Lost City Trek Colombia 4 Days

Day 1

• Your guide will meet you at your hotel in Santa Marta and drive for 3 hours to the small town of El Mamey.
• Have a traditional lunch and a full briefing before setting off into the Sierra Nevada.
• Trek from El Mamey to Adán Camp through dense forest, cross rivers and regularly stop for fresh fruit breaks.
• Arrive at camp and enjoy a refreshing swim in a natural pool, an excellent remedy to sore muscles.
• Enjoy a delicious camp dinner and your first night in the heart of the jungle.
• Sleep in open air bunk beds and go to bed early to be ready for an early start in the morning.

Distance: 10 km

Day 2

• Wake up in the Sierra Nevada and enjoy a fresh breakfast at camp.
• Hike all morning following the Buritaca River and reach Mumake for lunch.
• After lunch, begin a 2-hour trail and visit a traditional Kogi village and learn about indigenous cultures.
• By late afternoon, reach Paraiso Teyuna Camp, the closest camp to the Lost City, for a restful sleep.

Distance: 14.7 km

Day 3

• Day 3 begins at dawn, where you’ll have breakfast and set off for the hike by about 6:30am.
• Trek to the Lost City with plenty of time there to take photographs, relax, and take an archeological tour.
• Begin a fascinating archeology tour that elaborates on the Lost City’s history.
• Upon completing your Lost City tour, begin your return along the river bend and back to Paraiso Teyuna Camp for lunch.
• From there, you’ll head all the way back to Mumake Camp.

Distance: 13.6 km

Day 4

• After an early breakfast, you set off for your last day of trekking in the Sierra Nevada.
• The morning trek is fairly easy, with some ups and downs along the trail.
• Delicious fruit break and continue your way back to El Mamey Camp.
• Enjoy a delicious lunch before riding back on a 4x4 to Santa Marta where the tour ends.

Distance: 7.3 km

Meet the Living Descendants of the Lost City

The descendants of the Tayrona, the habitants of the Lost City, are today known as the Kogis and Arhuacos are people remained ruled by ritual priesthood they believe the ecological well-being of the planet is held in their hands, their prayers maintain the cosmic balance of the universe.

Their worldview has remained remarkably intact despite centuries of outside influence, making them one of the most culturally resilient indigenous societies in the Americas.

The Elder Brothers' Message

Arhuaco and Kogis consider themselves as the elder brothers- they have a moral and ethical responsibility to educate us, “the younger brother” & they want to. They speak with passion in Spanish and in their own languages, to articulate with elegance about how the rest of the world needs to act together and care for the planet.

A Symbol of Hope in Colombia

In Colombia, they’ve emerged as symbol of continuity and hope- the last 5 presidents have visited the Arhuaco communities via helicopter to get their blessing.

Their influence extends far beyond the Sierra Nevada, reflecting the respect they command throughout the country.

The Greatest City of the Tayrona Civilization

The city dates back to 14th century when it was populated by some 2,000-4,0000 native Tayrona people and served as their biggest urban and commercial hub spread over an area of 2 sq kms.

Hidden deep within the mountains, it was once the thriving heart of one of Colombia's most sophisticated pre-Columbian civilizations.

Hidden from the Conquest

When the Spanish conquest reached northern Colombia in the 16th century, it was particularly violent. To escape the conflict, the indigenous peoples retreated deep into the lush forests of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, where they remained largely hidden from the outside world and continued to practice their spiritual traditions for centuries.

This isolation allowed many of their spiritual traditions and customs to survive, creating a direct cultural link between the ancient Tayrona world and the indigenous communities that still inhabit the Sierra Nevada today.

The Rediscovery of the Lost City

In 1970, a local man stumbled upon the city in his grave-robbing expedition. For about a decade, the Lost City, which at the time was referred to as “Infierno Verde”, (Green Hell) was a site of fighting between the grave-robbers (Spanish: quaqueros), until the government finally allocated resources to protect and excavate the site.

Start-point

The meeting point is coordinated in advance with the Expedition Colombia team in Santa Marta.

This expedition includes

- Day 1 -

Food: Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Jungle camp open air bunk beds

- Day 2 -

Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Jungle camp open air bunk beds

- Day 3 -

Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Jungle camp open air bunk beds

- Day 4 -

Food: Breakfast, Lunch

What is the food like ?

Meals are prepared daily by local teams and communities living within the Sierra Nevada.
Food is simple, hearty, and designed for long trekking days, typically including rice, fresh fruit, vegetables, soups, fish or chicken, hot drinks, and energy snacks throughout the expedition.

Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and allergy-friendly options are available, just message us!

What is the accomodation like ?

You'll sleep in basic jungle camps along the trail. Each camp has bunk beds with pillows, blankets, and mosquito nets (some also have hammocks), shared bathrooms, showers, and limited generator-powered electricity.

The trek takes place in a humid tropical rainforest environment of the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta with temperatures ranging from 26-32°C during the day and can drop to 18°C at night. Short heavy afternoon showers are common and the humidity is high so be prepared to sweat a lot even on cloudy days.

• 52km of guided trekking in the Sierra Nevada
• 3 nights accomodation in jungle camps
• 10 meals (3 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners, snacks and fresh fruits with specific dietary options available upon request)
• Round-trip transport between Santa Marta and the start-point of the hike
• Official access to Teyuna, Lost City Archaeological Park
• Experienced and certified professional trekking & indigenous culture guide
• Medical assistance policy

• Porters or mules for extra luggage
• Guide tips
• Personal expenses
• Additional transport outside Santa Marta
• Personal clothing, shoes
• Sleeping bag & travel liner

What do I need to bring?

• Passport for internationals, ID for nationals. Physical documents required.
• Trekking shoes that can get wet and with a good grip
• Lightweight quick-dry clothing
• Sunscreen and insect repellent
• Swimsuit
• Trekking backpack (40L or more)
• Bag rain cover
• Dry bag for electronics
• Water bottle
• Quick-dry towel
• Personal toiletries
• Headlamp & extra batteries
• Rainjacket
• Sleeping bag or liner (available to rent), camps provide blankets and sheets