Helpful tips for traveling through Colombia
March 20, 2023
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Hiking to Ciudad Perdida, the lost city, is without a doubt the most beautiful multi-day hike you can do in Colombia. Ciudad Perdida is an archaeological site and ancient settlement in the middle of the jungle and mountains of the Sierra Nevada. During this multi-day trek you will hike about 60 kilometers in 4 days. It is an insane adventure where you will spend the night in the open air, face flowing rivers and meet indigenous tribes. Is the hike to Ciudad Perdida in Colombia for you? With these handy tips, you'll be well prepared for the adventure!
Please note that there are some weeks in the month of September that the hike is not organized due to letting nature recover.
Ciudad Perdida in Colombia
Ciudad Perdida, the Dutch translation for "the lost city," is, as we shared in the intro to this article, an archaeological site in Colombia. In the middle of the mountainous jungle of the Sierra Nevada lies this ancient mountain city founded 650 years after Christ. Perhaps this place makes you think Machu Picchu in Peru, but did you know that Ciudad Perdida is 650 years older than this wonder of the world?
The original name of the mountain town is Teyuna and it is estimated that between 2,000 to 8,000 inhabitants lived there. When the Spanish conquered the country, Teyuna was abandoned.
The rediscovery of the lost city
It wasn't until 1972 that the town of Teyuna was rediscovered. After years of oblivion, a local father and son had come across ancient steps leading to the town. They found 150 ruins where houses had previously stood. They looted the tombs and took back all the valuables. Urns and gold statues were sold on the black market. Naturally, this attracted attention and thus the rediscovery of Teyuna came to the attention of the authorities. So in 1975, Teyuna was officially named Ciudad Perdida.
Local tribes, who live in the mountains of the Sierra Nevada, incidentally say that Ciudad Perdida has always been known to them and thus was never forgotten. In the years before the Spaniards conquered the country, Ciudad Perdida was the central point where different villages met. This particular place is therefore described as a historical political and economic center. To this day, not all parts of Ciudad Perdida have been rediscovered. It is therefore said that the lost city was once 3 times the size of Machu Picchu in Peru.
A visit to Ciudad Perdida
As you can probably imagine, interest in Ciudad Perdida grew tremendously after its rediscovery. Not only among locals, but also among tourists. At the time, it was not safe to travel to this region because of the civil war that was also taking place in the Sierra Nevada. Since 1976, guided visits to this archaeological site have been allowed, but it has actually only been safe for tourists since 2005. We visited Ciudad Perdida in 2019 and this was without a doubt the highlight of our tour of Colombia.
The 4-day hike to Ciudad Perdida: the day to day program
Most travel companies offering the multi-day hike to Ciudad Perdida are based in Santa Marta. This is therefore the place from which your adventure through the mountains of the Sierra Nevada will begin. It is also possible to join the hike from Minca or Tayrona. In this case, you will be picked up at another location or you will meet at the entrance of Teyuna National Park.
Day 1 - hiking from Mamey to basecamp 1
On the first day you will be picked up early at your accommodation, if located in Santa Marta. But even before you leave for the Sierra Nevada, you will gather at the tour company office to arrange final paperwork and store any hold luggage. Here you will also meet your guides (local native and local English-speaking guide). It is about another 1 hour drive to the entrance of the national park and then another 40 minutes of bumping along sandy roads until you arrive in the mountain village of Mamey. Here you will have lunch with the group before starting the hike to the first basecamp. The route first goes uphill to an altitude of 620 meters after which you descend to the basecamp. This will take about 4 hours.
Day 2 - hiking from basecamp 1 to basecamp 3
Rise and shine! At 05:00 in the morning the alarm clock rings and at 06:00 you are expected to be ready. By starting early you will arrive at the next basecamp in the afternoon. We experienced this as very nice because you still have time to recover, have a nice chat with the group and then go back to bed on time.
The hike on Day 2 will be divided into four by two short breaks with a tasty fruit snack and a longer break for lunch. If the weather and pace of the hike are good, there will be an opportunity to swim in the river during lunch. In our opinion this is the most intensive day with a lot of climbing.
Day 3 - Ciudad Perdida and hike back to basecamp 2
On day 3, you finally reach the lost city. But to get there you must first brave 1,200 steps. The climb up is quite steep and uneven which is not surprising since this route is hundreds of years old. At the entrance to Ciudad Perdida you can have a printout made in your passport as proof that you have been here.
When we visited Ciudad Perdida in 2019, the archaeological site closed at noon. The earlier we arrived in the morning, the longer we had time to look around here. Stick with your guide especially if you are interested in the history of Ciudad Perdida, but also definitely if you want to learn more about the local culture of the indigenous tribes still living here.
After visiting Ciudad Perdida, it is time to return to the starting point of the trek. Of course, you won't do this in one afternoon, so you will spend another night halfway along the route.
Day 4 - from basecamp 2 back to mamey
We found the last day of the hike tough. Not because the route was so challenging now, but mainly because you've had the high point and are looking forward to being back. This makes it quite a challenge. Nonetheless, the joy upon return is enormous and you have visited one of the most special locations in Colombia. In total, the hike to Ciudiad Perdida was 44 kilometers!
Back in Mamey, a delicious lunch is provided after which you board the jeep again towards Santa Marta. You can also choose to disembark at the exit of Teyuna National Park and continue from here. trips to Palomino or Tayrona National Park.
Which tour operator should I choose?
As we mentioned earlier in this article, it is not possible to do the hike to Ciudad Perdida independently. So you are required to book a tour if you want to go here. We opted for the 4-day hike from Magic Tour Colombia. A fine organization with very experienced guides. One of the reasons we chose Magic Tour is that the groups here are small. Our group consisted of 10 people, this is much more relaxed hiking than when your group consists of 20 people.
Another reason to convince you to choose Magic Tour is that the tour company is part of Corpoteyuna. An organization that takes care of the welfare of the indigenous tribes in the Sierra Nevada. The current price for the 4-day trek with Magic Tour Colombia is COP 1,750,000 per person, which is about €350 (in 2023).
Do you choose the 3-, 4-, or 5-day hike to Ciudad Perdida?
Virtually everyone books the 4-day hike to Ciudad Perdida because it is quite manageable. If you book the 3- or 5-day tour you will hike exactly the same route but at a faster or slower pace. If you have a very poor condition or then the 5-day tour is definitely worth considering. With an average condition you can do the 4-day tour just fine!
The comfort during the hike
If you book this tour through Magic Tour Colombia, we can't say other than the sleeping accommodations and the facilities in terms of food and drink are well taken care of. The camps are fine, obviously basic, but the beds sleep well. All beds in the camps have mosquito nets. Meals are freshly prepared every day and vary from day to day. And as we shared earlier, there are several breaks along the way where fruit snacks are provided for you.
Get well prepared with these tips
The main lesson we learned while trekking to Ciudad Perdida is not to carry too much. After all, you are walking for 4 days with a backpack on and if it is too heavy then it can definitely break you down. And during this hike you really don't need that much, so make sure you only carry the things you do need.
A handy packing list
We recommend having the following with you:
A backpack (30L is more than enough)
Mountain boots or hiking boots with a good tread
Slippers
Underwear
Pajamas (airy)
2 x sports shorts
1 x long pants
4 x t-shirts
1 x swimwear
1 x vest/jumper
1 x travel towel (for example, this one from TRVLMORE)
Toiletries (including paracetamol, blister plasters and ORS)
Anti-mosquito spray
Plastic bag for wet and dirty clothes
Raincoat or poncho
Flashlight
GoPro/ Camera
Powerbank
Sunglasses
Cash
Passport
The best travel time for the hike to Ciudad Perdida
Keep in mind that during the months of May through November you have a chance of rain showers during the hike. You are also hiking through the jungle where the weather can turn in no time. We did the hike in the month of October, which is also the rainy season, and had a nice shower every day. By the way, we didn't mind too much because it is very hot here and the rains provide a nice cool down.
The chance of these daily rainstorms is the reason we do recommend that you wear good mountaineering boots or shoes with good tread. The rain makes the trails muddy and so you can slip more quickly. Do you want to do the hike in a period with as little rain as possible? Then it's best to go from December through April.
Lois Weeterings
A dreamer and adventure seeker, always on the lookout for new experiences. But also a hard worker with a thousand ideas racing through my mind. As a personal travel consultant and travel blogger, I share my passion for faraway destinations, thrilling adventures, and winter sports. With deep knowledge of places like Namibia, Colombia, the ABC Islands, and the Middle East, I’m here to help you craft a trip you’ll never forget. Through my personal stories and expert tips, I aim to inspire you to explore the world your way. Always with my camera in hand, I’m determined to capture every magical moment and share it with you.
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