standards of the facilities depends exclusively on them. Bunks and hammocks are provided in the tour.

Wikipedia shows interesting information:  Click here

Accommodation 3 night(s) in rustic shelter camps with hammock/bunk beds Transportation Travel by Private vehicles, foot. Meals As outlined in the itinerary (B,L,D) Entrance fee to Ciudad Perdida Luggage storage at our office in Santa Marta.  Indigenous Local Guide

Hotel in Santa Marta or surroundings.

Porter to carry your bags

Lost City Colombia

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Founded in 2002 by Ben Rodriguez, caters for independent travelers and tour agencies as inbound tour operator in Venezuela and Colombia.  

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Venezuelans Are Increasingly Stuck in Mexico, Explaining Drop in Illegal Crossings to US

An immigration crackdown in Mexico has hit Venezuelans especially hard

Fernando Llano

A migrant from Maracaibo, Venezuela, sits on a railroad track lined by makeshift tents where migrants take refuge in Mexico City, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Venezuelan migrants often have a quick answer when asked to name the most difficult stretch of their eight-country journey to the U.S. border, and it's not the dayslong jungle trek through Colombia and Panama with its venomous vipers, giant spiders and scorpions. It's Mexico.

“In the jungle, you have to prepare for animals. In Mexico, you have to prepare for humans,” Daniel Ventura, 37, said after three days walking through the Darien Gap and four months waiting in Mexico to enter the U.S. legally using the government's online appointment system, called CBP One . He and his family of six were headed to Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin , where he has a relative.

Mexico's crackdown on immigration in recent months — at the urging of the Biden administration — has hit Venezuelans especially hard. The development highlights how much the U.S. depends on Mexico to control migration, which has reached unprecedented levels and is a top issue for voters as President Joe Biden seeks reelection.

Arrests of migrants for illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border have dropped so this year after a record high in December. The biggest decline was among Venezuelans, whose arrests plummeted to 3,184 in February and 4,422 in January from 49,717 in December.

While two months do not make a trend and illegal crossings remain high by historical standards, Mexico's strategy to keep migrants closer to its border with Guatemala than the U.S. is at least temporary relief for the Biden administration.

Large numbers of Venezuelans began reaching the U.S. in 2021, first by flying to Mexico and then on foot and by bus after Mexico imposed visa restrictions. In September, Venezuelans briefly replaced Mexicans as the largest nationality crossing the border.

Photos You Should See

Mexico's efforts have included forcing migrants from trains, flying and busing them to the southern part of the country, and flying some home to Venezuela .

Last week, Mexico said it would give about $110 a month for six months to each Venezuelan it deports, hoping they won't come back. Mexican President Andres Manuel López Obrador extended the offer Tuesday to Ecuadorians and Colombians.

"If you support people in their places of origin, the migratory flow reduces considerably, but that requires resources and that is what the United States government has not wanted to do,” said López Obrador, who is barred by term limits from running in June elections.

Migrants say they must pay corrupt officials at Mexico's frequent government checkpoints to avoid being sent back to southern cities. Each setback is costly and frustrating.

“In the end, it is a business because wherever you get to, they want to take the last of what you have,” said Yessica Gutierrez, 30, who left Venezuela in January in a group of 15 family members that includes young children. They avoided some checkpoints by hiking through brush.

The group is now waiting in Mexico City to get an appointment so they can legally cross the U.S.-Mexico border. To use the CBP One app, applicants must be in central or northern Mexico. So Gutierrez's group sleeps in two donated tents across the street from a migrant shelter and check the app daily.

More than 500,000 migrants have used the app to enter the U.S. at land crossings with Mexico since its introduction in January 2023. They can stay in the U.S. for two years under a presidential authority called parole , which entitles them to work.

“I would rather cross the jungle 10 times than pass through Mexico once,” said Jose Alberto Uzcategui, who left a construction job in the Venezuelan city of Trujillo with his wife and sons, ages 5 and 7, in a family group of 11. They are biding time in Mexico City until they have enough money for a phone so they can use CBP One.

Venezuelans account for the vast majority of 73,166 migrants who crossed the Darien Gap in January and February, which is on pace to pass last year’s record of more than 500,000, according to the Panamanian government, suggesting Venezuelans are still fleeing a country that has lost more than 7 million people amid political turmoil and economic decline. Mexican authorities stopped Venezuelan migrants more than 56,000 times in February, about twice as much as the previous two months, according to government figures.

“The underlying question here is: Where are the Venezuelans? They’re in Mexico, but where are they?” said Stephanie Brewer, who covers Mexico for the Washington Office on Latin America, a group that monitors human rights abuses.

Mexico deported only about 429 Venezuelans during the first two months of 2024, meaning nearly all are waiting in Mexico.

Many fear that venturing north of Mexico City will get them fleeced or returned to southern Mexico. The U.S. admits 1,450 people a day through CBP One with appointments that are granted two weeks out.

Even if they evade Mexican authorities, migrants feel threatened by gangs who kidnap, extort and commit other violent crimes.

“You have to go town by town because the cartels need to put food on their plates,” said Maria Victoria Colmenares, 27, who waited seven months in Mexico City for a CBP One appointment, supporting her family by working as a waitress while her husband worked at a car wash.

“It's worth the wait because it brings a reward,” said Colmenares, who took a taxi from the Tijuana airport to the border crossing with San Diego, hours before her Tuesday appointment.

Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has touted his own efforts to explain the recent reduction in illegal crossings in his state, where at least 95% of Border Patrol arrests of Venezuelans occur. Those have included installing razor wire , putting a floating barrier in the Rio Grande and making plans to build a new base for members of the National Guard.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has mostly credited Mexico for the drop in border arrests.

Some Venezuelans still come north despite the perils.

Marbelis Torrealba, 35, arrived in Matamoros, across the border from Brownsville, Texas, with her sister and niece this week, carrying ashes of her daughter who drowned in a boat that capsized in Nicaragua. She said they were robbed by Mexican officials and gangs and returned several times to southern Mexico.

A shelter arranged for them to enter the U.S. legally on emergency humanitarian grounds, but she was prepared to cross illegally.

“I already experienced the worst: Seeing your child die in front of you and not being able to do anything."

Spagat reported from Tijuana, Mexico, and Gonzalez reported from Matamoros. Associated Press reporter Rebecca Santana in Washington, D.C., also contributed.

Copyright 2024 The  Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Tags: Associated Press , politics , New Mexico , immigration , Arizona , world news , Texas , California

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