Arrival in Santa Marta
Upon arrival in Santa Marta, transfer (30-45 min.) to a centrally located hotel. On the evening, briefing and preparations for the coming trek to the Lost City.
Night in hotel.

Lost City – Trekking: “Donde Adan” lodge (480 m)
Morning pick up at hotel and transfer, in 4WD cars, driving northeastwards along the Caribbean coast. After 1-1.5 hours, leave the paved road and here the adventure begins! After about a 1-hour drive on a dirt road, through a beautiful landscape, the village of “El Mamey” (150 m) also called “Machete Pelado” appears. Lunch will be served upon arrival and then the hike to “Ciudad Perdida” starts. This day’s hike is exposed to the sun or the rain, therefore it is important to have a good amount of water and suncream!. Tropical fruit will be offered along the trek. The group will take the river trail, which is a more pleasent walk than the main road. This trail follows “Quebrada del Alto Mamey” river valley for about 1 hour and then ascends steeply (1,5 h) to “El Mirador” pass (640 m) that has a great view down to the Mamey town and the Buritaca River. From this point, a constant descent (1,5 h) to the “Quebrada Honduras” river, where the “Donde Adan”’s lodge is located. It is possible to take a swim in a beautiful natural river pool at the lodge. Dinner will be served in this rustic lodge.
Night in hammocks.
Ascent: 490 m / Descend: 160 m / Highest altitude: 640 m / Distance: 8,9 Km / Activity duration: 4 h
Included meals: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR THE LOST CITY TREK:

Yearly closures:

– The Lost City trek closes once a year for Indigenous religious ceremonies. This usually occurs in September and typically lasts for the entire month.

If you are planning your trip around this time of year, please contact us to confirm the exact restricted dates, as they may vary slightly from one year to the next.

– This itinerary reflects the standard program but may be subject to change due to weather conditions and/or force majeure events.

Trekking: “Paso Lorenzo” lodge (806 m)
This is a longest day on the program. After an early breakfast, the ascent begins right away taking a well marked trail that gently gains altitude up to “Mumake” pass (680 m). Before the pass, there is the invisible border between “Colonos” lands (Peasants not originally from the area) and the “Kogi’s” Indigenous territory. From now on, the trek will be done in an area protected and ruled by this tribe. There are also “Wiwa’s” Indians, original from another sector of the Sierra, had settled in these valleys and now are running some of the lodges. It is also noticeably the change from extensive farmland into a better-preserved and much less exploded area. From the mountain pass, there is a relative quick descent to the “Buritaca” river valley (430 m), where the only Kogi settlement on the trek is placed. This settlement is called: “Montangi” and is a perfect spot to get an glimpse into the local life style and traditions. After about 1 hour, a river crossing over a hanging bridge, leads to a second ascent (2 h) up to “Koskunguena” pass (824 m) and then back down to the “Buritaca” river (743 m) to “Paso Lorenzo” rustic lodge (806 m), the place for the night. This lodge is just by the shores of the “Buritaca” river, a fantastic place to relax and swim.
Night in hammocks or bunk-beds.
To Mumake pass: Ascent: 200 m / Descend: 250 m / Highest altitude: 680 m
To Koskunguena pass: Ascent: 394 m / Descend to Buritaca River: 77 m / Highest altitude: 824 m / Distance: 12.94 Km / Activity duration: 6 h
Included meals: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner

Trekking: Lost City (1175 m)
Very early departure, continuing on the trail, shortly crossing the river to take the right margin of the Buritaca river for about 40 min. up to a second crossing. Once on the other side, the archaeological stairway begins ascending rather steeply all the way to the first terraces of the Lost City (1175 m). From here begins a journey through time, to one of the most interesting archaeological sites of Colombia’s pre-Hispanic period.
The Lost City of the Tayrona is worldwide known. Its original Indigenous name is “Teyuna” and is one of the three large citadels of vanished Tayrona civilization. Teyuna is the only city that has been discovered until now and thus partially restored. Tayrona’s cities were connected by a complex network of trails, from the Caribbean coastal area to the high mountain in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. The Tayrona had a well-developed social organization and an effective system of products and goods exchange between the different settlements. Although there is no precise information of the role of Teyuna in the Tayrona culture, it is believed that it was a place for religious worship and center of political power.
During the course of 3 hours visit to the archaeological complex, the group will learn about the different types of terraces and how the city was divided into areas according to hierarchy and types of work. During the visit, it is possible to see the home of a Kogi Mamo (shaman-wise person) who lives in the same traditional way, as it is thought the inhabitants did. It is also believed that the Kogis are descendants from the Tayronas, pushed to the higher lands during the Spanish conquest.
After the visit, hike down to “El Paraiso” lodge to have some lunch and then continue (4 h), back on the same trail as the day before, but this time a bit further out, crossing the hanging bridge and down the Buritaca river valley, passing once again the “Montangi” Kogi settlement to “Mumake” lodge (389 m), just at the foot of the “Mumake” pass.
Night in hammocks.
To Lost City: Ascent: 369 m / Descend back to lodge: 369 m / Highest altitude: 1175 m / Distance one-way: 2,4 Km / Activity duration: 5 hours including a 3 hours visit.
Ascent to Koskunguena pass: 77 m / Descend to “Mumake” lodge: 481 m / Highest altitude: 870 m / Distance one-way: 7,64 Km / Activity duration: 4 h
Included meals: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner

Trekking: El Mamey (150 m) – Santa Marta
Last trekking day! From “Mumake” lodge (389 m), the ascent being right from the front step, leading up to “Mumake” pass (680 M) and after descending to “Quebrada Honduras” river to ascent (1,5 h) to the last pass: “EL Mirador” (640 m) and then to the final destination “El Mamey” town (150 m). Upon arrival there will be lunch and then a transfer to hotel in Santa Marta (2-2,5 h).
Night in hotel.
Ascent to Mumake pass: 291 m / Descend to “Donde Adan” lodge: 200 m / Ascent to El Mirador pass: 160 m / Descend: 490 m / Highest altitude: 680 m / Distance: 14,2 Km / Activity duration: 4-5 h
Included meals: Breakfast, Picnic

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