On our last trip, we had imagined trekking to Ciudad Perdida, so we spent a long time researching the possibilities and the various agencies offering Colombia’s most famous trek.
In the end, we were unable to make the trek, and it looks as though the itinerary we’re building for our next trip still doesn’t allow us to discover the Lost City.
That said, we’ve decided to write an post about this mythical trek, which most travellers remember as one of the most memorablemoments of their trip to Colombia!
In this post, you’ll find all the information you need to prepare for this great challenge!
Good to know
Annual closing 2025 : October
Every year, the trekking trail is closed for a month at the request of the indigenous people of the Sierra Nevada. During this time, they will perform “pagamentos”, rituals in which they return to the earth what has been taken from it and help recover ecosystems.
Disclaimer: we apologize in advance for any grammatical or syntactic errors, as our native language is not English (we're a Colombian-French couple), so we hope you'll forgive us and still enjoy the information we share with you! Please note that all the information on our blog is based on our own experience, and is checked and updated regularly.
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The lost city, a little history
TREK of the CIUDAD PERDIDA
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 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.
Some specialists tell us that barely 10 th 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.
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”.
Which agency to choose?
THE BEST AGENCY FOR THE LOST CITY TREK
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.
As we explained in the introduction, we haven’t yet had the chance to do the trek, BUT we already know which agency we’ll choose when the time comes!
And it will be Adrian’s agency! Because we’ve been supporting 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.
Good to know: prices of the trek are regulated, so all agencies are obliged to charge the same rates (see prices)
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.
Lost City trek itinerary
distances and conditions
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 50 km of mountain trails. 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.
4-day Ciudad Perdida Trek itinerary
To sum up, the Lost City trek in Colombia is a 4-day hike of around 50 km.
Day 1 – 8km
- 4×4 transport from Santa Marta to Maguey indigenous village (early morning departure)
- 8 km hike to Cabaña de Adan camp (450 m altitude): stop for a swim and wildlife observation.
- Overnight stay
Day 2 – 15km
- 15 km hike from Cabaña de Adán to the indigenous community of Cabaña Paraíso Teyuna (830 m altitude): stopover in a Kogui community of Mutanzhi
- Relaxation and swimming
- Spend the night and talk to your guide about the indigenous culture and the significance of Teyuna.
Day 3 – 14km
- Climb the 1.200 steps to Ciudad Perdida (1.200 m altitude): visit the site
- 6 km walk back down to Cabaña Wiwa, Wiwa indigenous community
- Overnight stay
Day 4 – 16km
- 16 km hike back to 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
Contact to book the Lost City Trek
Local travel 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 natives nations of the Sierra.
Ciudad Perdida trek 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.
Rates 2025
This price will applied for all tours booked in 2025:
- 4-day trek =
$2.150.000 COPPROMO $1.860.000 COP - 5-day trek = $2.150.000 COP
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 Col
Important informations
Annual closure in October
Every year, the Trek is closed for a month at the request of the indigenous peoples of the Sierra Nevada. 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!
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)
- Yellow fever vaccine
Bunkuany, an alternative to Ciudad Perdida
Titre 3
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 trek to Bunkuani.
Program:
- Cultural exchange with an indigenous Kogui family
- 3-day trek in the Sierra Nevada near Calabazo
- Meeting with local farming communities
- Discover the archaeological remains of the Bunkuani terraces
- Observation of petroglyphs
- Swimming in rivers
Where to stay in Santa Marta
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.
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.
How to get to XXX
Titre 3
Texte
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.