tour to ciudad perdida

Location:
hotel miramar, santa marta

casa familiar, santa marta

10th with first street
Santa Marta, Colombia

Ruin

V!VA User‘s Description

Learn about pre-colombian culture, modern indigenous life and the farmers of the Sierra Nevada through a trip to la Ciudad Perdida (the lost city).

Start out from Santa Marta by jeep. Two hours later you'll arrive at the entrance of the National Park.

(Don't bring too much luggage, you will have to carry whatever you bring for the next six days!)

The first night of the hike is spent on a farm eating dinner by candle light. After a good night's sleep in hammock, the hike starts early the next morning. 

On the path to Ciudad Perdida, you will pass several Kogi houses, a sugar cane mill and nice, swimmable rivers. After the second night you will enter more into the primeval forest. You will hear birds with human-like voices, see spiders, snakes and walk through luxuriant vegetation. That afternoon, you’ll finally reach the stone stairs that lead to the peak of Ciudad Perdida. Take your time and count the stairs, there are inumerable steps until you reach where you'll be sleeping for the night.  

The Ciudad Perdida is a huge terrain of ruins that were rediscovered in the 1970s. After explored by lots of gold diggers, bandits and later by archaeologists, it was transformed into a national park. On the fourth day, your guide will show you the remains of the town, and explain to you more about Tayrona culture. You can take a bath in the river and hang out a few hours with a nice view of the Sierra Nevada. On the way back, you'll take two days and you will pass the same places again.

To bring: very little money, good walking shoes, a big. refillable bottle of water  and a lot of energy. All f this will ensure you will get one of the nicest nature experiences!

Getting There
Ask at one of these hotels for a guide. Several men offer this tour. i had a very good experience with the guide Gabriel Sanchez, a sixty-year-old man who lived in the Sierra for years. He will be happy to tell you whatever you want to know.

Price Description: 480.000 colombian pesos

Travel Skills: intermediate/somewhat difficult.

You Need to Bring: bring water, good shoes, little money, only the most important things!