Lost City Trek 4 Days from Santa Marta: Climb to the Ruins

Four days in the Sierra Nevada jungle, ending at the steps the Tayronas built themselves

The Lost City Tour is a 4-day guided trek from Santa Marta through the Sierra Nevada to the pre-Columbian ruins of the Lost City, with accommodation in jungle camps, meals, transport from the city, and a guide in English or Spanish. The trek includes a 1,200-step climb on a path built by the Tayronas themselves and passes through a Kogui indigenous village. A moderate to high level of fitness is required. The trek is not suitable for travelers with spinal injuries, cardiovascular concerns, or during pregnancy.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Santa Marta to Camp 1

• Depart Santa Marta by 4x4 truck
• Drive 2.5 hours to Mamey region
• Have lunch in Mamey
• Start trek to sacred Tayrona site
• Arrive at Camp 1 in afternoon
• Relax at rivers, pools, waterfalls
• Have dinner at Camp 1
• Sleep in hammock or bed

Day 2: Camp 1 to Camp 3 via Mutanzi

• Have early breakfast
• Trek through Buritaca river valley
• Visit indigenous Kogui village Mutanshi
• Continue trekking through Sierra Nevada jungle
• Arrive at Camp 3
• Eat and rest at Camp 3
• Sleep in hammock or bed

Day 3: Camp 3 to Lost City and Camp 2

• Have early breakfast
• Climb 1,200 steps to Lost City
• Tour Lost City with guide
• Enjoy landscapes and take photos
• Have lunch at Lost City
• Return trek to Camp 2
• Have dinner at Camp 2
• Sleep in hammock or bed

Day 4: Camp 2 to Santa Marta

• Have breakfast at Camp 2
• Trek back passing rivers and waterfalls
• Arrive at Mamey for lunch
• Return by truck to Santa Marta
• Arrive in Santa Marta around 5:00 pm

The experience

The trek starts at 7:30 am in Santa Marta with a 2.5-hour drive in a 4x4 truck to Mamey, where you'll have lunch before beginning the walk into the Sierra Nevada. You'll spend the first night at Camp 1, surrounded by rivers, natural pools, and waterfalls where you can cool off after the day's travel. The accommodation is in a hammock or bed, and dinner is provided at camp.

Day two is a 7-hour walk through the Buritaca river valley, passing through the jungle and stopping at Mutanshi, a village of Kogui indigenous people. You'll see the natural diversity of the Sierra Nevada head-on before arriving at Camp 3 for the night. On day three, you start before dawn with breakfast, then climb the 1,200 stone steps that lead directly to the Lost City. The guide explains the site and its history once you arrive. You'll have the morning to rest, photograph, and take in the landscape before lunch and the descent back to Camp 2. The final day is the walk back to Mamey, with stops at rivers and waterfalls along the way, then the truck returns you to Santa Marta by around 5 pm.

The tour includes all transport from Santa Marta, accommodation in camps, all meals, entry tickets to the sites, a guide fluent in English and Spanish (French and Italian available), and travel insurance. You can choose between the 4-day version or a 5-day option with an extra night. Both depart on a fixed schedule and include pickup from your hotel in Santa Marta.

What’s included

• The tour includes 4x4 transport from Santa Marta to the trailhead and back.
• accommodation in hammocks or beds at three jungle camps.
• all meals during the trek.
• entry tickets to the Lost City and other sites.
• a guide in English or Spanish.
• and travel insurance.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in 5 languages06:00

Guide in 5 languages06:00

You pick the guide language when booking. Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (8 to 60 years) · Under 8: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by RUTA TAYRONA TOURS

Is this one for you?Book the 4-day version if you have a long weekend or a few days in Santa Marta and want to reach the Lost City without spending extra nights in the camps. The 5-day option adds an extra night for a slower pace and more time at the ruins. Choose it if you have the time and prefer a less intense daily schedule.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

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

A moderate to high level of physical fitness is required. The trek includes a 7-hour walk on day two and the 1,200-step climb on day three, both on jungle terrain. The trek is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, cardiovascular concerns, or those who are pregnant.

What's the Kogui village stop like on day two?

Mutanshi is a village of Kogui indigenous people in the Buritaca river valley. You'll pass through it during the 7-hour walk on day two, seeing how the community lives within the Sierra Nevada jungle before continuing on to Camp 3.

Where do I sleep on the trek?

You'll sleep in hammocks or beds at three jungle camps: Camp 1 on the first night, Camp 3 on the second night, and Camp 2 on the third night. On the final night, you're back in your hotel in Santa Marta.

What's included in the price?

The tour includes the 4x4 transport from Santa Marta to Mamey and back, accommodation at all three camps, all meals, entry tickets to the sites, a guide in English or Spanish, and travel insurance. Alcoholic drinks are not included.

When does the trek start and end each day?

Day one begins at 7:30 am with pickup from Santa Marta. Days two and three start with breakfast before dawn. The final day ends around 5 pm when the truck returns you to Santa Marta.