Colombia's Lost City Trekking

Welcome to Colombia! A representative will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel in the city – look for the sign with your name on it. Your trip officially begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm where you’ll meet your local leader and fellow adventurers and find out what’s in store for the week ahead. If you arrive early, there’s plenty to see and do in Cartagena. Maybe head to the UNESCO-listed Walled City – a fortified town built in the 16th century to defend against pirates – and explore the cobbled streets lined with monasteries, heritage mansions and plazas. After the meeting, you’ll join your leader for an orientation walk to get a feel for the neighborhood. Then maybe head out for dinner with your group to get to know your new travel buddies.

Today begins with a scenic coastal drive toward Santa Marta. Stretch your legs in Santa Marta and maybe grab a quick coffee, then continue to Tayronaka – a nature and cultural reserve in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Here, you'll have the opportunity to connect with the Kogi Indigenous community – descendants of the ancient Tairona civilization – to learn about their traditions and ancestral wisdom. After, head to your hotel in Santa Marta to relax and enjoy the evening. Why not take a stroll through the historic center or hit Playa El Rodadero for a swim in the Caribbean Sea?

Rise and shine for your first day of hiking! Today’s trail is fairly mellow and a great way to ease into what's yet to come. Travel inland in a 4WD to the small town of Machete Pelao (also known as El Mamey) where the trek begins. Walk for a couple of hours though farmland and jungle along the Buritaca River, then stop for a native tree planting experience to give back to the land you’re about to explore – you’ll even get to name a tree after yourself! After lunch, continue along a mix of uphill and flat sections through tropical forest until you arrive at Camp 1 (1475 ft). Kick off your boots and enjoy a well-earned group dinner as the jungle comes alive with weird and wonderful sounds.

This morning you’ll meet El Mamo – considered the sage and spiritual guide of the Wiwa Indigenous community. El Mamo will share about their way of life and the challenges they face, their deep connection to the land and the different roles everyone plays. After, continue trekking through the rainforest to the Lost City of Tayrona (or Teyuna) – which involves crossing the roaring Buritaca River and climbing over 900 stone steps. You’ll also pass a small Kogi village where the community lives in traditional huts made of mud, wood and palm trees. When you arrive at the Lost City, meet a local guide to explore the stone circle terraces and ceremonial structures of what was once a major cultural center for the Tayrona civilisation. Thanks to fewer travellers at the site in the afternoon, you’ll really get to make most of your time here. You’ll then hike to Camp 3 where you’re free to relax after a big day on the trail.

You’ll get your quads going today on a mostly downhill hike back to the Wiwa Community Camp. Along the way, you’ll traverse river crossings with the help of your leader and stop for a breather at waterfalls. After lunch, continue to Camp 2 via a different route to see another side of the Sierra Nevada. When you arrive, the rest of the day is free to rest your legs after a long descent. If the weather is on your side, maybe check out the natural pools nearby for a refreshing swim. Otherwise just chill out in your surroundings or swap stories with your guides before dinner.

Wake up early and get your walking poles ready as today is another downhill hike back to Machete. As this is your last few hours in the mountains, don’t forget to stop and take in the epic views of the forested peaks. After lunch, a driver will pick you up and take you back to Santa Marta. Enjoy a well-earned shower at your hotel, then regroup for your final dinner as a group at one of you leader’s favorite restaurants in Santa Marta. It’s a great time to reflect on your favorite moments from the trip and raise a toast to an unforgettable week in Colombia’s Sierra Nevada mountains.

Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast. There are plenty of things to do in Santa Marta, so if you’d like to stick around to explore or spend more time on the beach, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organize extra accommodation.