Ciudad Perdida Trek: Our Tips for the Lost City in Colombia

The Most Important Tips for the Ciudad Perdida Trek

The Ciudad Perdida is an archaeological site in Colombia that’s even older than Machu Picchu in Peru. It was built by the indigenous Tayrona people, who called the city Teyuna. In English, it’s known as the Lost City.

The Lost City is one of the most popular attractions in Colombia and sits near the city of Santa Marta.

The only way to reach Ciudad Perdida is on foot via a hiking trail — and you’ll need to book a guided, multi-day tour to do it. The most popular option is a four-day hike, though three, five, or six days are also possible. In total, you’ll cover around 52 kilometers.

Note: It is not possible to do the Lost City trek on your own.

The Ciudad Perdida on a Map

On this map, we’ve marked where the Lost City and the start of the hike are located. The towns of Palomino and Santa Marta are also marked for orientation.

Booking the Ciudad Perdida Tour

You can book tours with various operators online or on-site in Santa Marta. The good news: the price for the hike is fixed across all operators — 1,860,000 COP (420 euros) for four days. Costs vary if you book more or fewer days, or opt for a private tour.

Well-known tour operators in Santa Marta include Teyona Tours (where we booked), Magic Tour, WiWa Tour, and Expotur.

You can also book through GetYourGuide — it’s convenient, though slightly more expensive than booking directly with a local agency.

Book the Ciudad Perdida hike on GetYourGuide

When Is the Best Time to Visit the Ciudad Perdida?

The Lost City trek is not for the faint of heart. Since the trail runs through the jungle, rain is possible year-round — and it’s very likely you’ll get caught in at least one heavy downpour.

It’s also extremely, extremely hot, so you’ll be completely drenched in sweat every single day. Honestly, the heat is the biggest challenge on the entire hike.

Rainfall is lowest during December through March, making these the best months for the ciudad perdida trek. It can still rain occasionally during this period, but far less than the rest of the year.

The rainy season runs from April through November. That doesn’t mean it rains all day, though — usually a heavy shower rolls through in the afternoon and that’s it. You can absolutely do the hike during these months too.

Note: In September, the Ciudad Perdida trek is closed. You cannot hike the trail to the Lost City during this month.

We’ve written more advice on the best time to visit Colombia in a separate article.

What to Pack for the Hike?

Having the right gear for the ciudad perdida hike is really important. Pack light — only the essentials — because you’ll be carrying your backpack the entire time. That said, there are a few things you absolutely cannot leave behind.

Note: If you’d rather not carry your own backpack, you can have it transported from camp to camp by motorcycle and mule for a small fee.

Packing List for the Ciudad Perdida Hike

• Small, comfortable hiking backpack
• At least two sets of light hiking clothes
• Hiking shoes with good grip (it can get veeery muddy and slippery)
• Long clothes for the evenings (temperatures cool down at night)
• Hiking poles
• Bug spray (there are an incredible number of mosquitoes out there)
• Swimwear (for swimming in the rivers)
• Sunscreen (the sun is seriously intense)
• Earplugs (there are no private rooms)
• Towel (not provided)
• Flip-flops (for the evenings)
• Rain poncho
• Refillable water bottle, 1–2 liters (you can refill it at the camps)
• Phone and charging cable (there is electricity at the camps)

Where Do You Store the Rest of Your Luggage?

If you’re staying in Santa Marta before and after the hike, just leave your luggage at your accommodation or at the travel agency’s office.

If you’re heading to Palomino or Tayrona National Park after the tour — home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Colombia — bring all your luggage to the start of the hike. You can store it there too, so you won’t have to make a special trip back to Santa Marta to collect it afterward. Just clear this with your travel agency in advance.

Our Ciudad Perdida Trip Report

We did the lost city trek colombia ourselves over four days and are sharing our personal experience here.

Trail Map for the Lost City Trek

We’ve put together a map of the hiking trail to the Ciudad Perdida so you know exactly what to expect. It shows the elevation profile and the kilometers you’ll cover each day.

Day 1

On the first day, we were picked up from our hotel at 8 AM and driven to the travel agency’s office. There we paid for the tour and met our guide, who spoke excellent English.

Together with our group (six of us in total) and our guide, we were driven to the official entrance of the Ciudad Perdida trail — about a 1.5-hour drive. At the entrance, we received wristbands for the hike. You can also use the restroom and buy snacks here.

After that, we drove for another hour or so. Around noon, we arrived in the village of El Mamey, where we had lunch. El Mamey is also the starting point of the hike.

The Hike on Day One

At around 1 PM, we finally set off. In the blazing midday sun, we first walked about one kilometer on flat ground along a gravel road — then came a steep climb of roughly 400 meters in elevation.

This section was seriously tough in the heat. Just before reaching the top, we made a stop at a small hut where there was watermelon on offer — incredibly refreshing! Energized, we tackled the last stretch uphill. At a viewpoint, our guide told us about the national park.

From there, it was downhill. The weather shifted, and a dark wall of rain came rolling in. Our guide handed out rain covers for the backpacks, and we pulled on our ponchos.

Then it started pouring. We walked through heavy rain for almost half an hour. Shortly after, the shower passed — but the trail had turned into pure mud, and at times we sank in up to our knees.

More sliding than walking, we picked our way slowly and very carefully onward.

Arrival and Overnight Stay at the First Camp

We arrived at the shelter around 4 PM, shoes completely soaked and caked in mud. The shelters along the hike are all set up similarly: a large dining hall, around 80 beds lined up in a row with mosquito nets, showers, toilets, and a kitchen.

After our guide assigned us our beds, we showered and were handed coffee. The other groups trickled in one by one — group sizes ranged from three to fifteen people. Most other guides didn’t speak English and had a translator with them.

At 6 PM, we had a delicious and generous dinner. We were genuinely surprised by the food throughout the entire hike. Compared to other multi-day tours we’ve done in South America, the meals were really good.

After dinner, we played cards with our group — our guide had a deck with him, which we were very glad about. Otherwise, there isn’t much to do at the shelters in the evenings. Lights out was at 9 PM.

By the way: All shelters have electricity, so you can charge your phone. Wi-Fi is available for 5,000 COP (1 euro).

Day 2

The lights came on at exactly 4:50 AM. Time to pack up and eat. At 5:30 AM, there was coffee and a traditional breakfast with arepas, scrambled eggs, and fruit.

The Morning Hike

We set off around 6 AM. Under bright sunshine, we hiked through still very muddy terrain uphill for a good hour. At the top, there was watermelon again — very welcome.

From there, it was about an hour downhill to an indigenous village, where we waited for the other groups. One of the village residents told us about his people and their culture (translated into English throughout).

From the indigenous village, it was just under half an hour to the next shelter, where we had lunch — but not before cooling off in the cold river first.

The Afternoon Hike

Fueled up, we set off again at 12:30 PM. After about half an hour of hiking, the hardest part of the day awaited us: a steep climb lasting about an hour. This section is genuinely very tough.

Dripping with sweat, we reached the top at the next pit stop. This time, fresh pineapple was waiting for us.

From there, it was another four kilometers to the shelter where we’d sleep on the second night. The trail is mostly flat, with a few small ups and downs. On this section, you frequently cross small streams — watch your step so you don’t slip.

Arrival and Overnight Stay at the Second Camp

By around 3:30 PM, Day 2’s hiking was done. At the last camp — located right near the Ciudad Perdida — we dropped our stuff and immediately jumped into the river.

In the afternoon, a huge bowl of popcorn appeared. We definitely didn’t go hungry on the ciudad perdida hike. Then it was cards again, dinner, and sleep.

Day 3

Just like Day 2, breakfast was at 5:30 AM and the sun was already blazing. Excited to finally see the Lost City, we headed out right at 6 AM. We were able to leave our gear at the camp since we’d be passing back through at midday.

The Ciudad Perdida

After following a stream for about half an hour, we reached a bridge. Beyond it, 1,200 stone steps awaited us. They’re partly very steep and narrow, and the climb is incredibly strenuous. But it’s absolutely worth it — because after that, you’ve made it: you’re standing in the Ciudad Perdida.

The Lost City is made up of several sections, all of which we explored during our tour. We stopped throughout, and our guide shared the history of the Tayrona people who once lived here.

After the tour, we walked to a waterfall and took a dip in the cool water. We spent about three hours total at the Lost City before heading back down the steps — the descent is tough on the knees.

The Afternoon Hike

Tired but happy, we returned to the lodge for lunch. After a big plate of spaghetti, we set off again around 12:30 PM — from here on, it’s the return journey along the same trail.

Our goal that afternoon was the camp where we’d had lunch the day before — eight kilometers to go. We stopped again at the fresh pineapple stand along the way.

We were already at the camp by around 3 PM. The rest of the day followed the same rhythm as before — swimming in the river, playing cards, dinner, sleep. And just like Day 2, it didn’t rain on Day 3 either. We really lucked out.

Day 4

Like every morning, the alarm went off at 5 AM. The only difference was that we woke up with stomach aches. At breakfast, we quickly realized we weren’t the only ones — something had apparently given the whole group an upset stomach.

The Return Journey

Since nobody was in serious pain or needed to vomit, it wasn’t too bad. So after breakfast, we set off on the final leg of the hike. The morning section took us back to the camp from the first night. The first part is the hardest — a solid hour of uphill climbing.

After the ascent, you’re rewarded with watermelon. Then it’s a relaxed downhill walk to the camp, where there’s a small snack and fresh juice waiting.

Energized, we set off again at around 9 AM. Final stretch! The sun was already blazing. From Day 1, we knew there would be hardly any shade from here on, so the first few kilometers uphill were pretty grueling. We were relieved when we reached the top and it was all downhill from there.

Around 11 AM, we arrived back where it had all started on Day 1: the restaurant in El Mamey. We made it! One last lunch, and just like that, the Ciudad Perdida experience was over. We were driven back to Santa Marta by car — and from there, you can easily travel on to your next destination, like Cartagena or Medellín.

Our Verdict on the Ciudad Perdida Hike

We were a little skeptical about the Lost City trek at first — the whole thing had seemed very touristy to us. But we were pleasantly surprised!

Yes, the trek is very touristy, but the hike itself is beautiful, and we genuinely felt that tourism has a positive impact on the region and the local communities. On top of that, the group dynamics, the organization, and our guide were all fantastic.

Looking back, the hike to the Lost City was without a doubt one of the highlights of our trip to Colombia, and we wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who loves adventure, hiking, and outdoor experiences.