Lost City Trek Colombia 5 Days
Extended version of the guided trek to the Lost City in 5 days with transfer from Santa Marta.
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Briefing
The Lost City Trek Colombia 5-Day tour is an intense experience that mixes trekking, nature and archaeology. This tour is the extended version of the popular Lost City Trek Colombia (Ciudad Perdida) tour. We will walk through the jungle an average of 6 hours a day in an enclave managed by the indigenous communities of the Sierra Nevada, which still preserve a traditional lifestyle.
We will stay in camps managed by the communities. This adventure will take you to discover the Lost City, also known as Teyuna, where you can still feel the energy and mysticism of another time, making this tour one of the best experiences you can live in Colombia.
This trek is considered of medium-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.
Tour details
Included
- Transportation 4x4 Santa Marta-Mamey (round trip)
- Pick-up + drop-off at your hotel in Santa Marta
- Indigenous guide
- Full board
- 4 nights of lodging in camps
- Entrance to the Lost City
- Payment to indigenous communities
Not included
- Breakfast DAY 1
- Dinner DAY 5
- Alcoholic beverages
Important information
🔴 Requirements to do the Lost City Trek 5 days
It is essential to be in good physical shape to be able to do the Lost City Trek. The trek is considered of medium-high difficulty. During 5 days you will walk an average of 6 hours a day through the jungle on steep and slippery trails in very hot and humid conditions.
⛺ Camping in Lost City (Ciudad Perdida)
The tour includes 4 nights of accommodation in campsites. Campsites are very basic and are located along the trail. This is the only accommodation option available during the trek. They are all equipped with beds or hammocks with mosquito nets and are covered by a roof and without walls. They have common bathrooms and showers (between 2 and 4 in each per camp) and a common dining area.
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
DAY 1 Santa Marta 🚐 Mamey - Camp 1
Difficulty: moderate
Distance: 4,7 milles (7.6 km.)
Duration: 4 hours.
Starting elevation: 459 ft. (140 m.)
Max. elevation: 1476 ft. (450 m.)
Rest: camp 1
Start of the tour in Santa Marta
The 4x4 vehicle, accompanied by your guide, will pick you up at your hotel in Santa Marta starting at 7:00 am, with the exact pick-up time previously confirmed by whatsapp. Once the group is assembled, the 4x4 will start the journey to El Mamey, a trip that takes approximately two and a half hours from Santa Marta and passes through Taganga. If you are staying in Taganga and wish to be picked up there, be sure to indicate this when making your reservation. Alternatively, you can go directly to the local agency's office in downtown Santa Marta to start the tour.
The agency provides a free luggage storage service, allowing you to leave your unnecessary belongings for the trek and retrieve them at the end of the tour. If you require additional pick-up and/or drop-off services at the Santa Marta airport at the beginning or end of the tour, please contact us for information on how to add this extra to your reservation, making sure that flight schedules are compatible with the tour.
El Mamey: start of the trek to Ciudad Perdida
After about two and a half hours on the road, you will arrive at El Mamey where you will stop for lunch and recharge your batteries before starting the trek. During the next 4 hours, together with your guide, you will follow the trail to Camp 1, crossing rivers and waterfalls. In this first stage, you will be able to take a dip and enjoy nature in the heart of the Sierra Nevada jungle. Around 6:30 p.m. you will arrive at Camp 1 for a well-deserved rest, dinner and overnight in hammocks or beds with mosquito nets. An unforgettable adventure awaits you!
💙 HOWLANDERS TIP
During the 5-day trek to Ciudad Perdida, you will have to cross rivers on foot, so be prepared to get your feet wet. We recommend you to carry extra sandals or water shoes in your backpack to avoid soaking your trekking shoes. You can also choose to cross barefoot like our guide in the picture! Remember that if you use your shoes to cross, they will be wet during the whole tour, better safe than sorry!
DAY 2 Camp 1 - Mutanzi Village - Camp 3
Difficulty: moderate
Distance: 94 milles (15.2 km.)
Duration: 7 hours
Starting elevation: 1640 ft. (500 m.)
Maximum elevation: 2952 ft. (900 m.)
Rest: camp 3
Buritaca River Valley
On the second day of the tour, you will start early with a good breakfast to make the most of the trek. You will hike for 7 hours through the jungle of the Sierra Nevada and the Buritaca River Valley, it will be an exciting day!
Mutanzi indigenous village
Halfway through the trek, you will arrive at Camp 2 to stop and recharge your batteries. You will also visit the Mutanzi indigenous village to learn about the lifestyle of the Kogui community. And the adventure continues! At the end of the second day of the Ciudad Perdida tour, you will arrive at Camp 3 to have dinner and spend the night in hammocks or beds with mosquito nets. Get ready to rest and recharge your batteries for the next day!
DAY 3 Camp 3 - Ciudad Perdida - Camp 2
Difficulty: moderate-high
Distance: 6,21 milles (10 km.)
Duration: 6 hours
Starting elevation: 2952 ft. (900 m.)
Maximum elevation: 3937ft. (1200 m.)
Rest: camp 2
Arrival at Ciudad Perdida
The third day of the tour is going to be amazing! You will climb to the Lost City of the Tayrona Indians, a spectacular experience! After breakfast, you will start the hike from camp 2 up the 1,200 steps that will take you to the Tayrona village. Once there, you will explore the archaeological ruins of the Lost City with a guide who will tell you all the secrets and history of this magical place. After the guided tour, you will have free time in the morning to enjoy the surroundings and hidden corners of this fascinating place at your own pace. Get ready for an unforgettable adventure!
Camp 2
After this intense day, you will return to Camp 2 by the same route, where you will have dinner and spend the third and last night of the tour.
DAY 4 Camp 2 - Camp 1
Duration: 4 hours
Maximum altitude: 459 ft. (140 m.)
Difficulty: Moderate
Rest: Camp 1
Natural pools in the Sierra Nevada
After breakfast, you will start your return to "Camp 1". After 4 hours of trekking, you will enjoy a meal and the surrounding natural pools. The afternoon has been fun in the Colombian jungle, it is time to have dinner and rest on your last night.
DAY 5 Camp 1 - Mamey 🚐 Santa Marta
Duration: 3 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Return to Santa Marta
This last day of the Ciudad Perdida 5 days tour will be dedicated to return to Santa Marta. After breakfast, you will make the last trek from "Camp 1" to Mamey, lasting 3 hours. There you will have lunch and you will be picked up by a 4x4 vehicle to make the return trip to Santa Marta. You will say goodbye to your guide and companions, ending this experience in the incredible Colombian jungle.
What to bring to Lost City Trek Colombia 5 Days
- 30 liter backpack
- Trekking boots (not new)
- Sandals or booties to cross the rivers
- 2 shorts
- 3 long pants
- 3 short-sleeved T-shirts
- 1 long-sleeved cotton T-shirt (thin fabric)
- 5 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 Colombia 5 Days start
The tour starts and ends in the city of Santa Marta and includes round trip transportation in 4×4 vehicles to the town of El Mamey, where the hike begins. The only way to get to the archaeological ruins of the Lost City of the Tayrona is by booking a guided tour from Santa Marta.
Most travelers arrive in Santa Marta from Cartagena. It is a 4 and a half hour trip stopping in Barranquilla. If you do this tour by bus remember to bring warm clothes as they usually put the air conditioning on 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 the low cost Vivacolombia. If you need to add pick-up and/or drop-off service at Santa Marta airport at the beginning or end of the tour, please contact us and we will tell you how to include this extra to your reservation.
Questions & Answers
What is the level of difficulty of the tour?
The level of difficulty is medium-high. The trekking is not really demanding, but the weather conditions (heat and humidity) make it more difficult. The time when we can consider this tour more demanding is precisely from mid-July to October, because during these 4 months the rains increase on the road and this makes the vegetation and undergrowth is wilder by the high temperatures, mud and humidity.What is the difference between the 4 and 5 day Lost City tours?
The first 3 days of the tour are shared and the groups that will do the trek in 4 and 5 days walk together. It is on day 4 of the tour when the group is divided, since the travelers who booked the 4-day tour start the return trip to Santa Marta. While, those travelers who booked the 5-day tour, on day 4 of the tour will make a last trek to "Camp 1", where they will spend the last night and enjoy an afternoon in the natural pools of the area. Afterwards you will start your return to Santa Marta on the morning of day 5 of the tour.How many people will be on the tour?
The maximum group size is 15 people, normally there are 10 travelers per group and you will meet other groups in the camps.Does the guide speak English?
Depending on the guide, most of them speak basic English, so there will be a translator joining the tour.Do the cabins have bathrooms and showers?
Yes, all cabins have bathroom and shower. It is advisable to bring your own personal hygiene products such as soap, toothbrush, etc.What kind of luggage should I bring?
A trekking backpack is the best option, since you will be walking 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. In case you cannot leave the rest of your luggage at your accommodation, you can leave it at the main office.What clothes should I bring for this tour?
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 campsites. You can see the list of everything we recommend to bring in the section "What to bring to Ciudad Perdida".What type of accommodations are used during the tour?
The accommodations are campsites managed by the native communities. Once you arrive at the lodge, they will assign you a bed or a hammock, both with mosquito netting, depending on availability. It is the community who assigns where you will sleep, so we cannot indicate which one will be assigned to you.
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?
Waterproof hiking boots are the best option, but you can wear regular boots or even comfortable sneakers. In addition, it is highly recommended to bring sandals to wear at 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 site is closed for maintenance work by the locals.Is Ciudad Perdida closed in February?
No, Ciudad Perdida closes in September for maintenance work done by the locals. In February Tayrona Park closes, but this does not affect the trek as it is located in a completely different sector.
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