Lost City Trek: 4-Day Hike to Ciudad Perdida

From $710 USD per person

Ciudad Perdida was built by the Tayrona civilisation between the sixth and tenth centuries AD, which puts it several hundred years ahead of Machu Picchu. The Sierra Nevada closed over it so completely that the wider world did not know it existed until 1972. There is still no road, no cable car and no shortcut. Four days on foot is the only way in and the only way out.

Access is managed by the four indigenous communities whose ancestral territory the site sits in, the Kogi, Arhuaco, Kankuamo and Wiwa, with daily visitor numbers strictly controlled. That is why this is booked rather than turned up to, and why the dates matter more than they would anywhere else.

Check live availability and prices — or read on for how the four days run.

How the trek works

• Day 1: Santa Marta to El Mamey, then into the jungle. Your guide picks you up at your hotel and drives you to El Mamey, where the trek starts. Several hours of hiking through the foothills of the Sierra Nevada to the first campsite.
• Day 2: the Buritaca River. A day along the riverbanks through dense jungle, with your guide covering why this range matters: the highest coastal mountain range in the world, and one of the most biodiverse.
• Day 3: the 1,200 steps. Up the trails to the stone staircase the Tayrona built, 1,200 steps to the entrance of Ciudad Perdida, and the city itself on its circular terraces in the forest.
• Day 4: back out. The trail back to El Mamey and the drive to your hotel in Santa Marta.

What’s included

• Local guide for the full four days
• Pickup and drop-off
• Entry to Ciudad Perdida
• Three breakfasts, three lunches and three dinners
• All-risk insurance

Not included

• Extra purchases

Good to know

• This is a hard trek, not a long walk. Several hours of intense hiking a day through jungle, river crossings and steep trails. You need to be in good physical condition. If you are unsure whether you are, ask us before you book and we will give you a straight answer rather than take the booking.
• Waterproof hiking footwear is not optional. Four days of mud, river crossings and uneven ground. Trekking poles are worth it if you want the extra support.
• Three nights in campsites along the route.
• Daily visitor numbers are controlled by the indigenous communities who manage access. Book ahead; dates are not always available at short notice.

Frequently asked questions

How fit do I need to be?

Fit enough for several hours of hard hiking a day, four days running, in jungle heat and humidity, with river crossings and steep sections. People who run or hike regularly manage it. People who walk occasionally find day two long. Ask us if you are on the line.

Is there a shorter version?

Some operators sell it in five days at a gentler pace or compress it into three. This is the four-day itinerary. If you want a different length, tell us and we will say plainly whether we can arrange it.

What is the accommodation?

Campsites along the route, three nights. Meals are included: three breakfasts, three lunches, three dinners.

What should I pack?

Waterproof hiking boots, quick-drying clothing, insect repellent, a headtorch, and as little else as you can manage, because you carry it. Ask us before you travel about sleeping gear and we will confirm what is provided for your departure.

Why does access have to be managed?

Because the site sits in the ancestral territory of the Kogi, Arhuaco, Kankuamo and Wiwa, and they set the terms. Controlled numbers are what keeps it from being worn out.

Is a private transfer available at the ends?

Pickup and drop-off are included. If you are arriving into Santa Marta before the trek or leaving straight after, our private airport transfer covers the rest.

Ready? Check your date and lock it in