The Lost City trek (Ciudad Perdida, or Teyuna) is a hike of 45 to 55 km, depending on the source, done in 3, 4 or 5 days in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, in Colombia. The trail starts at El Mamey, reached by 4×4 from Santa Marta, and climbs to the archaeological site at 1200 m above sea level. Regulated 2026 price per person: 2.200.000 COP for 3 days, 1.860.000 COP for 4 days and 2.150.000 COP for 5 days, including transport from Santa Marta, meals, nights in camps, the guide and the entry permit. You can only do the trek with an authorized agency.
We spent a long time researching the different ways to do the Ciudad Perdida trek, the agencies that offer it and everything you need to know, all to help you make your decision.
First of all, to book the Lost City trek, My Trip to Colombia puts you in touch with Adrian, our local partner in Santa Marta, who works with Wiwa indigenous guides: you use the form on this page and you don’t pay more. There are departures every day, there is almost always space, and a 10% deposit confirms your booking. The guides speak Spanish; an English-speaking interpreter is available on request.
In this post, you’ll find all the information you need to prepare for this hike, one of the most popular treks in Colombia! An experience that most travellers remember as one of the most memorable moments of their trip!
Good to know
Annual closing 2026 : 1 – 15 October
Every year, the Lost City trail is closed at the request of the indigenous peoples of the Sierra Nevada. During this time, they perform “pagamentos”, rituals in which they return to the earth what has been taken from it and help ecosystems recover. In 2026, exceptionally, the closure only runs from 1 to 15 October; in other years, it lasts the whole month of October. During the closure, the Bunkuany trek stays open.
Contents
- Lost City trek: duration and price
- Which agency to choose?
- How to book the Lost City trek
- Lost City trek itinerary
- Practical info: closure, tips, crowds and gear
- The Lost City, a little history
- FAQ – Frequently asked questions about the Lost City trek
- More to read about the Santa Marta region
- Trusted contact for the Lost City trek
- Where to stay for the Lost City trek
Must-read to prepare your stay around the Lost City
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Lost City trek: duration and price
Rates for the Lost City are regulated, and all authorized agencies offer the same rates for the same number of days. Only the tour philosophy, personal service and guides change.
3, 4 or 5 days: which Lost City trek should you choose?
The Lost City trek can be done in 3, 4 or 5 days, and the price doesn’t follow the number of days. In 2026, the 4-day trek, the most common one, costs 1.860.000 COP per person; the 3-day trek costs 2.200.000 COP and the 5-day trek 2.150.000 COP.
| Option | 2026 price per person | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| 3 days | 2.200.000 COP | The most expensive option: its logistics are heavier |
| 4 days | 1.860.000 COP | The most common option, 45 to 55 km depending on the source |
| 5 days | 2.150.000 COP | More kilometers than the 4-day trek, not a lighter version |
Wondering why the 3-day Lost City trek costs more than the 4-day trek? Its logistics are more expensive: hikers leave very early on the first day, with private transport reserved for them all the way to the starting point, plus an extra motorbike ride. On the way back, the transport to Santa Marta is shared with the groups coming down from the 4-day and 5-day treks.
The 5-day trek is not a 4-day trek in slow motion. Contrary to what you might expect, you don’t walk less each day: the 5-day Lost City trek covers more kilometers than the 4-day trek.
A 10% deposit is required to confirm your reservation for the Ciudad Perdida trek. The easiest way to do this in advance of your trip is to use Remitly, an international transfer platform that enables you to send money to Colombia at low cost (or even no cost at all on the first transfer, which is free). Easy, fast and inexpensive, Remitly is the best solution for sending money to Colombia.
What the Lost City trek price includes
The price of the Lost City trek includes round-trip transport from Santa Marta to El Mamey, the indigenous guide, meals, nights in camps, the entry permit to the Teyuna site, insurance, the community contribution and free luggage storage at the agency’s desk in Santa Marta. If you make your own way to El Mamey, the price stays the same and you can’t use the luggage storage. This is what is included with Adrian’s agency, the local partner of My Trip to Colombia.
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Which agency to choose?
The Sierra Nevada territory is a reserve administered by the indigenous people themselves. It is forbidden to enter without authorization from the communities. That’s why it’s not possible to get to Ciudad Perdida on your own. Not to mention the danger of venturing out alone.
We recommend Adrian’s agency because we have supported Adrian from the outset in his project to set up a local agency based on indigenous initiative, with the aim of promoting the Sierra Nevada as an ancestral natural and cultural destination.
It’s an agency that’s as close as possible to our values and to our idea of community tourism in the Sierra Nevada.
For the Lost City, Adrian works with an official operator of Wiwa indigenous guides authorized to enter the trail. As you have understood, this is mandatory to do the Ciudad Perdida trek, so it is also your guarantee of doing the hike by the rules.
Indigenous initiative
This is an indigenous initiative agency, offering in particular the Seydukwa tour we shared with you on the blog. We’ve established a real bond of friendship with Adrian, and feel it’s important to support initiatives like his.
We’d just as soon tell you that for us, it’s a no-brainer. If you’re aware of the territory you’re about to set foot on, if you’ve heard of the sacred nature of this mountain and the site of the Lost City, then you understand why we recommend using an indigenous agency.
Emancipation
The idea is to stop raving: these are indigenous territories, and who better than an indigenous person to decide how to accompany a foreigner on his land, talk about his culture, his relationship with nature, share his knowledge of the flora and fauna of his mountains and discuss the sacred nature of these places?
Responsible tourism
From our point of view, when you trek with an indigenous agency, you’re helping indigenous people to regain control of their territory, and you’re supporting sustainable tourism that takes into account the ancestral knowledge of communities and encourages the autonomy of indigenous families.
Angélica & Samuel’s Tip
Choose an agency that works with indigenous guides native to the Sierra. Our trusted contact is Adrian’s agency, which we have supported from the outset. Doing this trek with a Wiwa indigenous guide, on his own land, is to us the obvious choice: it brings a cultural dimension and a coherence with the territory that we feel are necessary.
How to book the Lost City trek
To book the Lost City trek, My Trip to Colombia puts you in touch with Adrian, a local agency in Santa Marta born from an indigenous (Arhuaco) initiative, which works with indigenous guides authorized to enter the trail.
You fill in the form further down this page with the trek you want (3, 4 or 5 days), your date and the number of people, and Adrian replies in Spanish, by email or by WhatsApp. You don’t pay more: the price is regulated and identical at every agency.
A 10% deposit is required to confirm the booking. There are departures every day, except during the October closure, and there is almost always space. The guides speak Spanish, but you can ask for an English-speaking interpreter, who walks with the group and translates what the guide says. The interpreter is available on request.
Responsible Tourism
Going through an agency that works with indigenous guides from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta seems to us a must for this trek to a site sacred to the four native nations of the Sierra.
Want to live this experience?
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Lost City trek itinerary
The Ciudad Perdida trek is a long, multi-day walk through the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains to the ancient, sacred archaeological site of Teyuna.
The geography of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is unique in the world. It is the highest coastal mountain range in the world, located just a few kilometers from the Caribbean Sea, with peaks reaching over 5.000 m in altitude.
The trek covers 45 to 55 km of mountain trails, depending on the source. Uphill, downhill, uphill, downhill – a classic hiking effort. But what makes it so special is that you’re walking in particularly hot and humid conditions.
Depending on your physical condition and the weather (which can make the trails difficult), walking times can vary by as much as a factor of two.
To read
Lost City trek fact sheet
- Starting point: El Mamey, about 150 m above sea level
- Highest point: Ciudad Perdida (Teyuna), about 1200 m above sea level
- Total distance: 45 to 55 km round trip; even GPS tracks don’t agree
- Duration: 3, 4 or 5 days, depending on the option you choose
- Elevation change: 600 m +/- per day
- Climate: humid tropical, hot and humid
- Terrain: jungle trails, river crossings, rough ground
- Number of steps: 1200 stone steps up to the Teyuna site
- Difficulty: demanding hike
4-day Ciudad Perdida Trek itinerary
To sum up, the classic Lost City trek in Colombia is a 4-day hike of 45 to 55 km, depending on the source.
- Day 1 distance: about 10 km (3 to 5 hours of walking)
- 4×4 transport from Santa Marta to El Mamey, the starting point of the trek (early morning departure)
- Start of the Ciudad Perdida trek
- Stop for a swim and to observe the flora and fauna
- Night at Cabaña de Adán camp (450 m altitude)
- Day 2 distance: 15 km (8 to 10 hours)
- Departure from Cabaña de Adán
- Stop in the Kogui community of Mutanzhi
- Relaxation and swimming
- Night in the indigenous community of Cabaña Paraíso Teyuna (830 m altitude)
- Talk with the guide about indigenous culture and what Teyuna represents
- Day 3 distance: 12 km (4 to 6 hours)
- Climb the 1200 steps to Ciudad Perdida (1200 m altitude)
- Visit of the Lost City site
- Walk back down to Cabaña Wiwa, Wiwa indigenous community
- Night there
- Day 4 distance: 15 km (6 to 8 hours)
- Hike back to the starting point
- Swimming stop
- Return transport by 4×4 to Santa Marta (arrival late afternoon)
Itinerary and walking times may vary according to weather conditions
Good to know
Bunkuany: an alternative to the Lost City
If you’re looking for a less strenuous, more economical and less crowded alternative to the trek to Ciudad Perdida, we suggest you contact Adrian for information on the 3-day Bunkuany trek.
Program:
- 3-day trek in the Sierra Nevada near Calabazo
- Meeting with local farming communities
- Discover the archaeological remains of the Bunkuany terraces
- Observation of petroglyphs
- Swimming in rivers
- Cultural exchange with an indigenous Kogui family
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Practical info: closure, tips, crowds and gear
2026 closure: 1 to 15 October
Every year, the Lost City trail is closed at the request of the indigenous peoples of the Sierra Nevada. In 2026, exceptionally, it is closed from 1 to 15 October only; in other years, it is closed for the whole month of October.
During this time, they will perform “pagamentos”, rituals in which they give back to the earth what has been taken from it, and help recover ecosystems.
General tips
- The Lost City trek requires good physical condition.
- No telephone signal for the duration of the trek
- Respect indigenous communities, do not take unauthorized photos
- Respect nature and sacred places, and bring your own garbage bag
- A word of advice: travel light!
- Remember to take out travel insurance before you leave: there is no phone signal during the trek, and evacuation is complicated if you get injured.
- Check the recommended vaccines for Colombia: the yellow fever vaccine is recommended for the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
How crowded is the trail?
The Lost City trek is so popular that, depending on the season, you can feel the crowds on the trail and above all at the camps. The rule is 12 people per guide, but some agencies form groups of up to 20 people with two guides, and several groups can be on the trail and at the camps at the same time. Just so you know.
Angélica & Samuel’s Tip
Do the trek on weekdays and avoid the Colombian school holidays (mid-June to mid-July, mid-December to mid-January). In high season, groups follow one another on the trail and the camps are packed.
What to pack for the Lost City trek?
The less weight you carry on your back, the better off you’ll be:
- Small, lightweight backpack
- Shorts and tee-shirt for walking, as everything will end up soaked (sweat or rain)
- Light pants and long-sleeved T-shirt for the evening and mosquitoes
- Small sweater for the chilly evenings
- Bathing suit
- Waterproof hiking boots
- Flip-flops or sandals
- Hat, cap or scarf for protection from the sun
- Quick-drying towel
- Insect repellent
- Biodegradable sun cream
- Biodegradable shower gel/shampoo
- Plastic bags to protect items in the bag: once wet, they won’t dry out!
- Headlamp
- Medication if needed (antidiarrhea)
Angélica & Samuel’s Tip
Based on feedback from our readers and from Adrian: for the Lost City trek (3 to 5 days), hiking sandals (Keen, Teva or Chaco type) are ideal for crossing rivers, dry quickly and give your feet a rest in the evening, but they shouldn’t be your only pair of shoes. Closed hiking shoes are essential for the mud, the rocks and the 1200 steps.
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The Lost City, a little history
A little history, a little context, doesn’t hurt, especially when it comes to Cuidad Perdida. It’s not a place like any other, it’s not a simple mountain trek where you simply enjoy the scenery, the fauna, the flora, the nature..
To do the Ciudad Perdida Trek is to enter history with a capital H, that of the indigenous peoples of Latin America, Colombia and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
Building the Lost City
The city was built by the Tayronas in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, with the first constructions dating back to the 7th century A.D… It is thought to have been inhabited by several thousand people for several hundred years, until the arrival of Spanish settlers in the 16th century.
We don’t really know what caused the fall of the Ciudad Perdida, as its remote geographical location protected it from colonizers. But it is thought that the diseases brought back by the colonists may have decimated the Tayrona population, right up to the confines of the Sierra Nevada.
Good to know
Discovery of the lost city
Like many places in the Sierra Nevada, they kept its existence a secret for a long time, until looters discovered it in the 1970s.
This was followed by an all-out plundering of all the tombs it might contain. The treasures found their way to the markets of Santa Marta, and news of the city’s existence soon spread around the country, reaching the ears of the government. In 1976, archaeologists from ICANH (the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History) began the work of cleaning, restoring and inventorying the Lost City. Some of the goldsmith’s and silversmith’s pieces found there can be seen today in Bogotá’s Gold Museum.
According to ICANH data, barely 10% of Ciudad Perdida has been explored to date. There are several hundred archaeological sites built on the same model across the Sierra Nevada, covering an area estimated at over 3.000 km2. It would appear that this constituted a network of Tayronas cities linked to one another by paved paths and stairways. The Lost City, by virtue of its size and importance, would have been a kind of “capital“, the political and economic center of the Tayrona population.
A Tayrona city
The Tayronas were the people who lived in this region of the Sierra Nevada before the arrival of the settlers, from whom the indigenous Koguis, Arhuacos, Wiwas and Kankuamos are descended.
The Ciudad Perdida is called Teyuna by the indigenous peoples, who consider it a sacred site. For the natives, the mountains surrounding Teyuna are also sacred. The Sierra Nevada is considered the“heart of the world”, i.e. where all life originated.
This sacred territory stretches from the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra to the beaches of Tayrona Park.
The indigenous people of the Sierra Nevada have a divine mission to protect nature, and their vision of the world is particularly striking at a time of global warming and the irreparable damage humans are doing to the planet. Their traditions and way of life have changed very little over the centuries, and they see themselves as humanity’s big brothers. Big brothers who have much to teach us “little brothers”.
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FAQ – Frequently asked questions about the Lost City trek
Is the Lost City trek difficult?
The Lost City trek requires good physical condition, but no mountaineering experience. The main difficulty is not the altitude (the highest point is at 1200 m) but the combination of heat, humidity and long stages: up to 15 km in a day, which means 8 to 10 hours of walking on mountain trails. Depending on the weather, the trails can get muddy and slippery, which makes walking times longer.
When is the best time to do the Lost City trek?
The Sierra Nevada has two ideal seasons: from December to March, then July and August. The trails are in better shape then, but it is also the high tourist season. Every year, the trail closes in October for the “pagamentos” rituals of the indigenous peoples. In 2026, exceptionally, the Lost City trek is closed from 1 to 15 October only; in other years, it is closed for the whole month. During the closure, the Bunkuany trek, in the same Sierra Nevada, stays open. See our page on the best time to visit Colombia for an overview of the climate by region.
Can you do the Lost City trek on your own, without an agency?
No. The Sierra Nevada is a territory administered by the Kogui, Arhuaco, Wiwa and Kankuamo indigenous communities. Access to the trail is forbidden without authorization and without an agency that has authorized guides. There is no legal way to do the Lost City trek independently.
How much does the Lost City trek cost in 2026?
Prices are regulated and identical at every authorized agency. In 2026, the Lost City trek costs 2.200.000 COP per person for 3 days, 1.860.000 COP for 4 days and 2.150.000 COP for 5 days. A private trek is priced on request. A 10% deposit is required to confirm the booking. The price includes transport from Santa Marta, meals, nights in camps and the guide.
How many days does the Lost City trek take?
There are three main options in 2026: 3 days (the most athletic), 4 days (the most common) and 5 days (the longest). On the classic 4-day itinerary, you walk 10 to 15 km a day (3 to 10 hours), reach the site on day 3 and get back to Santa Marta in the late afternoon of day 4.
Do you need to book the Lost City trek in advance, or can you book it once you are in Santa Marta?
There is almost always space on the Lost City trek: departures run every day, all year round except during the October closure, and an agency that is full passes its clients on to another one. Our partner in Santa Marta can’t recall anyone being turned away for lack of space. Capacity is around 90 hikers per day, which is the capacity of the last camp, and agencies have to reserve their clients’ nights in advance. So booking before you travel is mostly a way to choose your date and your agency.
Do you need to speak Spanish to book the Lost City trek?
No. The My Trip to Colombia form is in English. Adrian, our partner in Santa Marta, replies in Spanish, by email or by WhatsApp: an automatic translator is enough to sort out the dates, the price and the deposit with him. On the trek itself, the guides speak Spanish, but you can ask for an English-speaking interpreter, who walks with the group and translates what the guide says. The interpreter is available on request: tick the box in the form.
How do you pay for the Lost City trek from abroad?
Booking the Lost City trek is confirmed with a 10% deposit. You then pay the balance by the method you prefer. To send the deposit from abroad, we recommend using Remitly: the fees are low for an international transfer and the exchange rate is fair. A transfer from your own bank is also possible, with your bank’s fees.
Can you cancel or postpone the Lost City trek?
As a rule, the 10% deposit is not refunded if you cancel the Lost City trek, including if you fall ill before departure. In most cases, agencies still make a goodwill gesture. Before booking, check that your travel insurance covers cancellation.
Where can you leave your luggage during the Lost City trek?
You can leave your luggage free of charge at the agency’s desk in Santa Marta for the whole duration of the Lost City trek. This applies if you leave from Santa Marta with the agency’s transport, which is included in the price. If you make your own way to El Mamey, the starting point of the trail, the price stays the same and there is no luggage storage.
What is the minimum age for the Lost City trek, and is there a child rate?
The minimum age for the Lost City trek is 10. There is no child rate: a child pays the same price as an adult. There is no maximum age, as long as you are in good physical condition. With a child aged 8 or 9, the alternative is the Bunkuany trek, open to children from the age of 8.
Can you hire a mule on the Lost City trek?
Yes, as an extra service, paid on the spot. On the Lost City trek, a mule can carry you on 5 sections of the trail, for 200.000 COP per section. A mule can also carry just your backpack, on day 2 and on the last day of the 4-day trek, for 40.000 to 50.000 COP per leg. This service can’t be booked in advance: you ask for it on the trail, with the guide’s help. Good to know: the insurance included in the trek does not cover a fall from a mule or a motorbike.
How many people are in a group, and can you do the Lost City trek privately?
The rule on the Lost City trek is 12 people per guide. Some agencies form groups of up to 20 people with two guides, and several groups set off every day. To walk in a small group or just among yourselves, you need to ask for a private trek: its price is on request, to be asked for in the form.
More to read about the Santa Marta region
Trusted contact for the Lost City trek
Authorized local agency
Responsible Tourism
Going through an agency that works with indigenous guides from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta seems to us a must for this trek to a site sacred to the four native nations of the Sierra.
Reply within 48h • No strings attached • Your own custom quote
Where to stay for the Lost City trek
The Lost City trek leaves from Santa Marta, so we suggest you take a look at our best accommodation and hotel picks in Santa Marta. And if you want specific ideas, here are our suggestions below.
Santa Marta
Hotel
Casa Mia Hotels
This is the hotel where we stayed during our stay in Santa Marta. We recommend staying on the top floor, where the rooms are brighter. Nice decor, good service, and conveniently located right in the historic center.
Taganga
Hostal
Casa de Felipe Hostal
A great hostal in Taganga, really. The people at reception are super friendly and super helpful, the rooms are clean and pleasant, the atmosphere is cool, the terrace is great and there’s a “French” restaurant inside that’s really good.
Santa Marta
Hotel
Hotel Cactus
A truly sublime hotel for those who want to enjoy one of the best hotels in Santa Marta, especially the loft room on the roof with direct access to the pool and views of the Sierra Nevada…
Santa Marta
Hotel
Catedral Plaza Hotel
Just for the rooftop swimming pool with a view of the Cathedral… a top-of-the-range hotel with meticulous attention to detail, but with attractive rates depending on the time of year. Treat yourself and enjoy a sunset over the rooftops of Santa Marta.
Santa Marta
Hotel
Casa de Isabella Hotel
A beautiful hotel in a superb colonial house, with huge rooms and a rooftop with a small pool and a view… all at a very affordable price! We understand why readers recommend it.
Santa Marta
Hostal
La Guaca Hostel
A hostal recommended by our readers, super welcoming, great atmosphere and with a lovely patio for cooling off. A little out of the way, it’s a 20-minute walk from the historic center and the Mercado Publico, but it’s not too bad and the price is right.
Santa Marta
Hostal
Republica Hostel
A new concept in the center of Santa Marta, all new and beautiful, with a particularly well-appointed decor and, of course, the swimming pool to match. Dormitories and double rooms.
Santa Marta
Hostal
Masaya Hostal
Opened in Bogotá by a group of French friends, Masaya’s success is such that they have opened the same concept in San Agustin and Santa Marta. The setting is ideal, a magnificent colonial house with swimming pool and rooftop.
Hey, great article, I did the trek last week with the same guide that appears in the pictures, a Wiwa called Rafael Rodríguez! In this moment, he works for un other local tour operator
Glad you could live this beautiful experience ! 🙂
Hello Angelica and Samuel,
i’ll be going to Colombia from 24/09 to 09/10, will the trekking trail be reopened for the beginning of October?
Thank you,
Lucia
Hello Lucia, Yes, it’s normally closed at the beginning of September. As soon as we have confirmation of the dates for this year, we’ll put it in the article. But in any case, the closures are for the month of September only.
Have a good trip!
Hello,
Thank you for your advice
I’m planning to do the trek in September and I saw your paragraph about the trek being closed during that month
I can’t find this information anywhere else
Can you tell me how you got this information?
Thank you
Antoine
Hello, since Ciudad Perdida opened to tourism in 1993, it has been closed in September at the request of the indigenous communities of the Sierra Nevada. It’s the same with Tayrona Park on other dates. Our information comes from our knowledge of the tourism sector in Colombia, our local partners in Santa Marta, the Colombian press and the local authorities in Santa Marta. If you want to find the information yourself, you’ll have to look up “cierre temporal Ciudad Perdida” in Spanish. In short, every year it closes for the whole month of September, except since Covid, and it seems that for 2022 the closure will be limited to 15 days. We’ll update the article when we’ve confirmed this information.
Hello,
I read your article last November and it convinced me. I saw during your article that you wrote that you didn’t do this tour with them, so I’d like to tell you that I was extremely disappointed by our guide. Also, before recommending something it’s best to test it 😉
I’m going to tell you why you should NOT take this agency, despite the fact that it obviously seems ethical to take people from the indigenous culture as guides. Well, it’s very simple: the wiwa believe in their gods, and their superstitions. So, every time we asked them a question, they’d answer “it’s God”. Who built this? why this? why that? no other explanation than “it’s God”. Apparently, the archaeologists present on the site hold monthly sessions to inform the guides of their discoveries. And it turns out that the only guides who never go to the meetings are the Wiwas, because they prefer to believe in their beliefs rather than in archaeology and history. So, as a tourist, I’m there to discover, and to learn, not to hear someone say “it’s God” to all my requests for explanations. Add to this the fact that the guide wasn’t particularly talkative, and very uninvolved – in short… I do NOT recommend this tour.
Hello Sophie,
Thanks for your feedback,
It’s always interesting to hear everyone’s opinions,
In fact, we’ve missed Ciudad Perdida several times, it’s not that we didn’t want to go, but each time there was something that prevented us (the last trip was Samuel’s knee…). 99% of our recommendations on the blog come from our own experience, but Ciudad Perdida is an exception.
That said, we don’t recommend this agency by chance. First of all, we’ve had numerous exchanges with them, we know them, we know their work, and secondly we’ve had and continue to have very good feedback from their service. We respect your opinion, but really, you need to be aware that the quantity of positive feedback far outweighs the negative feedback.
We make it clear why we recommend visiting Ciudad Perdida with an indigenous guide. That said, we are aware that this may not be suitable for everyone, and it’s up to each individual to decide whether or not this way of being accompanied is suitable or not. Indigenous people have ancient beliefs, and it seems logical that they should see the world through the eyes of their traditions. Travelling with an indigenous guide means accepting this. Otherwise, it’s best to go with an agency that works with other guides.
On the other hand, if the guide wasn’t committed, that’s indeed a problem. Most of the feedback we get is to the contrary. Perhaps there was a problem and you were unlucky enough to come across this guide. That happens too… nothing’s ever perfect, and sometimes it’s the wrong day at the wrong time. This happened to us in the Guajira desert.
In conclusion, we totally respect your opinion, and we’re sorry if you didn’t have a good experience. We hope you enjoyed your trip to Colombia all the same!
For our part, we hope to be able to do this trek soon to confirm (or not) our idea of how to be guided to Ciudad Perdida!
Saludos,
Angélica & Samuel
Hello
Is it possible to do the trek with children.m 6 and 9 years old?
Thank you 😉
Hi, 6 years seems a little young to us, but then it’s up to you to know your children’s physical condition and their ability to walk 50km over 4 days in the heat and humidity 😉
Hello,
I’m planning to go to Colombia in mid-February and would love to do this Trek. Is a proof of vaccination enough with a quick test or do we have to do a pcr test? I have read different information about this
Thanks in advance 🙂
If you have been vaccinated, just the proof of vaccination is sufficient. The PCR is only required for unvaccinated people. 🙂
I just got the confirmation from our local partner 😉
Excellent news!
Thank you very much!
We’ve just come back from a 5-day trek, and it was really great.
5 days because we were traveling with 2 children, and it meant we arrived at the Lost City less tired…
We went with the Wiwa tour agency. Our guide was a native, and that was great, because he told us a lot about his culture. We highly recommend it!
I can confirm that an antigen test is currently required at 80,000p. The agency called ahead so that we could have a “rdv” and above all the reduced price. We went the day before departure.
Thanks for your feedback Véronique 🙂
Hello, Would it be possible to talk to you about this trek with children please? We are very interested but we can’t find any information… We want to do it with children aged 6 and a half, 7 and a half and 11. Thank you 🙂
Hello,
I would say that the minimum age depends on the agency. Having said that, children need to be in good physical condition and used to walking…
If you look closely at the schedule, you’re looking at a minimum of 8 hours’ walking in hot, humid conditions.
One solution might be to do the tour privately over 5 days, to really adapt to the children’s pace, but that would be very expensive.
It’s not impossible, but you need to take all the conditions into account when making your decision.
Wait for Adrian’s reply to see what he recommends.
Thank you for all these details and this blog which helps us bc!!!
I’m waiting for Adrian’s answer 😉
Good evening to you both!
first of all, congratulations on all the work you’ve done on this blog, which not only provides a wealth of information, but also makes you want to discover Colombia and its welcoming people!
I noticed several comments about the Ciudad Perdida trek, referring to the degree of difficulty. We did this trek in March 2017, in good conditions, and found it relatively demanding but still accessible to most walkers (61 and 63 years old in 2017)
Best regards!
Alain
Hello! Thank you for this great site, very well done, inspiring, choice, easy to read..
I’ve tried unsuccessfully to send a message to Sierradventur through your message box but it doesn’t work, any ideas? Many thanks!
Hi Pauline, it’s strange because Adrian always replies on time, and we don’t see your email in our archives, maybe there was a problem, we advise you to fill in the form again and everything should be back in order 😉
Hello !
We are leaving for Colombia with a friend and this article has made us want to do the Ciudad Perdida!
We’d just like to know 2 things: can we book a specific 4-day slot (e.g. Saturday to Tuesday)? Also, you recommend traveling light, is there a place to drop off luggage so we can leave with only a light bag?
Thank you very much!
Hi! Yes, you can do the trek on any date except September, when it’s closed. And yes, you can leave your bag at the agency in Santa Marta or at the start of the trek to Palomino.
Hello
Can you tell me how many people are in the group?
Thank you
Hello Mano, groups range from 2 to 15 people maximum, depending on demand for the date.
Hello,
Thank you very much for all this very interesting information. My partner and I are planning to set off in August, if it’s not too late to book
Two quick questions: in your opinion, is the ciudad perdida trek accessible to everyone? I mean, as long as you’re in good physical health, even without any particular training?
Also, do you know if it’s possible to leave the bags in Santa Marta and take only the minimum necessary?
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
Hi Aude, thanks for your message 🙂 In principle, yes, the trek is accessible to anyone in good physical health. The trek is demanding, it’s very hot and humid, but the pace depends on each person and there’s nothing to worry about. You can either leave your bag at the agency’s office in Santa Marta or, if you’re continuing on from Ciudad Perdida towards Tayrona, La Guajira or elsewhere, you can take it with you and ask to have it collected at the start of the trek in the village of Maguey.