5-Day Ciudad Perdida Trek Experience – Colombia

Early this morning you’ll be picked up in the city of Santa Marta on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, to join the rest of your small international group for a drive by 4×4 to the start point of the trek. You’ll have some lunch and leave your main luggage here, taking only what you need for the next few days (we’ll advise on this beforehand). You’ll also meet your guide – since you’ll be trekking through sacred tribal lands, you’ll have an indigenous guide who knows the area well. This also means that the indigenous community directly benefit from the trek.

You’ll set off along the jungle paths that lead towards your camp for the night, at Adans Cabain, around 8km away. It should take around 5hrs, with a few steep sections and some opportunities to refuel with water and local fruits along the way, as well as a chance to cool off in a crystal clear river. At camp you’ll be fed a simple, hearty dinner whilst you guide tells you about the history and cultures of their people, before settling into your covered hammock for the night.

Today you’ll start early to avoid the heat as much as possible, roving 5km deeper into the Sierra Nevada towards a camp run by the indigenous Wiwa community who live there. It’s a gentle start followed by a steep incline as you reach the camp, where you can rest and refuel over lunch. The views today over the mountain range will be a welcome tonic for weary legs. It’s a further 9km to your camp for the night, not far from the Lost City, and will take you up and down the sides of the valleys, as well as wading through rivers. On arrival you can eat, take a cold shower, and prepare for tomorrow.

After breakfast this morning, it is only just over 1km (through two rivers and up 1200 steps!) to Ciudad Perdida. When you first glimpse the main part of the city your aches and pains will be forgotten – the terraces rise from the jungle, with mountains all around. It is difficult to put into words, and pictures can’t do it justice. Your guide will explain what is known about the civilisation which once lived in this sacred place, and you’ll have a couple of hours to explore, sit and stare at your surroundings. After returning for lunch back at the camp, you’ll hike the 9km back to the Wiwa community where beds and dinner will be waiting.

This morning you can take it easy and appreciate your amazing surroundings, since you won’t be trekking until after lunch. Nearby, you’ll find a river and a waterfall where you can take a dip, or you can finally read that book you’ve been lugging about for 3 days! Once you’ve eaten, you’ll set off on the 5km hike back to your first campsite, where you can enjoy a final evening with your group and listen to your guide tell tales about living in the communities who call this place home.

After breakfast it’ll be time to retrace your steps back to the starting point. It’ll be mostly downhill for around 4hrs, and lunch will be prepared for you before you wave goodbye to your guide and travel back to a warm bed in Santa Marta. Ready for the beach? If you prefer, we can arrange a private transfer to Palomino instead, so you can soak your weary muscles in the Caribbean Sea.