Lost City Trek Santa Marta: Kogui Culture & Ancient Ruins

The Kogui still live in the mountains where the Lost City stands.

A 5-day trek from Santa Marta to Ciudad Perdida (Teyuna) in Colombia's Sierra Nevada immerses you in Tayrona archaeology and Kogui culture, with nights in mountain cabins and hammocks, meals, and a live guide in English, Spanish or French. The hike covers roughly 40 kilometers across three days of trekking, with swimming in natural pools and time spent with the indigenous community who inhabit the region. Small groups keep the experience intimate, and pickup from Santa Marta is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Nature and adventure in Sierra Nevada

• Start trek from El Mamey
• Hike 17.7 km through jungle and rivers
• Experience cultural encounters
• Stay overnight at Cabaña Paraíso
• Enjoy lunch, dinner, snack, and hydration

Day 2: Discover terraces of Lost City

• Hike 7.6 km through lush jungle
• Explore archaeological terraces of Lost City
• Learn about Tayrona civilization history
• Stay overnight at Mumake Cabin
• Have breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, and hydration

Day 3: Return to El Mamey and Santa Marta

• Hike 15 km back to El Mamey
• Enjoy Sierra Nevada landscapes again
• Take transport to Santa Marta
• Have breakfast, lunch, snack, and hydration

The experience

The trek starts in the town of El Mamey, a short drive from Santa Marta. Day one is a 17.7-kilometer push through tropical jungle, mountain terrain, and ancestral trails, about seven hours of walking, that ends at Cabaña Paraíso, where you sleep in bunk beds with mosquito nets. The landscape shifts constantly: river crossings, dense forest, steep sections that open onto views of the Sierra Nevada. Meals are provided throughout, and the guide walks with the group the whole way.

Day two covers 7.6 kilometers in roughly five hours to reach the Lost City itself. The archaeological terraces of Teyuna rise out of the jungle, built by the Tayrona civilization around 700 AD: centuries before Machu Picchu. You walk stone paths between the ruins, learning the history and cultural weight of the site from your guide. That night you stay at Mumake Cabin, again in beds or hammocks with nets. The day includes time to swim in natural pools fed by mountain streams.

Day three is the return: 15 kilometers back to El Mamey over seven hours, retracing the jungle and river terrain. Once you reach the town, a vehicle takes you back to Santa Marta. Throughout the trek, you encounter members of the Kogui community who live in these mountains and participate in cultural exchanges: conversations, shared meals, explanations of their relationship to the land and the ruins. The guide arranges these interactions as part of the itinerary. Accommodation includes power at the cabins, and the small group size means you move at a pace that lets people talk and ask questions.

What’s included

• Meals throughout the trek.
• accommodation in mountain cabins and hammocks with mosquito nets, sheets and blankets.
• pickup from Santa Marta and return transport to the city.
• a live guide in English, Spanish or French.
• access to the Lost City archaeological site and guided time with the Kogui community.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 00:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 to 80 years) · Youth (11 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 10 years) · Infant (under 6)

GroupUp to 200

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Demanding physical levelPets welcomeNot for pregnant travelersInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Turcol

Is this one for you?The trek departs from Santa Marta with pickup included, so you don't need a car or local knowledge to reach El Mamey. If you're staying in the city without transport, this handles the logistics. If you're already in the mountains, the guide meets you at a set time and place.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 17 years); Child (6 to 10 years); Infant (under 6).

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

The operator rates this trek as requiring a high level of physical fitness. You'll walk 17.7 kilometers on day one, 7.6 on day two, and 15 on day three, with elevation gain, river crossings, and steep jungle terrain. Most people who train for a few weeks beforehand complete it. The guide sets the pace and the group moves together.

What are the Kogui, and will I actually spend time with them?

The Kogui are the indigenous people of the Sierra Nevada who have lived in these mountains for centuries and still inhabit the region around the Lost City. The tour includes guided cultural encounters with community members as part of the itinerary. These are arranged stops, not chance meetings, and the guide facilitates conversation and shared meals.

Do I sleep in a bed or a hammock, and how comfortable is it?

You have a choice at each cabin. Cabaña Paraíso offers bunk beds. Mumake Cabin offers beds or hammocks. All accommodations come with mosquito nets, sheets, and blankets. The cabins have power, so you can charge devices. It's basic mountain lodging, not a hotel, but designed for the trek.

What's included in the meals, and are there dietary restrictions I should know about?

Lunch is included each day, and meals are provided throughout the trek. The guide and the cabins work with standard Colombian mountain food: rice, beans, fresh fruit, local proteins. If you have specific dietary needs, mention them when you book so the operator can plan ahead.

How do I get to El Mamey from Santa Marta, and what time does the trek start?

Pickup from Santa Marta is included. The operator will arrange your collection from your hotel or a meeting point and drive you to El Mamey, where the trek begins. Confirm your pickup location and time when you book.

Is the Lost City really 700 years old, and will I understand what I'm looking at?

Ciudad Perdida was built by the Tayrona civilization around 700 AD. That's roughly 1,300 years ago. The terraces, stone paths, and structures you walk among are archaeological remains of that settlement. Your guide explains the history, cultural significance, and what each section of the site was used for, so you understand the context as you explore.