Lost City Trek: Ciudad Perdida

Experience Description

You will discover an interesting archeological territory of an ancient Tayrona settlement located in the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta whose foundation is attributed to the year 800 AD, many years before Machu Picchu.

This Tayrona paradise is constituted by a series of terraces carved into the mountainside formed by a network of stone roads and small circular squares. Access to Lost City is done by ascending about 1200 stone steps through the vast jungle of the region.

During your visit to the Lost City, we will guide you through fascinating landscapes full of history, natural abundance and a strong spiritual magnetism that radiates from the mountains of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. The Lost City has a particular energy, full of vitality and nature that makes it a mystical paradise of purification.

This walk will be led by the best guides in the region who will tell you about the extensive diversity in fauna and flora, climates, and the wisdom and traditions that still remain throughout the years. Enjoying this tour also contributes to the improvement of the living conditions of the farmers who live in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.

Itinerary

Accommodation Type and Food

• The accommodation is carried out in communal camps (large room with up to 20 beds)
• There is a possibility of double or single bed, and hammocks.
• No camping allowed.
• Bedroom assignment is random, it may be in beds, as it may be in a hammocks. Beds will be occupied by those who arrive at the camp first.
• The food is balanced and generous, meals include drinks and dessert. Vegetarian options are available. (Dinner is not included on the last day of the tour.)

Price

What's included?

Transportation, accommodation that can be in bed or hammock, all meals except dinner on the last day, insurance, guidance, hydration, and translation, if required. Seasonal fruits, snacks or natural juice are also offered. This is a shared service. It means that more people can be a part of your group and do the activities together.

What's not included?

Exclusive services: private transport, private guide, mule to carry your luggage and other expenses not mentioned in the tour

Disclaimer

If more participants join you on the same Tour/Date, through Beyond Colombia, your final price will be cheaper according to the group size.

How to Book?

To book, we need a deposit of 10% of the total value of the tour. You can do it via Bank Transfer, PayPal (+ 7%) or Cash (15 days before the tour). The remaining value can be paid in cash in Santa Marta at the office on the day of the tour or through PayPal (+ 7%) at least 3 days before the tour.

* Last-minute requests are accepted but are subject to availability.

Recommendations

• You must carry a reusable container to fill it with water. Also, you will be contributing to the campaign against single-use plastic.
• Bring 2 liters of water the day the walk begins.
• You should not carry unnecessary items that generate weight in your backpack.
• On average every 2 hours maximum you’ll find stations to refill your bottles with drinkable water.
• You will also have in the seasons a fruit snack or in some natural juice with a treat.
• Upon reaching the lost city, a snack of fruits and salty and sweet treats is shared to recover calories.

Where does this Adventure start?

This Adventure starts in Santa Marta. All participants meet at our partner's Office in downtown (address provided when booking). Take into account that you must arrive the day before the Tour to Santa Marta or the day of the Tour before 8am, as all participants need to show up in order to start at the same time.

How do I get to Santa Marta?

From Bogotá:

You have 2 options: by Bus or Flying. By Bus it takes about 20 hours and costs around $100.000 COP (about 29 USD) each way. You can take either Copetran, Bolivariano or Berlinas, the bus companies we recommend.

If you want to take less time definitely take a flight which takes 1 hour and costs around $200.000 COP (about 60 USD) each way. Weekends are more expensive, so you can expect to pay up to $300.000 COP (about 90 USD) each way. Depending on the season, you can find cheaper tickets. We recommend the following airlines: Latam, Vivair or Avianca.

From Cartagena:

The easiest option is by Bus. It takes around 4 hours and you enjoy the beautiful landscapes along the coast. You can take either Berlinas or Marsol bus companies. One way ticket costs around $28.000 COP (about 8 USD). Some Hostels/Hotels arrange a door-to-door service with Marsol by paying a bit more. If not, take a taxi to Berlinas Bus Station which costs around $15.000 COP from either the Walled City or Getsemani. Nevertheless, if you want to take a flight, check Latam, Vivaair or Avianca (prices around $250.000 COP, about 73 USD, each way).

From Palomino:

At the main street entrance of Palomino town you will find a line of buses that go straight to Santa Marta and they leave every 30 minutes. It takes 1.5 hours to reach downtown Santa Marta (mercado público) and costs $15.000 COP (about 5 USD). If you want to take a taxi it costs around $60.000 COP (about 18 USD).

How many kilometers will you walk daily?

7 km

You can request an illustration of the route. Just ask and we will provide you with a detailed map.

How are insurance and medical services?

You will have a copy of the insurance policy to the phone number so that you can be reassured. We work with Colasistencia and you can see the details of their coverage in the policy.

It can be gratifying for tourists to know that they are supporting community tourism and being the result of the local empowerment of the Teyuna path within the Tourism, Peace, and Coexistence program. We have learned that through understanding between our communities and teamwork, we can generate a productive alternative, which contributes to the improvement of the quality of life of all communities, including indigenous people, and local development generating more than 3,500 indirect jobs, based on the representation of the service.

If you decide to cancel your trip

• If you cancel between 8 and 5 days before the tour date, we will refund 50% of the total value of the deposit.
• If you cancel between 4 and 1 days before the tour date, no refund is possible.
• We are a prepaid operator and for this reason, 100% of the agreed value must be paid before starting any tour. Otherwise, the tour will not start.
• Once the tour has started, any voluntary abandonment or non-participation of any activity or tour will not be refunded.
• In case of no-show of the client on the trip, no refund will be made.
• In case of unexpected incidents(climatic changes, natural disasters, landslides, mishaps in air, land or river transport, social manifestations, etc.) in which the trip has to be canceled, Beyond Colombia Adventures will return 100% of the deposit of the reservation.
• In case of a scheduled calendar trip and the minimum quota is not achieved to make the departure for not completing the quota, 100% of the money will be returned.
• In the event that a credit card payment is made through an online platform and any refund has to be made, Beyond Colombia Adventures will return the value paid by the customer, excluding the 7% commission charged by the virtual platform. The client is informed before making the reservation with Beyond Colombia Adventures, that this virtual platform charges an additional 7% of the value of the price.