5-day Hike to Lost City from Santa Marta: 1,200 Stone Steps

1,200 stone steps through jungle to an 800-year-old city hidden in the mountains

This 5-day guided hike from Santa Marta reaches Ciudad Perdida, an ancient Tayrona settlement in the Sierra Nevada built around 800 AD, by ascending the stone staircase the Tayronas themselves carved into the mountainside. The route passes through Kogui indigenous villages, natural pools and river valleys, with nights spent in camps equipped with hammocks or beds. A live guide in English, Spanish, French or German leads the group. Pickup from Santa Marta and all meals are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Travel to Mamey and Camp 1

• Depart Santa Marta at 7:30 a.m.
• Drive 2.5 hours to Mamey
• Have lunch in Mamey
• Begin search for Tayrona sacred place
• Arrive at Camp 1 in afternoon
• Relax at rivers, pools, and waterfalls
• Dinner and rest in hammocks

Day 2: Hike to Camp 3 via Mutanyi

• Early breakfast at Camp 1
• Walk through Buritaca river valley
• Visit Mutanshi indigenous houses
• Hike 7 hours through Sierra Nevada jungle
• Arrive at Camp 3
• Dinner and overnight in hammocks

Day 3: Ascend to Lost City and Camp 2

• Early breakfast at Camp 3
• Climb 1,200 stone steps to Lost City
• Guided tour of Lost City ruins
• Rest and take photos at Lost City
• Lunch at Lost City
• Return hike to Camp 2
• Dinner and overnight at Camp 2

Day 4: Hike to River Station and relax

• Early departure from Camp 2
• Walk 4 hours to River Station
• Observe flora and fauna
• Lunch at River Station
• Free afternoon to rest by river
• Dinner and overnight at camp

Day 5: Return to Santa Marta

• Breakfast at River Station
• Walk 3 hours to Mamey
• Lunch in Mamey
• Drive back to Santa Marta hotel

The experience

The trek starts with a 2½-hour drive from Santa Marta in a 4×4 truck to Mamey, where you have lunch before beginning the walk into the Sierra Nevada jungle. The first night lands at Camp 1, surrounded by rivers, natural pools and waterfalls where you can cool off before dinner. Accommodation is your choice of hammock or bed.

Day two is a 7-hour walk through the Buritaca river valley, passing through settlements of the Kogui indigenous people who still inhabit the region. The jungle opens onto different terrain as you move deeper into the mountains, arriving at Camp 3 for the night. On day three, an early start leads to the main event: the climb of 1,200 stone steps built by the Tayronas themselves. Once you reach the terraces and circular plazas of the Lost City, the guide explains the site's history and significance while you spend the morning exploring, resting and photographing before descending to Camp 2. The final two days reverse the route, walking 4 hours to the river station on day four (with a free afternoon to rest by the water) and then 3 hours back to Mamey on day five, followed by the drive back to Santa Marta.

Meals and accommodation are provided throughout. You carry a daypack with water and personal items. The guide is fluent in English, Spanish, French or German and will be with the group for the full five days. Hotel pickup in Santa Marta is included.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from Santa Marta.
• a live guide fluent in English, Spanish, French or German.
• all meals from lunch on day one through breakfast on day five.
• accommodation in hammocks or beds at three camps.
• and access to natural pools and rivers along the route.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00 and 08:30

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (8 to 69 years) · Under 8: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Ecosierra Perdida Tours

Is this one for you?Book this trek only if you can commit your entire stay to the trail. The five-day format leaves no time for Santa Marta or other regions, so choose a different activity if you want to combine this with coastal exploration.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and German.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How difficult is the hike to the Lost City?

The climb to Ciudad Perdida involves ascending 1,200 stone steps through jungle terrain over the course of a morning, which is the most strenuous part of the trek. The operator recommends at least moderate physical fitness. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health. The other days involve 7-hour and 4-hour walks through river valleys and jungle at a steadier pace.

What are the camps like, and where do I sleep?

Each camp has hammocks or beds available, and you choose which you prefer. The camps are situated near rivers and natural pools, so you have access to water for swimming and washing. Dinner is provided each evening, and breakfast is served before the day's walk begins.

Will I meet the Kogui people who live in the Sierra Nevada?

On day two, the route passes through Mutanshi, a settlement of Kogui indigenous people who inhabit the region. The guide will point out their houses and explain their presence in the mountains, though the trek is not structured as a cultural visit or homestay.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to bring?

The tour includes all meals, accommodation in the camps, a live guide, and pickup from your hotel in Santa Marta. You'll need to bring a daypack with water, sun protection, insect repellent, sturdy hiking boots and a change of clothes for the evenings at camp.

When does the tour start and end each day?

Day one begins around 7:30 a.m. with pickup from Santa Marta for the drive to Mamey. Most days start with an early breakfast before the walk begins. The final day returns to Santa Marta by vehicle after breakfast at Mamey, typically in the early afternoon.