The complete guide to Colombia's Lost City trek. Difficulty, cost, what to pack, and why it's 650 years older than Machu Picchu.
Ciudad Perdida Trek: The Complete Guide to Colombia’s Lost City
650 Years Older Than Machu Picchu
The Ciudad Perdida, or Lost City, was built around 800 AD by the Tairona people in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. That’s roughly 650 years before Machu Picchu. It was a major political and manufacturing hub with an estimated population of 2,000 to 8,000 people, spread across more than 240 stone terraces, stairways, and ceremonial platforms connected by stone roads through the jungle.
The Tairona abandoned the city during the Spanish conquest, but the indigenous communities that descend from them, the Kogi, Arhuaco, Wiwa, and Kankuamo, never forgot it existed. They continued making pilgrimages to the site they call Teyuna for centuries. The “discovery” in 1972 was actually a rediscovery by treasure hunters. Archaeological work began in 1976, and tours have operated since 2005.
Here’s what makes this trek different from any other multi-day hike: you’re walking through living indigenous territory. The Sierra Nevada is considered the “Heart of the World” by its four indigenous nations, and your presence there is permitted, not assumed.
The Trek: What You’re Signing Up For
The standard trek is 4 days, covering approximately 46 kilometers round-trip through jungle, river crossings, and steep terrain. A 5-day option exists for a slower pace, and there are private 3 and 6-day variations. You start from Santa Marta, ride a 4×4 to the trailhead at Machete Pelao (also called El Mamey), and hike from there.
Day 1: Drive from Santa Marta to Machete Pelao. Hike to the first camp. Relatively easy, about 4-5 hours with river crossings. Sleep in hammocks or basic beds at a camp run by local families.
Day 2: The hardest day. Six to eight hours through heat, humidity, steep ascents, and river crossings. You pass through Wiwa and Kogi villages. Camp near the river with time to swim and cool off.
Day 3: Morning hike to the Lost City. Climb approximately 1,200 stone steps through thick jungle to reach the terraces. Your guide walks you through the ruins, the history, and the cultural significance. About 90% of the site remains buried under jungle. What you see is a fraction. Hike back to camp.
Day 4: Long hike back to Machete Pelao. 4×4 back to Santa Marta. You arrive exhausted, muddy, and genuinely changed by the experience.
How Difficult Is It?
Challenging but not extreme. You don’t need to be an athlete, but you need reasonable physical condition. The difficulty comes from three things: heat (jungle humidity is relentless), duration (6-8 hours of walking per day), and terrain (steep hills, river crossings, muddy trails). Altitude is moderate, peaking around 1,200 meters, so altitude sickness isn’t a concern.
The 1,200 stone steps to the city on day 3 are steep, uneven, and slippery when wet. Take your time. If you can hike 4-5 hours at moderate pace without major issues, you can handle this trek. Training beforehand helps. Even a few weeks of regular walking makes a difference.
Pack good hiking shoes (broken in), a dry bag for electronics, insect repellent, sunscreen, and at least two liters of water capacity. Camps have filtered water for refills.
Cost, Booking, and Rules
You cannot do this trek independently. Only certified agencies can operate in the Sierra Nevada, by agreement with the indigenous communities. This protects their ancestral lands and ensures tourism benefits them directly.
Cost (2026): approximately 1,860,000 COP ($465 USD) for 4 days, or 2,150,000 COP ($537 USD) for 5 days. Prices are regulated and identical across all agencies. The price includes transport from Santa Marta, all meals, guide, camp accommodations, and site entry.
Authorized agencies: Wiwa Tours (indigenous Wiwa guides), Expotur, Magic Tours, and several others. All operate the same route with the same camps. The difference is guide quality and community relationship. Wiwa Tours is the only one led entirely by indigenous guides.
Annual closure: one month per year (usually September) for indigenous pagamentos, spiritual rituals to return to the earth what has been taken. Dates change annually. Check before booking.
Best conditions: November to April is driest. The trail operates year-round (except closure month), but rainy season (May-October) means muddier trails and more river crossings.
What to Expect at the Camps
Basic. Hammocks or bunk beds with mosquito nets. Communal bathrooms, some with showers. Meals cooked by local families: rice, beans, protein, plantain, fruit, coffee. You won’t go hungry. Filtered water available at all camps. Limited electricity for phone charging. Bring a power bank. Zero cell service once you’re on the trail.
The Cultural Experience
This separates Ciudad Perdida from every other trek in South America. You’re walking through land that four indigenous nations consider sacred. You’ll pass Kogi and Wiwa villages where people live in traditional round thatch huts, wear white robes, and maintain customs predating the Spanish conquest.
Respect is essential. Don’t photograph people without permission. Don’t enter villages uninvited. Don’t leave trash anywhere. If you choose an agency with indigenous guides, you’ll get deeper context: stories about the mamos (shamans), the spiritual significance of the sierra, and ongoing efforts to protect these territories.
Is It Worth It?
Yes. If you have 4-5 days and can handle the physical challenge, this is one of Colombia’s most meaningful experiences. It’s not just ruins. It’s walking through a landscape where indigenous culture, jungle biodiversity, and ancient history intersect in a way that doesn’t exist anywhere else.
Our Lost Expedition pairs the trek with recovery time in Palomino. Push hard for four days, then decompress on the Caribbean coast. That’s how it should be done.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I do it independently?
No. Certified guide required by agreement with indigenous communities.
How much does it cost?
$465-537 USD for 4-5 days, all-inclusive. Prices standardized across agencies.
Do I need to be very fit?
Reasonably fit. The heat and humidity are harder than the terrain itself.
Is it better than Machu Picchu?
Different. Rawer, less developed, more physically demanding. No trains or buses. Many who’ve done both say Ciudad Perdida felt more authentic.
Where should I go after?
Palomino or Minca. Both are close to Santa Marta and perfect for post-trek recovery.
