4-Day Lost City Trek from Santa Marta: Ciudad Perdida

Climb 1,200 stone steps to an ancient city buried in the Sierra Nevada jungle.

A 4-day guided trek from Santa Marta to Ciudad Perdida (Teyuna), the archaeological heart of the Tairona civilization, deep in Colombia's Sierra Nevada. You hike through jungle and river crossings, stay in rustic camps, and spend a full day exploring the ruins with a local guide who belongs to the native or farming communities of the region. All meals, accommodation, transport from Santa Marta, park entry and guide service are included; the trek demands moderate fitness and covers roughly 30 kilometers over four days.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Lost City Trek - The adventure starts

• Pick up from accommodation
• Jeep ride to El Mamey (3 hours)
• Hike to Camp 1 (7.6 km, 4 hours)
• Stop at Mirador de las Tres Cruces viewpoint
• Swim in natural pools
• Overnight at Camp 1

Day 2 — Lost City Trek - Into the Jungle

• Hike from Camp 1 to Camp 2 (3 hours)
• Swim in Buritaca River
• Lunch at Camp 2
• Hike to Mutanyi village (20 minutes)
• Hike to Camp 3 Paraíso Teyuna (5 hours)
• Overnight at Camp 3

Day 3 — Lost City Trek - Ancient ruins visit

• Hike from Camp 3 to Ciudad Perdida (1 hour)
• Guided tour of Ciudad Perdida (3 hours)
• Hike back to Camp 2 (4 hours)
• Overnight at Camp 2

Day 4 — Lost City Trek - Return journey

• Hike from Camp 2 to Camp 1 (2 hours)
• Hike from Camp 1 to El Mamey (4 hours)
• Lunch at El Mamey
• Jeep ride to Santa Marta (3 hours)

The Experience

If you're arriving in Santa Marta without a car or staying in the city center, the trek handles the logistics: pickup happens between 7 and 8 AM at your accommodation, a 3-hour jeep ride takes you to El Mamey, and from there the walking begins. Day 1 is a 4-hour hike (7.6 km) to Camp 1, with a stop at the Mirador de las Tres Cruces viewpoint for fruit and views, and a chance to swim in natural pools before reaching the camp. The camps have electricity, bathrooms and showers—basic but real, not a sleeping bag on dirt.

Day 2 pushes deeper: a 3-hour hike to Camp 2 at the Buritaca River, where you swim while lunch cooks, then a 5-hour push to Camp 3 "Paraíso Teyuna" as the jungle thickens. Day 3 is the payoff—a 1-hour hike and 1,200 stone steps lead to Ciudad Perdida itself, where a 3-hour guided tour walks you through terraces, stone paths and ceremonial structures built by the Tairona people centuries ago. The site sits wrapped in jungle with views that shift between sun-bright mountains and fog-thick forest. You may meet the local spiritual leader who guards the site. After lunch back at camp, a 4-hour hike returns you to Camp 2. Day 4 is the exit: 2 hours to Camp 1, 4 hours back to El Mamey for lunch, then 3 hours by jeep to Santa Marta, arriving between 3 and 5 PM.

Your guide is a native or farming community member fluent in Spanish and English (other languages available by request), and the trek includes contributions to local communities as part of the fee. Meals run from Day 1 lunch through Day 4 lunch—all provided. You'll sleep in rustic campsites with beds or hammocks and mosquito nets. The trek is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnant travelers, or those with poor cardiovascular health; children are welcome from age 12 onward. If carrying a full pack feels wrong, mule service is available to carry backpacks up to 10 kg or 50 liters—ask for a quote when you book.

What’s included

• Accommodation in rustic campsites with beds or hammocks and mosquito nets.
• all meals from Day 1 lunch through Day 4 lunch.
• round-trip jeep transport from Santa Marta to El Mamey and back.
• professional guide service from a native or farming community member.
• entry to the Teyuna–Ciudad Perdida Archaeological Park.
• accident insurance.
• contributions to local indigenous and farming communities.
• snacks and fresh fruit at specific points along the trek.
• luggage storage service in Santa Marta.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPets welcomeNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Enlaces Colombia SAS - Econnection Colombia

Is this one for you?Pickup from your Santa Marta accommodation and round-trip transport to the trailhead are included, so you don't need a car or need to negotiate a ride—the trek starts and ends at your hotel. This works whether you're staying in the city center or elsewhere on the coast, and it means the four days are about the trek itself, not the logistics around it.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

43 verified traveler reviews

5 ★43

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

How fit do I need to be for the Lost City Trek?

The trek requires at least moderate physical fitness. You'll hike 4 to 5 hours on some days over rough terrain, cross rivers, and climb 1,200 stone steps on Day 3 to reach the ruins. It's not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnant travelers, but anyone with steady fitness and a willingness to walk can complete it.

What's included in the 4-day trek price?

The trek includes all accommodation in rustic camps (beds or hammocks with mosquito nets), all meals from Day 1 lunch through Day 4 lunch, round-trip transport between Santa Marta and El Mamey by jeep, professional guide service, entry to the Ciudad Perdida Archaeological Park, accident insurance, and contributions to local indigenous and farming communities. Snacks and fresh fruit are provided at specific points along the route.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to El Mamey?

No. Round-trip transport is included: pickup happens at your Santa Marta accommodation between 7 and 8 AM, a jeep takes you the 3 hours to El Mamey where the trek starts, and on Day 4 the jeep returns you to Santa Marta between 3 and 5 PM.

What is Ciudad Perdida actually like when you reach it?

Ciudad Perdida is an archaeological site of stone terraces, paths and ceremonial structures built by the Tairona people, surrounded by dense jungle. The 3-hour guided tour on Day 3 walks you through the ruins after you climb 1,200 stone steps to reach them. The site sits high enough to offer views that shift between sun-lit mountains and fog-wrapped forest, and you may encounter the local spiritual leader who guards the site.

Can I hire a mule to carry my backpack?

Yes. Mule service is available to carry backpacks up to 10 kg or 50 liters each. This is not included in the trek price—ask for a quote when you book if you want this option.

What language does the guide speak?

The guide speaks Spanish and English as standard. Interpreter service in other languages is available by request; the cost depends on the language and will be quoted separately.