Ciudad Perdida

Ciudad Perdida ("Lost City" in Spanish) is an ancient, ruined city located in the Colombian jungle close to Santa Marta. The ruins are entirely within a protected natural area, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Natural Park.

Understand

The city was built between the eighth and the fourteenth centuries by the Tayrona Indians. Nowadays only circular stone terraces covered by jungle remain, but the views and the location of the site are extraordinary. The local name for Ciudad Perdida is Teyuna.

Get in

Indigenous Koguis Shaman

Treks to Ciudad Perdida are arranged by six different authorized companies in Santa Marta and Taganga. It is not possible to visit the site on your own. The government made an agreement with tour companies, which results in a four-day tour costing COP$1,750,000 and a five-day tour COP$2,050,000 per person (April 2023). Depending on the season, tours may leave every day or every few days. If you have one or two travelling companions, you are almost assured to be able to leave on the day of your choice.

Make sure to bring appropriate gear for trekking, including good walking boots, mosquito repellent, a sleeping bag, appropriate clothing for hiking and for nights, more mosquito repellent, and a water bottle. You will also want to take a pack of cards, a small amount of cash, a headlamp, flip flops, swimwear, towel, toilet roll, hand sanitizer or soap, snacks and a book.

• 1 Teyuna tours, Carrera 1C #18-23 Centro, Santa Marta, ☏ +57 304-2712-802, +57 302-3625-104 (cell), reservas@teyunatours.com. This is the first tour company to offer tours to The Lost City Teyuna. They began running the tours in 1984 under the name Guias y Baquianos. In 2020, when Baquianos decided to stop operating Lost City treks, its former guides decided to start their own company and to call it Teyuna tours: the professional guides - and owners of the company - are from the region and in all the tours include an English translator. (updated Sep 2021)
• 2 Expotur, Calle 18 No.2-07, next to the soccer field in Taganga. Carrera 3 No. 17.27 Local 3 Edif Rex Santa Marta, ☏ +57 54 420 7739, +57 3114182706 (cell), info@expotur-eco.com. Expotur is the newest operator but is very professional and promotes sustainable community tourism working with indigenous Koguis and rural communities. They have good local and certified guides and frequently offer English translators. Expotur advertise that they have tours to Ciudad Perdido every day. 

• 3 Magic tours (Calle 14 No. 1B -50, Santa Marta), ☏ +57 5 421 9429, +57 5 421 94 72, +57 317 6792441 (cellular), reservas@magictourcolombia.com. 8AM. 
• 4 Turcol, Carrera 1C No 18-67, Santa Marta, ☏ +57 310 640 1875, reservas@turcol.co. Turcol has the longest experience operating this trek. They are committed to local communities, have a really good customer service and frequent tours with English-speaking interpreters. (updated Apr 2023)
• 5 Wiwa Tour, Santa Marta Carrera 3 No.18-49, ☏ +57 5420 3413, info@wiwatour.com. The Lost City is a sacred site for the region's indigenous people and forms part of their reservation in the Sierra Nevada. This is the only indigenous owned agency in town and the only agency that will take you to the Lost City with indigenous guides. (updated Jan 2017)
• 6 Mega Sierra Tour, Santa Marta Carrera 19 No.5-35, ☏ +57 318 891 0741, megasierra2015@gmail.com. This is the only agency that belongs to the 6 rural communities that inhabit the area. The company is committed with the economic development of the region and its preservation. Characterized by touring small groups to the Lost City. (updated Feb 2020)

Note that helicopter tours were outlawed in 2010 after studies demonstrated that the helicopter landings were causing site deterioration.

Typical itinerary

The whole trek, starting in 1 Mamey.  is 44 km long. It is offered as a 4-, 5- and 6-days tour. All of them have approx. three hours at the archeological site itself.

If taking the 5 days (4 nights) variant, the trekking times per day are approx. 4½ hr, 8½ hr, 2 hr, 4½ hr, 4½ hr.

See

• During the trek to 2 Ciudad Perdida.  you will pass many little streams and waterfalls, some of which you can swim in, and which have great views. There are several steep uphill climbs (the worst one takes about an hour on the first day), but it is worth it. Overall, because of afternoon rains, you only hike for about 3–4 hours per day (depending on the duration; you will walk more per day on the 4-day trek).
• Although the community atmosphere while walking is great, it is also fun to spend an hour or so away from the group while trekking to see more wildlife, particularly on the 3rd day.
• During the trek you will also cross many indigenous people in their typical white dress, especially by the village of 3 Mutanyi. .

Do

Some of the 169 terraces of the city

Stairs at Ciudad Perdida

• You will end up playing cards a lot during rest periods; it gets dark quite quickly and while the thought of walking in the jungle sounds good, you will be knackered. Plus, it's not a great idea to go wandering about at night outside of the camps.
• In addition to playing cards, make sure to bring a book and some kind of reading light for the downtime each day and night.
• Take advantage of opportunities to swim when you can! But as soon as it starts to rain, get out and get uphill—you are about to witness a tropical flash flood.
• As much as you might want to just put your head down and keep walking, take the opportunity to watch for wildlife or take in the amazing scenery.

Buy

In addition to the occasional beer or Gatorade purchasing possibility listed below, you can bring a bit of extra cash to negotiate for random items from people you meet. It is illegal—despite the difficulty of enforcement—for non-military personnel to have in their possession official Colombian military uniforms or equipment, so don't buy those if offered.

If you want to get a photo with the soldiers in the city itself, then a small present will get you all the time in the world with them. Think about what a young man trapped in the jungle for 8 weeks would like, such as sweets or magazines with plenty of pictures.

Eat

Meals are included in the price of the tour. The food is basic and scrumptious after intense activity, with plenty of beans, rice, and meat, plus a bit of salad. Dinner and lunch are accompanied with... Tang? Don't worry, you'll be tired enough where everything tastes fantastic. Expect a break or two during the day's hike to stop and refuel with a sugar kick from some fresh fruit.

Drink

Bottled water, Gatorade, Coca-Cola and beer are sold on most of the campsites for COP$2000–3000 each. Prices go up the further you go and reach COP$5,000 at the last camp. Bring extra cash! Better yet, pack a full bottle of something stiff to uncork and share with your new friends after reaching the city.

Sleep

Hammocks with mosquito net

Sleeping space is under a communal shelter in bunkbeds with mattresses under netting. Some cabañas have tents so you can snuggle with another trekker. Blankets are provided and worth it; even if the evening is warm, it can get very cold at the higher altitudes.

Cope

Showers are available at the camps along the way (but lingering in the rivers during crossings makes for a good rinse in the meantime). Just be aware that remaining dripping wet for extended periods in an already humid environment can lead to fungal infections and just generally smelling bad, so it is good to dry off completely after swimming, showering, etc.

Bring at least one full bottle of bug spray and at least one pair of long pants and one loose, long-sleeved shirt to protect yourself from the swarms during rest periods and breaks. Mosquitoes and biting flies are a constant nuisance, especially when you are resting or stopped at camp; when you are actually hiking and moving, the problem is less severe. Bring more bug spray than sunscreen, as often you will be hiking with substantial tree cover.

For each piece of electronic equipment you choose to bring (cell phone, camera, etc.), purchase a waterproof, crushproof drybox.

A pair of lightweight, quick-drying hiking sandals is convenient for crossing rivers.

Footwear: An absolute must is a pair of quick-drying, teva-like sandals for river crossings. The actual hiking can be done with hiking boots, hiking shoes, or tennis shoes. For most people, hiking boots are advisable as the terrain can be extremely rocky, muddy, and – most importantly – slippery. Probably the most important consideration is to bring a pair of shoes that have a strong grip and are well broken in.

Also bring dry clothes to change into at night. During the rainy season, you should expect to be totally soaked by the afternoon rain. A rain cape covering you and your backpack is also a good idea.

In 2020-2021 they installed water filters in all of the camps. While before many people would get sick with stomach problems, diarrhoea and/or vomiting due to hygienic problems, this is very little now. (Though make sure to bring your own hand disinfectant and medication, and maybe avoid meat and leave the salad aside to reduce your risk.)

Go next

If you feel that the Lost City trek is too expensive or takes to long to fit in your travel plans, consider doing the short trek to El Pueblito in Tayrona National Park.

All tours normally start and end in Santa Marta or Taganga. If you talk to your tour company they can also pick you up (or drop you off) at La Aguacatera (on the street to Palomino) or at the entrance of Tayrona National Park.