Lost City Trek 3 Days
The most demanding version of the trek to Lost City in private service
To join a group tour 👉 book the Lost City Trek Colombia 4 days Tour
Briefing
The Lost City 3 Days is the shortest version of the Lost City Trek Colombia and it is also the only one that is done exclusively in private service. It completes the most popular tour of the Tayrona village in record time and with a private guide.
The trek in Ciudad Perdida is done in 3 days, but the night before the start of the hike you must travel to the village of Mamey (Machete Pelao) to start walking first thing in the morning. So that you don't have to worry about anything, the transfer from Santa Marta and the night's accommodation in Mamey are also included in this tour.
During the 3-day trek you will walk an average of 7 to 11 hours a day through the Colombian jungle and spend the nights in camps run by the indigenous communities of the Sierra Nevada. This trek is considered of high difficulty due to the climatic conditions in which it takes place (heat and humidity), and the total number of hours you will walk each day.
Are you ready? Here are all the details:
Tour details
Included
- Private 4x4 transportation
- Private local guide
- Food
- Snack and fruit during the tour
- 1 night of lodging in Mamey
- 1 night of lodging in Camp 3
- 1 night of lodging in Camp 2
- Travel insurance
- Entrance fee to the archaeological site
- Contribution to indigenous communities, peasant communities and ICANH
Not included
- Drinks
Important information
The duration of the complete tour is 3 days and 3 nights. The Lost City trek is done in 3 days, but the night before the start of the trek you must travel to the village of Mamey (Machete Pelao) to start the hike early in the morning. The tour includes the transfer from Santa Marta and the overnight stay in Mamey and will start from your accommodation in Santa Marta.
The date you select on the calendar will be the date you start the full 4-day tour and not the date you start the 3-day trek. The day shown on your booking confirmation will be the day the guide will pick you up from your accommodation in Santa Marta before 2:00 PM, and you will be back in Santa Marta 4 days later.
⚠️ It is very important to be in good physical shape, since on the first day of the trek you will have to walk a total of 22 kilometers in the heat and humidity of the park.
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation! If you cancel at least 48 hours before the tour starts, you will receive 100% of the amount paid. After this time, or in case of no-show, no refunds will be given.
Tour itinerary
NIGHT 1 Santa Marta - Mamey (Machete Pelao)
Pick up in Santa Marta
The guide will pick you up at your accommodation in Santa Marta in a private 4x4 vehicle before 2:00 PM. The exact time will be confirmed a couple of days before the tour starts.
Mamey (Machete Pelao)
You will head to the village of Mamey or Machete Pelao, which is located just over 100 km from Santa Marta, and you will arrive there about 2.5 hours later. Machete Pelao is the exact point where the 3-day trek in Ciudad Perdida begins and ends. You will spend the night in the village and get ready for an early start of the next day's trek.
DAY 1 Mamey (Machete Pelao) - Camp 3
Difficulty: High
Distance: 22 kilometers
Total walking time: 11 hours
Start of Lost City Trek 3 Days
We will have an early breakfast in the village of Mamey, and the first trek of the day will begin. You will walk for 4 hours in the company of your guide until you reach Camp 1.
At Camp 1 we will take a long break for lunch and replenish our strength before continuing with the first day of the trek. We will continue with a 2 hour walk from Camp 1 to the Mutanzi indigenous village.
Camp 3 Mamo Romualdo
After a short rest, the route will continue for 5 more hours until we reach the Mamo Romualdo camp (Camp 3). And now it is time for a well-deserved rest.
You will be able to recharge your batteries with a delicious native dinner and get ready to rest. You will spend the night at Camp 3 sleeping in hammocks, beds or tents.
💡 The exact type of installation (bed, hammock or tent) in which you will sleep each night is subject to availability and will be confirmed the same day of your arrival at each of the camps.
DAY 2 Camp 3 - Lost City - Camp 2
Difficulty: Medium
Distance: 13 kilometers
Total walking time: 6 hours
Lost City
We will have an early breakfast and head towards the high point of this trip. After an hour of climbing you will arrive at the unusual Ciudad Perdida of the Tayrona Park. When you arrive, you will be able to affirm that the effort and the early start will have been worth it.
Accompanied by your guide, you will enjoy a two-hour tour of the archaeological, ethnological and historical area and then you will have free time to enjoy the place and the healing energy of the mountain at your own pace.
Camp 2
After the visit, we will return by the same route to Camp 3 for lunch.
With our stomachs full and our batteries charged, we will head to Camp 2 where we will spend the second and last day of the trek. You will arrive there after a 4 hour hike.
DAY 3 Camp 2 - Mamey (Machete Pelao) - Santa Marta
Difficulty: Medium
Distance: 17 kilometers
Total walking time: 7 hours
Mamey (Machete Pelao)
Last day in the Colombian jungle! Once again, we will have an early breakfast and get ready to start the last day of the 3-day trek in Ciudad Perdida.
From Camp 2, we will walk for 7 hours until we reach the same point where we started this trip, the village of Mamey or Machete Pelao. Already in the village of Mamey we will stop for lunch and after a short rest, we will board the private 4x4 vehicle that will take us to our accommodation in Santa Marta. You will be back at your accommodation in Santa Marta after a road trip of about two and a half hours.
What to bring to Lost City Trek 3 Days
- Backpack of 30 liters
- Trekking boots (not new)
- Sandals or booties to cross the rivers
- Two shorts
- 3 long pants
- 3 short-sleeved T-shirts
- 1 long-sleeved cotton T-shirt (thin fabric)
- 4 pairs of socks
- Sandals or flip-flops for changing at campsites
- Insect repellent
- Sunscreen
- Flashlight
- Bathing suit
- Toiletries
- Toilet paper
- Towel
- Plastic bags (to keep dry clothes separate from wet clothes)
- Camera
Where does the tour Lost City Trek 3 Days start
The 3-day Lost City Trek tour starts and ends in the city of Santa Marta. Most travelers arrive in Santa Marta by bus from Cartagena. It is a 4 and a half hour trip with a short rest stop in Barranquilla. If you make this trip by bus remember to bring warm clothes as they usually put the air conditioning very strong. Another option to get to Santa Marta is by plane, since the city has an airport with flights from the main cities of Colombia. The airlines that fly to Santa Marta are Avianca, LAN and Vivacolombia.
Questions & Answers
Can I do the tour in group?
If you want to do the Lost City Trek as a group instead of private service you can book the 4-day version here.What is the level of difficulty of the 3-day Lost City Trek?
The level of difficulty is medium-high. The trek is not really demanding, but the weather conditions (heat and humidity) make it more difficult. In addition, being the shorter version of this trek, the hours walked per day is higher. This trek can be considered more demanding from mid-July to October, since during these 4 months the rains increase on the trail and this makes the vegetation and undergrowth wilder due to the high temperatures, mud and humidity.Does the guide speak English?
Most of the guides speak basic English. If you need it, you can include in your reservation an English translator to travel with you. As this is a private tour, you can add this extra free of charge to your reservation.How many people will be on the tour?
This tour is a private service only, so you will do the trek with an exclusive guide for your group and there will be no other travelers with you in the group. However, when you arrive at the camps you will meet other groups that will be staying there.Do the camps have toilets and showers?
Yes, all camps have toilets and showers. It is advisable to bring your own personal hygiene products such as soap, toothbrush, etc.What kind of luggage do I have to bring to the tour?
To do the Lost City Trek 3 days the best option is to come with a trekking backpack. Keep in mind that you are going to walk a long distance with it. Try to carry only the essentials and travel light, as you should only bring the basics you might need, such as clothes, a bottle of water, insect repellent or a flashlight. The rest of your luggage that you do not take to the trek, we recommend you to leave it in the luggage locker service of your hotel in Santa Marta.What clothes should I bring to the trek?
We recommend sneakers or hiking boots. We also advise you to bring sports clothes for the hikes, and comfortable long-sleeved shirts and pants for the camps.What are the camps where I will sleep during the tour?
The campsites in Lost City are managed by the native communities. Once you arrive at the lodge, they will provide you with a bed or hammock, both with mosquito netting, depending on availability. It is the community who assigns where you will sleep, so we cannot guarantee that you will have a bed when you make your reservation.Do I need to bring a sleeping bag?
You can bring your own sleeping bag, but it is not necessary, as the beds are equipped with sheets, blankets and mosquito nets.Is it possible to choose a special menu: vegetarian, gluten-free, etc.?
Yes, any type of menu is available. You just have to indicate it in the 'Notes' section that you will find when you make your reservation.What kind of shoes should I wear?
The best option is waterproof hiking boots, but you can wear regular boots or even comfortable sneakers. In addition, it is highly recommended to bring sandals to wear at the campsites while resting.At what altitude is the route to the Lost City?
The altitude ranges between 900 and 1,200 meters above sea level.When is the best time to go to La Ciudad Perdida?
Any time of the year is good to visit La Ciudad Perdida, but it is good to know that the rainy season is during the months of October and November. Keep in mind that during the month of September the archaeological zone is closed for maintenance work by the locals.Is Lost City closed in February?
No, Lost City is closed during the month of September for maintenance tasks performed by the natives. In February Tayrona Park closes, but this does not affect the trek since it is located in a completely different sector.
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