Lost City Trek Colombia: The Ultimate Travel Guide

Exploring the Lost City in Colombia offers travelers one of the most unique and unforgettable adventures in South America.

This spellbinding archaeological site lies deep in the Caribbean jungle and is a memorable reward for adventurers who tackle the 4-day challenge.

Along the Lost City trek, expect to wade through waist-high rivers, shower under waterfalls and sleep among an abundance of biodiversity.

You will connect to a civilization almost totally unchanged from the 7th century, discovering how they dedicate their lives to protect this sacred land named The Heart of The World.

Here is our ultimate guide to trekking Colombia’s Lost City:

 

Our Lost City Trek Colombia travel guide includes:

• Lost City hike facts
• Frequently asked questions
• Recommended packing list
• Lost City trek tips
• Local charities and foundations in Santa Marta
• What to know about the Lost City
• Best coffee shops in Santa Marta
• Travel ideas for when you finish the hike
• Travel articles for the Lost City
• Recommended books for Colombia
• Why Kagumu is the best company for the Lost City trek

Lost City hike facts

Location: La Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia.

Difficulty: No previous trekking experience is needed but you should be in good shape and ready for a challenge. 

Length: 4 days (3 and 5 days treks available).

Accommodation: Bunk beds or hammocks in jungle campsites.

Elevation: Lowest altitude 150m; Maximum altitude 1200m.

Average walking time: 6 hours per day.

Group size: Maximum 16 people.

Dates: Year-round apart from September when the Lost City is closed.

Weather: A tropical climate means it is hot and humid and sometimes rainy.

Book your Lost City trek today by calling one of Kagumu’s travel advisors.

 

Frequently asked questions

Is the Lost City hike safe?

Travelers have enjoyed the Lost City trek for the last decade or so and it is perfectly safe to do so. Kagumu works alongside local companies, local guides and local communities to ensure the trip is safe for everyone.

Usual precaution has to be adhered to as is the case with any trip. But, with Kagumu, you can rest assured of a fully comprehensive risk assessment, health cover and emergency protocols.

Who will I be traveling with?

This trip is for adventure travellers who want to travel with new people, explore new cultures, discover new ecosystems and travel in a responsible way. The group will be a maximum of 12 people.

Do I need a visa for the Lost City trek in Colombia?

Yes, but you will receive a travel visa when you arrive at the airport which will cover your stay in Colombia.

Where will I be staying?

Any time spent in Santa Marta will be in a lovely hotel or an eco-lodge in the jungle. During the Lost City trek, you will stay in jungle camps in hammocks or bunk beds.

Otherwise, you will stay in 3-star + hotels with shared twin or triple bedrooms. Single rooms are available upon request and at an extra cost and subject to availability. 

What will the weather be like on the Lost City trek?

You will encounter a variety of climates. The dry season in Santa Marta is September to February and May to July. Santa Marta’s climate is much more tropical and can hit 31 degrees °C during the day. The dry season is usually from January to April.

What will the food be like?

You will enjoy a wide range of food options from local Colombian soups, coffee and fruit juices to ecological lunches wrapped in leaves. Guides will adjust the food options to any requirements or allergies you may have.

I am a vegan, what will I be eating?

Guides are used to providing nutritious and wholesome food for people with any type of food requirements and vegan is no exception. You can expect three varied meals each day and vegan snacks along the journey. 

Will I have to carry my own bag?

For the Lost City trek, you can leave your big suitcases in the hotel before the trek and collect them afterwards.

You will need to take your own small backpack on the hike so pack well! You will be revisiting a couple of camps on the way so you can leave any dirty clothes and pick them up on the return journey.

Note: Kagumu can offer extra assistance with transporting small bags for those needing special assistance due to health reasons. 

How difficult is Colombia’s Lost City trek?

The Lost City trek is challenging more than anything. You don’t need to have any previous trekking experience to enjoy this trip.

However, we do recommend that you are in good physical shape and that you are ready for an adventure where unexpected things might happen. Our advice is to pack well, prepare to get wet and get ready for early morning starts.

Do I need travel insurance for the trek?

Yes, you will need travel insurance to travel with Kagumu. We recommend buying travel insurance from STA Travel.

Do I need health insurance?

Kagumu provides each guest with fully-comprehensive health insurance, covering all the health risks during the time you are with us. 

Are international flights included?

No, International flights are not included in our price but there are many connections to airports in Colombia and recommend searching on SkyScanner by clicking here.

How long is the Lost City trek?

The trek is 4 days but this can be adjusted to 3 and 5 days upon request. However, we feel 4 days is just the right length and we have incorporated this into several itineraries that you can find here.

Is the Lost City trek worth it?

Absolutely! The Lost City trek is one of the most memorable experiences in Colombia.

If you are ready for a challenge this can be an utterly memorable experience that will connect you to Colombia’s native communities as well as tough but rewarding days hiking mountains, through waist-high rivers and eventually reaching an ancient Lost City.

Recommended packing list for Lost City trek

• Large backpack (you can leave this at the start of the trek)

• Small backpack (you will need to carry this on the trek yourself)

• Long-sleeve t-shirts

• Short-sleeve t-shirts

• Shorts

• Long waterproof walking pants

• Light raincoat

• Bathing suit

• Water shoes

• Towel

• Socks

• Comfortable walking shoes

• Bug spray

• Personal hygiene Items

• Flashlight

• Water bottle (Purified water is available for free at campsites, so bring about 1.5 L for day 1, or you can buy it on the way)

• Personal medicine

• Camera

• Waterproof or plastic bags against rain

• Sandals or resting shoes

• Hooded top for the evening

• Waterproof cover for your bag

 

5 trekking tips from Kagumu’s lead guide, Marco

1. Pack well – You will be carrying your small backpack with you and leaving your large backpack in the hotel. So pack light. You will get wet and that is the fun part. You can also leave items of clothes in certain camps to pick up on the way back.
2. Bring some cash – Bring about 300.000COP to buy drinks, fruit juices (and beer) on the way.
3. Pack a sterilizing pen – You will find portable water to fill up your bottles but it is good to be prepared for that moment you might need to drink water from the tap.
4. Don’t bring your passport – You can leave your passport in your big bag before the trek and it will be perfectly safe. This is to avoid losing the passport on the journey.
5. Have patience during the uphills – This is not a race and take time to enjoy the scenery and take a well-earned break on the challenging uphills.

What to know about the Lost City trek

• The site is closed every September so indigenous leaders can cleanse the area.
• It was nicknamed the green hell when it was discovered in 1972 by graverobbers. 
• Once there lived up to 8,000 people in the lost city until it was abandoned when the Spanish invasion came.
• The Lost City is called Ciudad Perdida in Spanish and Teyuna in an indigenous language. 
• La Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, where the Lost City is located, was declared the most irreplaceable natural reserve on the planet.
• La Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is also the tallest coastal mountain range on the planet and even has snowy peaks!
• Only 1 in 10 Colombian nationals have visited the Lost City.

Local charities and foundations in Santa Marta:

Kagumu partners with the Wiwa and Arhuaco indigenous communities, supporting a women’s weaving corporation and a local reforestation project. We recommend these foundations and a few more:

Wirakoku – Lucelly Torres founded Wirakoku in 2007 with the purpose of improving social conditions by selling handwoven Arhuaco bags directly from their weavers.

The skilled hands of over 200 indigenous women from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia started weaving authentic bags using natural fibres and dyes.

Enviornomica is helping reforest vast swathes of forest in La Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. This foundation works with local farmers and communities, empowering and teaching them how to protect forests and also involving them in the reforestation process.

Enviornomica runs a volunteer program and also allows you to sponsor a tree in the area.

Another great reforestation project in La Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is called the Jaguar Siembra. This fantastic foundation allows you to donate to the reforesting project that has already planted over 4000 trees in the forest in Bunkwimake, Magdalena with the local Arhuaco community. You can see their work in this video – https://youtu.be/9BNaifpoBBg.

Best coffee shops in Santa Marta

It is rather surprising to many that Santa Marta hosts a plethora of local companies that grow their own coffee. Here are our best picks for you to enjoy during your time on the coast.

1. Ikaro cafe – Oying just off the stunning Parque de los Novios, this quaint little coffee shop attracts locals and tourists thanks to a stellar menu including delicious vegetarian and vegan dishes and of course a sublime cup of joe! Ikaro has strong connections in the region and produces its own homegrown coffee. 
2. Lulo – This diminutive bar/coffee shop is situated a block from Parque de los Novios and is the ideal spot for brunch. Alongside a thrilling array of tropical juices, Lulo serves up coffee from the traditional Americano to a lovely latte. 
3. La Canoa – If you are looking for a more European twist, head to the beautiful Canoa restaurant and bar. Expect a Caribbean/French feel with freshly baked bread and croissants accompanied by fresh cups of coffee at very reasonable prices.
4. Juan Valdez – Okay, this might seem like an obvious one but you can’t beat a good Juan Valdez coffee. Check this quaint spot out while on a walking tour around Santa Mart’s historical centre.

Travel ideas for when you finish the Lost City hike

Many travelers finish the 4-day trek and are ready for a little beach time. You can close to Palomino after the hike and enjoy a night or two in a beach-side hotel like La Playa Roca or One Love Palomino. While the sea is often difficult to swim in, why not relax on a beach bed and indulge in a mojito while watching the sunset.

How to get to Palomino:

Jump on one of the regular buses that travel along the coast. The time from the entrance of the lost city trek to Palomino is around 1hr and 30 minutes. 

You could continue your journey to the famous Caribbean city of Cartagena. A four-hour bus journey along the coast will take you there. Here you can enjoy the charming old town listed by UNESCO as a world heritage site. We recommend venturing to Bocagrande to feel the true Caribbean vibe and heading to Gente de Mar for a day trip on a Caribbean beach. 

How to get to Cartagena:

You can take a coach from Berlinas office in Santa Marta. This will ensure you are dropped off in the city of Cartagena and not on the outskirts. The journey is around 4 hours.

A lesser-known but maybe more beautiful spot would be the spellbinding Mompos.

This is like Cartagena before the tourists found it. Stunning colonial architecture is complemented by an intriguing history entwined with the magic realism of Colombian author Gabriel Garcia Marquez. You can take a coach from Santa Marta’s bus terminal and we recommended you stay in the perfectly-located Casa Amarilla. 

How to get to Mompos:

You can get a private van that leaves Santa Marta on a daily basis at 3:00 am and at 11 am. You can get directly in touch with Omaira on his cellphone 3114148967.

Alternatively, you can travel to Santa Ana (Magdalena) or Bosconia (Magdalena) and from there to Mompos. The journey takes around 5 hrs 30 minutes. 

One option is to head back to Santa Marta. If you don’t wish to travel far you could spend a couple of nights in Santa Marta and try some of the delicious food in the central park – Parque de Los Novios. Click here to read an article describing the best things to do and best places to stay in Santa Marta. 

How to get to Santa Marta:

You can take a public bus that passes along the coast on a regular basis. This costs around 8000COP and should take 2hrs from the exit of the trek. 

Travel articles about the Lost City

Wondering how to make the most of your hike to the Lost City? Read Kagumu Adventures’ ffounounder’s article published in Afar magazine by clicking here.

Read an excellent, descriptive and emotive first-person piece from one of Kagumu’s previous travelers by clicking here. 

Plenty of travelers want to explore La Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta before it becomes overcrowded like Machu Picchu. Check out this wonderful article in CNN’s Travel section.

Recommended books for Colombia

1. Short Walks from Bogotá by Tom Feiling – Tom takes us on a path much less traveled and dares to go where no one else dared when Colombia was still seen as a drug haven with left-wing guerilla fighters terrorising communities. 

2. Oblivion by Hector Abad – This tear-jerker is a love letter from one son to his father during one of the most violent periods in Colombia’s history.

3. The Fruit Palace by Charles Nicholl – A thrilling ride awaits readers who revel in the dark underworld of the cocaine trade and adventures into shanty towns and deep into the jungle. While Colombia is quite different 35 years on, this is a gonzo ride the likes of Hunter S Thompson was famous for. 

4. 100 years of solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez – An absolute classic. An enthralling story entwining some of Colombia’s most prominent moments in history with its unique culture and a splash of magic realism from this Nobel prize-winning author. 

5. News of a Kidnapping by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Few people know that “Gabo” was actually a world-class journalist and his greatest non-fiction book explores the violent narco era blighted with violence, kidnappings and the infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar. 

Why Kagumu is the best company for the Lost City trek

• We are the only UK company running treks in the lost city that is legally certified in Colombia.
• We ensure sustainable travel (see below for more details).
• Thus far we have an overall 5/5 rating from our clients.
• We pride ourselves on personalised and prompt communication before, during and after the trip.
• Our guides are trailblazers in terms of making the trekking experience more responsible and ecologically friendly.
• We support other local communities, not just the ones in La Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.

Do you want to join a tour of the Lost City trek Colombia? Contact Kagumu Adventures by clicking here.