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You are here: Home1 / TREKKING2 / TREKKING COLOMBIA3 / Trek to the Ancient City – Into the Heart of the Sierra

Trek to the Ancient City – Into the Heart of the Sierra

COL-06 / 6 day trip / Grade: T2

Panoramic view of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta' Snow-capped Summits (photo: Juan Carlos Gonzalez)
OVERVIEW

The Tayrona were the original inhabitants of Santa Marta, the first city founded in Colombia. Following the arrival of the Spanish and frequent pirate raids seeking their goldwork, the Tayrona retreated to the mid and high regions of the Sierra Nevada to survive and preserve their ancestral legacy.

Today, their descendants the Kogui, Arhuaco, Wiwa, Kankuamo and Arsario still inhabit the slopes of the world’s highest coastal mountain, along the Caribbean Sea.

You can connect with this living culture by visiting Ciudad Antigua, an archaeological site inherited from the Tayrona. Located in the El Congo micro watershed and nourished by the Río Frío, Ciudad Antigua lies in one of the last native forests of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. This sacred site preserves stone terraces, retaining walls, housing rings, small bridges and ancient stone paths built by the Tayrona.

Visiting Ciudad Antigua offers the unique opportunity to explore one of the largest known Tayrona settlements. The site showcases their architecture, ceremonial and residential terraces, all interconnected by stairways and stone roads. Walking through it, you will hear the sounds of untouched nature, offering an immersive experience into the Tayrona way of life.

Today, these silent ruins stand as a testament to the sophistication of Tayrona civilization, which chose the Sierra Nevada’s unique ecosystems as their sacred home in pre Hispanic times.


Day 1Arrival in Santa Marta
Day 2Hiking: Cerro Kennedy (2844 m) – Finca “Altos de la Sierra” (2438 m)
Day 3Hiking: Finca “Altos de la Sierra” (2438 m) – Córdoba River’s Campsite (798 m)
Day 4Hiking: Córdoba River’s Campsite (798 m) – Finca “La Esmeralda” (1085 m)
Day 5Hiking: Ancient City (918 m) – Back to Santa Marta
Day 6Departure from Santa Marta
ITINERARY
Day 1

Arrival in Santa Marta
Santa Marta is a coastal city in northern Colombia, located on the Caribbean Sea. It is one of the oldest cities in South America, founded in 1525, and serves as a gateway to stunning natural and cultural attractions. Surrounded by the Sierra Nevada mountains and tropical beaches, Santa Marta offers access to Tayrona National Natural Park, indigenous communities, and historical sites such as the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino, where Simón Bolívar spent his last days. The city blends colonial heritage with Afro-Caribbean and Indigenous cultures, creating a rich and authentic travel experience.

Upon arrival in Santa Marta, transfer (30-45 min.) to a centrally located hotel. On the evening, briefing and preparations for the coming trek.
Included meals: None

Day 2

Hiking: Cerro Kennedy (2844 m) – Finca “Altos de la Sierra” (2438 m)
Pick-up at the hotel. Our first stop on the tour will be at Finca La Victoria, a traditional coffee estate where we’ll learn all about the artisanal coffee production process. Afterward, we’ll continue our journey in 4×4 vehicles for approximately three hours until we reach the San Lorenzo Ridge, granting us full access to the humid cloud forests of the Sierra Nevada.

After the long drive, we’ll arrive at Cerro Kennedy (2,844 m). This route takes us through lush, mist-covered forests, passing by small coffee plantations, towering wax palms, giant pines, and more than thirty waterfalls, each more captivating than the last.

We expect to arrive at Kennedy before noon. From there, a 45-minute downhill hike will lead us to the farmhouse (2,438 m) where we will spend our first night.

Here, you can enjoy some of the most breathtaking panoramic views of the Sierra Nevada, including a distant glimpse of the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, and the entire mountain range that makes up the highest coastal mountain in Colombia—rising just inland from the shores of the Caribbean Sea.

In the afternoon, before sunset, you’ll enjoy a guided tour of the gardens, where you’ll learn about sustainable farming techniques used by local communities. This visit becomes even more magical as you realize you’re walking among the clouds, on trails overlooking the snow-capped peaks. Few experiences are as relaxing or privileged as watching a Caribbean sunset, wrapped in the cool breeze descending from the snowy peaks of Bolívar and Colón.

Descend: 406 m / Highest altitude: 2844 m / Distance: 2,2 Km / Activity duration: 45 minutes
Included meals: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner

Day 3

Hiking: Finca “Altos de la Sierra” (2438 m) – Córdoba River’s Campsite (798 m)
The songs of endemic and migratory birds early in the morning, accompanied by a cup of organic coffee in hand, are the perfect way to start the day. Dawn in this natural setting, with its pure air, offers an ideal opportunity to reconnect with inner peace and appreciate the beauty and lushness of the Sierra Nevada, one of Colombia’s lungs for the world.

After breakfast, we begin a hike of approximately one hour to the Panku Waterfall, where we will take a break and enjoy the surroundings. Then we’ll continue our descent for an additional two hours to a dirt road (1644 m), where vehicles will be waiting to take us on a fifteen-minute drive to the town of La Tagua. Here we will visit one of the Kogi families who live in the area to gain a glimpse into their lifestyle and daily routines.

The four wheel drive vehicles will then take us on another fifteen-minute ride to our next starting point (1550 m). From there we will hike for about one and a half hours to an old countryside farm located on the banks of the Córdoba River, one of the most important rivers in the Magdalena Department.

Upon arrival, lunch will be served, followed by time to rest. In the afternoon, we will visit two deep pools in the Córdoba River with cold, crystal clear water where indigenous communities allow visitors to enjoy a harmonious experience in nature. Depending on the season and time of year, the guide together with the locals will demonstrate the harvesting process of coffee, beans or corn, in which visitors are welcome to participate.

Overnight at the campsite.

Descend to the dirt road: 794 m / Highest altitude: 2438 m / Distance: 5,1 Km / Activity duration: 3-4 hours

Descend to Córdoba River’s Campsite: 759 m / Highest altitude at the starting point: 1550 m / Distance: 5,79 Km / Activity duration: 1,5-2 hours
Included meals: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner

Day 4

Hiking: Córdoba River’s Campsite (798 m) – Finca “La Esmeralda” (1085 m)
After breakfast, we begin a hike of approximately 5 hours through the coffee-growing mountains of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, heading towards our next stop: the village of Siberia. On the way to Finca La Esmeralda, which is our last accommodation before visiting Ciudad Antigua, we will make a stop at a local farm. There, we will have the opportunity to interact with people from the region, taste seasonal fruits, and observe the traditional cheese-making process.

Upon arrival at our final lodging, we will check in and enjoy lunch. The afternoon will be free for rest, exploring the farm, and ending the day at the viewpoint, where we can admire a beautiful sunset over La Cienaga Grande de Sierra Nevada.

Ascent: 666 m / Descend: 379 m / Highest altitude: 1464 m / Distance: 14,9 Km / Activity duration: 5 hours
Included meals: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner

Day 5

Hiking: Ancient City (918 m) – Back to Santa Marta
The day has come to discover the archaeological remains of the oldest Indigenous culture: the Tayrona, whose descendants: the Kogui, Arhuacos, Wiwas, Kankuamos, and Arsarios, still preserve the cultural and ancestral legacy of our ancestors.

This experience begins with an approximately one-hour walk along a trail leading to Ciudad Antigua – El Congo, an archaeological site inherited from the Tayrona.

In Ciudad Antigua (Ancient City), visitors can encounter Kogui families who still live in harmony with Mother Earth and maintain a lifestyle reminiscent of pre-Hispanic times: huts or bohíos with thatched roofs and walls made of bahareque and clay. These are built on circular stone platforms, connected by terraced stone paths, small slab bridges, and retaining walls—elements of this archaeological area constructed with the wisdom of the Tayrona, which still stands today.

This is one of the most important Indigenous settlements “rediscovered” during a marijuana crop eradication operation in 1983. It is estimated that, in pre-Hispanic times, the city had a population of about 5,000 Indigenous inhabitants spread across some 800 terraces.

Today, only about 21 housing rings are visible. This journey of discovery will take around two hours. We will conclude the experience by returning to the 4×4 vehicles via a stone-paved trail of approximately 30 minutes. A 3 hours drive back to Santa Marta.

Descend: 167 m / Ascent: 167 m / Highest altitude: 1085 m / Distance: 2 Km round trip / Activity duration: 2-3 hours including the visit to the archeological complex
Included meals: Breakfast, Picnic

Day 6

Departure from Santa Marta
Pick-up at hotel and transfer to Santa Marta’s airport (30-45 min).
End of services.
Included meals: Breakfast


PRICING
To request prices, please click on the BOOK TRIP bottom on the right sidebar and fill the information.


INCLUDED

  • Private services
  • Local English speaking guide trekking guide
  • Transfers from airport to hotel and back in Santa Marta
  • 2 nights in shared double rooms in the City of Santa Marta
  • Private transport throughout the program
  • Accommodation according to hotel List
  • Campsite at Cordoba River
  • Entries to the Ancient City
  • Cook for campsite
  • Logistics for taking the client’s luggage
  • Meals as specified in the day to day itinerary

NOT INCLUDED

  • Domestic and international flights
  • Separate airport transfers in case of multiple arrival/departures
  • Personal gear
  • Insurance
  • Tips
  • Everything not mentioned in the “Included” list
HOTEL LIST

SANTA MARTA: Hotel Catedral Plaza or similar

SIERRA NEVADA DE SANTA MARTA – ANCIENT CITY TREK:

Lodge: Finca Altos de la Sierra or similar
Lodge: Cordoba River’s Campsite (no website) or similar
Lodge: Finca La Esmeralda or similar

MAP

Overview:

GALLERY
Reaching Finca Altos de la Sierra (photo: Juan Carlos Gonzalez)
Sierra Nevada's Highest Summit (photo: Juan Carlos Gonzalez)
Descending towards La Tagua town (photo: Juan Carlos Gonzalez)
Kogui farmer in La Tagua (photo: Juan Carlos Gonzalez)
River Crossing along the trail (photo: Juan Carlos Gonzalez)
Local farmers and their productive fields (photo: Juan Carlos Gonzalez)
Kogui family (photo: Juan Carlos Gonzalez)
Cloud Forest (photo: Juan Carlos Gonzalez)
La Esmeralda Farm (photo: Juan Carlos Gonzalez)
Main Trail to the Ancient City (photo: Juan Carlos Gonzalez)
Ancient City (photo: Juan Carlos Gonzalez)
Ancient City Terraces (photo: Juan Carlos Gonzalez)
Tags: Cerro Kennedy, Ciudad Antigua, Ciudad Perdida, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, T2, Santa Marta, Colombia

BOOK TRIP

COLOMBIA TREKS


COCUY

  • SN Cocuy: Classic Western trails
    Cocuy’s Classic Western TrailsJuly 24, 2018 - 10:16 am

    COL-83 / 7 days / T2-3


SN SANTA MARTA

  • Panoramic view of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta' Snow-capped Summits (photo: Juan Carlos Gonzalez)
    Trek to the Ancient City – Into the Heart of the SierraJune 25, 2025 - 11:16 am

    COL-06 / 6 days / T2

  • Lost City Trek 1
    Lost City Trek – Indigenous Culture in the Sierra NevadaMay 26, 2015 - 3:57 pm

    COL-80a-LT / 6 days / T2


LOS NEVADOS

  • Wax palm forest at La Carbonera (photo: Juan Carlos Gonzalez)
    Trek in Colombia’s Coffee RegionDecember 11, 2025 - 7:00 am

    COL-39 / 14 days / T2-3

  • Gallegos´Ridge and Tochecito Valley below (photo: Juan Carlos Gonzalez)
    Coffee Land TraverseApril 1, 2025 - 9:23 am

    COL-89b / 5 days / T2-3

  • Coffee Land Traverse 2
    Echoes of the Andes TrekMarch 19, 2025 - 4:48 am

    COL-89a / 4 days / T2


LIGHT TREKKING

  • Siecha Lake (photo: Juan Carlos Gonzalez)
    Highlight’s hikes in ColombiaJune 3, 2025 - 6:27 am

    COL-51 / 8 days / T2

  • COL RCC SNSM CiudadPerdida JCG 529 crop 1748615545
    Soft Adventure in ColombiaMay 29, 2025 - 12:28 pm

    COL-49 / 12 days / T2

  • Colombia Off-Road 2
    Colombia Off-RoadDecember 15, 2023 - 10:29 am

    COL-26-LT / 21 days / T3

  • Alta Guajira (photo: Juan Carlos Gonzalez)
    Exploring the Colombian CaribbeanMay 26, 2015 - 2:34 pm

    COL-50-LT / 10 days / T2

  • Walking in Colombia 2
    Walking in ColombiaMay 21, 2015 - 10:05 am

    COL-24-LT / 16 days / T2


WHEN TO TRAVEL

Best period: Nov. 15 to end March
Changeable: March to April & June to mid-Sept.
Not recommended: April to May & mid-Sept. to mid-Nov.
Note:The Lost City Trek can be done all year, but there is a month closed for maintenance, please check with us the exact dates


    BOOK THIS TRIP


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