Lost City Trek (3 Days): Colombia Travel Guide
Welcome to our guide that covers the infamous Lost City Trek in Colombia.
If Machu Picchu and Chichén Itzá are viewed as off the beaten track and “mystical”, then The Lost City is like an alien from outer space!
Home to one of the oldest ancient ruins in Latin America, one can hike the Sierra Nevada jungle for 4–5 days to reach this gem.
Lost City Trek, Colombia
In this article, we are going to explore both the archaeological site itself and the mammoth hike you’ll need to take to get there!
What Is Lost City Trek?
The Lost City, also known as Teyuna (or La Ciudad Perdida in Spanish), is a major and mystical archaeological site buried deep within the Sierra Nevada mountains, up in the north of Colombia that meets the ocean.
Believed to have been founded as early as 850CE, this site is over 600 years older than Machu Picchu, yet was only discovered in the 1970s!
Nestled within the jungle, it takes a hike of around 4 to 5 days to reach, which helps confirm its fitting identity and name.
The site itself is located on top of a mountain, which can be accessed by climbing a long series of stone steps.
At the top, some terraces form a picturesque viewpoint from above. The misty Sierra Nevada mountains provide an impressive backdrop stretching out into the horizon.
Some of the best Colombian coffee comes from this region, and for many years the indigenous coffee growers adopted their style of coffee growing per their beliefs.
There are also many huts where some indigenous locals live, as well as different quarters appointed for rituals and ceremonies.
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The Lost City
Getting to the Lost City is a backpacking adventure, and consists of a five-day tour of the Colombian mountain range of Sierra Nevada.
Arriving to the Lost City in Colombia
This hike is not for the faint-hearted. You’ll cross rivers, mountains, and local indigenous settlements along the way (these are known as the Kogi or Cogui tribe, which means Jaguar in their language).
This is all done before you reach the base, where you then have to climb the steps to reach the summit!
For us, the trek to the Lost City is hands down the best off the beaten path experience in Colombia, and a breath of fresh air having visited most of the others tourist destinations in Colombia.
Tours with the Wiwa can be organized from Minca for a good price.
As long as you are in good shape and prepared well (to be discussed later), you will enjoy this hike. It’s especially great if you can get on a tour with one of the Wiwa guides!
The Wiwa are indigenous peoples local to the area and can teach some interesting things along the way. Everything from different types of plants to certain activities they do in their free time! This type of cultural experience is second-to-none and we love everything about it.
The Lost City: The Full Hike Experience
In this section, we will explore what you’ll do and see on the hike.
Firstly, at this time of writing, it is not possible to hike independently, even though there is a solitary path that leads all the way there.
This is most likely down to the protection of the area, as well as to the communities that still live there.
Since this experience is seen as one of the many things to do in Santa Marta, you’ll be best going there to arrange the experience with a local tour company.
You’ll find that in Santa Marta, the tour companies offer slight variations and different kinds of experiences to suit a range of budgets and needs.
Meeting up with your group and guide, you set off from Santa Marta and drive to the town of Machete, where you’ll have a quick briefing before you head off.
Now’s the time to make sure you have all your things, and to buy some travel bug spray (with DEET) as you’ll need it!
For the first two or three days, you wake up early (around 5/6 am), to have breakfast with your group (all meals are prepared by local chefs that are at each campsite) before heading off.
You will spend the best part of 8 hours walking every day, though there will be time to jump in the river and explore some pristine nature along the way. As always, aim to pack minimal items if you can! See our South America Packing List for ideas on what to carry.
Ancient Ruins In Colombia: Ciudad Perdida
You get lunch and dinner prepared for you at certain stops. Now and then, you’ll pass a shack that sells very basic commodities, which is a great perk up if you are starting to get tired.
On your penultimate day, you’ll walk towards the base of the site. You will then have to climb around 1200 stone steps (not the modern kind either!) up to the top, where you come out at the bottom of the site.
A shaman will then commence an entry ritual for your party, where you gather around the steps. From here you will explore the terraces, views, and local huts that are dotted around. After descending, you’ll walk back the way you came and stop for the night at one of the camps.
You’ll then have one more day walking before reaching the starting point, where a tasty meal and beers will be waiting for you.
What To Pack For Lost City Trek
When embarking on a hiking trip like this, key planning before your trip is what will make it a success. Especially packing the right gear, which is paramount.
We advise that you to bring a moderately sized backpack. These days we normally use a 40L backpack which is very lightweight and usually well-packed.
Also, we recommend you consider the following as essential:
- Swimsuit/shorts
- Hot swimsuit/shorts
- Rain jacket
- Insect repellent with DEET (We suggest this one for you)
- Long sleeved shirt
- Fast-dry towel
- Deodorant
We also recommend that you carry three changes of clothes (less heavy wear like vests and shorts, as the jungle, is humid and can get very hot during the daytime).
The most important however, will be a decent pair of hiking shoes. I (Dan) prefer the minimalist type because they are light, easy to carry and to clean.
One thing you will need lots of is – socks! As any experienced hiker will tell you; your feet are your main priority on a strenuous hike like this!
Mosquitoes and other insects can only irritate you, so making sure you buy a good anti-repellent will help ease this. Carry sunblock as you’ll be out and exposed most of the day.
If you’re already backpacking Colombia and thinking of doing this hike, time will be the deal-breaker on whether you can do this hike.
Proper planning (as you already know) is key for this trip! I suggest building this experience into your Colombia itinerary, as it’s such a memorable experience.
You can choose the 4 or 5 day hike from Santa Marta, and getting to Santa Marta from around the country is easy using Avianca flights (cheap and daily) or the bus if you are closer to the city.
See our guide if you are already on the Caribbean coast and will be traveling from Cartagena to Santa Marta or just want to see the different ways you can get there.
Our last recommendation is to use Wiwa Tours, which is based near the Marina in Santa Marta. As a local company, they use locals to the area to conduct the tours, who are very insightful and enrich your experience.
If you can speak Spanish, then that’s a bonus, as most only speak this as well as their native Kogi tongue.
Prices are around $350 for the experience, which is worth it considering everything you will get (food, somewhere to sleep, a local guide, etc).
Lost City Travel Tips
See these travel tips for the Lost City to ensure you have the best experience whether you’re traveling alone or backpacking with friends.
⤵️ Our Travel Tips For The Lost City:
- This Trek is a 5-level! Despite you may have read it’s a level 4, the weather humidity, high heat, and rain make the roundtrip difficult. Be honest with yourself and only join this adventure if you are in shape. If you’re not ready… start training!
- All the tour companies offer a luggage storage service at their offices, but they don’t have lockers for valuables. If you need this service, look for a good hostel, most will help you with this.
- Check if your tour includes a night in a hostel in Santa Marta before the journey and one night after the trek. It’s essential for preparation and to rest well at the end.
- If you’re thinking about water. Don’t worry, they will have purified water for all the groups in each camp. Just bring your reusable water bottle! (But if you’re extremely sensitive, you can buy bottled water).
- When planning your Colombia itinerary, note that the Lost City is closed in September. The natives and nature need this time for rest.
- The dry season is from December to March. For that reason, there will be big groups of tourists. It’s recommended to go during the low season (in the middle or in the end) for a more quiet experience but be well-prepared for the rain.
- There is only one way to get there and come back. Be grateful and respectful of that because it’s an ancient and sacred site.
- Take care when descending the 1200 stone steps. They are slippery even during the dry season. Also, be patient if there are many people. Nobody wants to have an accident here.
- Let the travel agency know in advance if you’re vegetarian or vegan. They’ll provide adequate food options for you in the camps.
- Many say that carrying a trekking pole is a good idea, and many tour guides recommend them as they can be a great help.
The Lost City Trek: Will You Go?
And there we have it. If going on a real, less touristy adventure sounds more your thing, then head to the Lost City in Colombia.
As you’ve seen, the adventure really starts before you even arrive!
Having read this guide, you should now have a better understanding of the history of the site, as well as how to arrange a tour there (this cannot be done independently, which may irritate a few).
Like with most off-the-beaten-path tourist attractions in Colombia and in Latin America, it takes a little more work to get done, but the rewards are jaw-dropping when you finally make it.
Be sure to see our South America backpacking guide for more experiences like this one.
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