You are planning to do the Lost City Trek from Santa Marta in Colombia? This hands-on guide equips you with all you need to know in order to start one of South America’s most epic trekking adventures and helps you choose the right tour.
The Lost City of Santa Marta – Ciudad Perdida de Santa Marta (or Teyuna) – refers to the impressive archaeological remains of a pre-Columbian settlement featuring over 200 stone terraces, hidden deep in the jungle of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the world’s highest coastal mountain range.
Founded by the Tayrona civilization around 800 CE – more than 650 years before Machu Picchu in Peru – it was likely the center of a network of villages and served as a political, economic, and spiritual hub. The site was abandoned around 1650 due to factors directly and indirectly related to the brutal Spanish colonization.
In the early 1970s, the Lost City was rediscovered and plundered by grave robbers in search of gold. Later the site was recovered and finally made accessible for visitors in 2005.
Photo by Datingscout, Lost City, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (mod.)
The multi-day trek to the Lost City is around 50-60 km long (depending on the exact route) and starts at your chosen tour provider’s office in Santa Marta. From there you will be transported to the trail starting point. You must go with a licensed guide, independent trekking is not allowed.
You will get up in the early morning hours and hike up to 8 hours each day (depending on your chosen tour). On your way, you’ll cross pristine rivers and refreshing waterfalls, swim in natural pools, enjoy stunning mountain views, learn from the local indigenous communities such as the Kogui and Wiwa, sleep at rustic camps with shared bathrooms and eat hearty meals prepared by local chefs to gather new strengths. Expect steep ascents and descents during the hike. Trails may get muddy, especially during the rainy season.
The absolute highlight of the trek is your arrival at the Lost City, when the impressive ancient stone terraces emerge from the jungle.
Photo (mod.) by Joerg Steber, Terraces at the Lost City
The Lost City (Ciudad Perdida) is one of South America’s most breathtaking archaeological sites and definitely worth visiting. Here are some reasons why you shouldn’t miss Ciudad Perdida when you are in Colombia:
You can book Lost City Treks of different lengths. The most common and popular options are 4- or 5-day treks, but 3-day treks and 6-day treks are also available. All involve a complete round trip, but the duration affects pace, downtime and level of cultural immersion.
The 4-day trek offers a balanced experience that fits many travelers. The 5-day trek is a great option, if you have a little more time! Here’s a more detailed trek comparison.
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Duration
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3-day trek
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4-day trek
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5-day trek
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6-day trek
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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Keyword
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Express
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Most Popular
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Relaxed
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Full Immersion
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About
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Expect intense hiking days with little breaks and little community interaction. It’s doable for those in excellent shape.
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The most popular choice, balancing time and depth of experience. More moderate pace with time to swim and explore indigenous villages.
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More relaxed and immersive trek. Shorter hiking per day, more time to absorb the scenery and interact with local communities. Slightly different, more quiet return route.
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More immersive. Typically includes more time at indigenous villages participating in typical community activities.
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Best For
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Ultra-fit trekkers with limited time
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Travelers with good fitness seeking a balanced experience.
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Normally fit travelers looking for a stress-free, immersive experience.
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Slow travel fans looking for a deep connection with places.
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Pros
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Saves time.
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More time at sites. Readily available and easy to book – often the cheapest variant.
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More relaxed, smaller groups
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Deeper connection with nature and local culture. Smaller groups.
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Cons
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Physically very challenging, less immersive. Availability often depends on a minimum number of participants.
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Long daily hikes
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Longer time commitment
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May be difficult to arrange for solo travelers since emphasis is on private groups.
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Editor's ranking
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3.
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1. (Top Choice)
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2.
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3.
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For the Lost City Trek you can find different types of tours:
The 4D/3N tour is the sweet spot for many travelers,. Below is a comparison of popular top-rated tours available on GetYourGuide, Viator and Civitatis.
Provider
turcol
The oldest Lost City tour provider. Committed to environment protection.
Provider Ratings:
Google Maps: 4.6/5
Tripadvisor: 4.9/5
Tour Type
shared tour
Tour Feedback
Top-rated by 24+ users (Details on Civitatis.com*)
Languages
Spanish, English
Free Cancellation
up to 3 days before the day of the activity.
Provider
Baquianos
Founded in Santa Marta, with more than 30 years of experience. Specializing in adventure and nature tourism with a clear sustainability vision.
Provider Ratings:
Google Maps: 4.4/5
Tripadvisor: 4.8/5
Tour Type
small group tours available
Tour Feedback
Top-rated by 37+ users (Details on GetYourGuide.com*)
Languages
Spanish, English
Free Cancellation
up until 24 hours in advance
Provider
Expotur
A women-owned local tour operator with 15 years of Lost City experience. Works with local and indigenous guides and is part of Corpoteyuna, an organization dedicated to preserving indigenous and rural culture, and the environment.
Provider Ratings:
Google Maps: 4.9/5
Tripadvisor: 4.9/5
Tour Type
Shared tour
Tour Feedback
Consistent 5-star ratings by over 2700 users (Details on Viator.com*)
Languages
Spanish, English
Free Cancellation
up until 24 hours in advance
Prices for a basic 4- or 5-day shared tour are regulated and shouldn’t differ too much among tour operators. Cost may vary depending on tour length, group size/type of tour (e.g., private vs. shared).
Note: Be careful with ambiguous tour titles like “Alternative Lost City Trek”. They may refer to an alternative archaeological site – not an alternative route. If you encounter a price significantly lower than $450, double-check if the destination is really Teyuna or another “lost city”.
You can book directly with the operators or through a booking platform like GetYourGuide, Viator, or Civitatis. While booking directly may save a little money, booking platforms provide added value through hassle-free and secure payments, reliable multilingual support, and easy booking and cancellation.
Keep in mind that the daily number of allowed visitors on the Lost City trek is limited in order to protect the environment and indigenous communities. The trek may get booked out during peak seasons, so advance booking is recommended. (Last-minute bookings are easier during the low or shoulder seasons.)
The Sierra Nevada the Santa Marta between Santa Marta and Ciudad Perdida features a tropical rainforest/monsoon climate with temperature variations due to altitude: The lower elevations experience hot, humid conditions while higher altitudes are a bit cooler. Expect around 26°C to 32°C (79°F to 90°F) during the day and around 18-20°C (65-68°F) during the night.
The trek is open almost all year. Here’s a rough orientation on differences according to season.
December to March/April: Dry season: clear skies, easier trails, most popular (Avoid Colombian Christmas and Easter holidays, if you don’t like crowds.)
May to November: Rainy season: muddier paths, wetter but greener, fewer crowds.
Closure: The trail closes in September or October each year to respect indigenous seasonal traditions and protect the environment. (In 2025, the trek will be closed in October.)
Pack light to ease the hike. Here are some initial tips – tour providers provide additional details:
The lost city trek leads you through the unique ecosystem of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta which is home to different indigenous communities. It’s important to respect both nature and local cultures.
Here are some things to keep in mind:
Ask permission before taking photos of people
Avoid plastic to protect the environment.
Photo (mod.) by Prill, indigenous village, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
For peace of mind while trekking to the Lost City, consider travel insurance from my affiliate partner World Nomads, who offers dedicated coverage for adventure activities.
Enjoy the Lost City trek in Colombia!
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Last Update: June 3, 2025
Image credits: Title image (top) by Luis Mendez (mod.), Ciudad Perdida Colombia
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