Santa Marta and Colombia’s Lost City I
Colombia Hiking + Walking Tours
FROM SEA TO SNOW IN ONE INCREDIBLE HIKING TOUR
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length10 days
- Prices from$1920 Rates
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Overview
Welcome to this stunning trekking tour in Colombia. Still one of South America's untouched jewels, Colombia offers adventure seekers diverse landscapes, gastronomic delights, world-famous coffee, and a vibrant and welcoming culture. This particular guided hike has it all: beautiful coastal cities, ancient ruins, a national park, historical landmarks, and of course, the highest coastal mountain range on the planet. Curious about bird watching? The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is home to 27 endemic bird species (and more than 635 species recorded in total!). Interested in indigenous history? The archaeological wonder of the Lost City (Ciudad Perdia) will astound you, as it is believed to have been founded around 800 CE, some 650 years earlier than Machu Picchu. Didn't think you would see snow so close to the Equator? Snow-capped peaks await you just 42 km away from the sea. To say this Colombian hiking tour is unforgettable is an understatement.
Welcome to the Sierra Nevada and Colombia's Lost City!
Highlights
- Santa Marta, the oldest city in Colombia, located on the Caribbean Coast
- Ciudad Perdida, or the Lost City, one of South America's most important archeolgical sites
- The Sierra Nevada mountain range
- Tayrona National Park and it's pristine beaches
- Dozens of endemic bird species, a bird watching paradise
- Unique flora and fauna you won't find anywhere else in the world
Looking for something different? Check out our other guided hiking and birdwatching tours!
Itinerary
VIRTUAL EXPERIENCES
Have the traveling blues? While most of the world is staying in, we are offering an authentic Colombian experience all from the comfort of your home. This is a perfect way to get to know Colombia ahead of your future travels here, or perhaps it will entice you to come and enjoy this magical place!
SALSA DANCING WITH THE WORLD CHAMPION
Andrés Leiton, a world champion Salsa dancer, offers this intimate virtual adventure where you'll learn of the history of Salsa, try out the basic steps, and even watch a dance presentation with him and his partner. This is a perfect appetizer for your eventual travel to Colombia!
Details -
Duration: 1.5 hours
Where: Zoom
When: Anytime!Feel free to contact us for more details and learn exclusive offers on our tours in Colombia!
Details -
Duration: 1.5 hours
Where: Zoom
When: Anytime!Feel free to contact us for more details and learn exclusive offers on our tours in Colombia!
Day 1: Arrival Santa Marta
Bienvenidos a Colombia - Welcome to Colombia! Your trekking tour is about to begin.
A transfer is included from Simón Bolívar International Airport, your local English speaking guide will greet you before accompaning you to your first hotel.
Overnight: Santa Marta
Accommodation: Hotel Bonita Bay, double rooms
Transfer: 1/2 hour from airportDay 2: Santa Marta - Mamey - Camp 1 "Adam"
You will be picked up from your hotel and transferred by car to Mamey (3 hours approx) after a short introduction at our office. Any large luggage or items you don't need on the hike can be left at the office. In Mamey, you will enjoy a light lunch before starting the 8 km walk. Half-way, you will stop at the Mirador (look-out) of the three crossings to enjoy some delicious tropical fruits before continuing to the first lodging "Adam" or "Alfredo", where you will spend the first night. A special treat awaits you here, as you will be able enjoy the natural pools that the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta offers. A refreshing end to a perfect day.
Overnight: Camp 1
Accommodation: Adam or Alfredo, traditional trekking camps. Bunk beds or hammocks available, features electricity, bathrooms, and showers.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Hike: 8 km, approx. 4 hours
Elevation: start 135 m / end 450 m
Car Transfer: 3 hours
Day 3: Camp 1 "Adam" - Camp 2 "Cabaña Wiwa" - Mutanyi - Camp 3 "Paraíso Teyuna"Another day, another adventure! After breakfast, you will start your hiking tour from the first camp to the second "Cabaña Wiwa" where you can enjoy a refreshing dip in the Buritaca River before lunch. After a brief rest, the adventure continues into the Sierra Nevada, bordering an indigenous village of the Kogui community called Mutanyi. The Kogui are a group of indigenous people that have been living in this area since before Colombia's existence, their unique way of life is visible from the traditional clothes they wear to the native lanuage they speak. You will continue on until reaching the third camp "Paraíso Teyuna", where you will spend the second night.
Overnight: Camp 3
Accommodation: Paraíso Teyuna, a traditional trekking camp. Bunk beds or hammocks available, facilities include bathrooms and showers and electricity powered by generator (from 6 pm to 9pm).
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Hike: 16 km, approx. 7-8 hours
Elevation: start 450 m / end 860 mDay 4: Camp 3 "Paraíso Teyuna" - Ciudad Perdida - Camp 2 "Cabaña Wiwa"
The day starts very early with a hearty breakfast and the 2 km ascent to the Lost City or "Ciudad Perdida". Whet your appetite with a 360° tour of this area now! You will climb 1,200 steps that lead to this majestic stone city, made up of intercommunicating roads, retaining walls, and terraces with rings where the houses of the ancient Tayrona rested. All of it is surrounded by a magical jungle of fauna and flora that gives you different views of landscapes in any weather. Here you can also meet the leader and protector of Mother Nature and the old Tayrona empire. After the tour of the Ciudad Perdida, you will descend again to the third camp "Paraíso Teyuna" for lunch and then return to the second camp "Cabaña Wiwa" where you will spend the night.
Overnight: Camp 2
Accommodation: Cabaña Wiwa, a traditional trekking camp. Bunk beds or hammocks available, facilities include bathrooms and showers (limited).
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Hike: 9 km, approx. 8 hours
Elevation: start 860 m / end 450 mDay 5: Camp 2 "Cabaña Wiwa" - Mamey - Minca
Your time in the Lost City about to end. After breakfast, you will leave on a walk of approximately 2 hours to Camp Adam/Alfredo where you slept the first night. Once at the first camp, you will take a quick break and enjoy some fruit and water before continuing for another 4-5 hours hike all the way back to Mamey, where you will have lunch (not included) and board a 4x4 that will bring you back to Santa Marta.
From Santa Marta you will take another Jeep that will bring you to Minca, where you will spend the night.Overnight: Minca
Accommodation: Hotel Sweet Harmony
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Hike: 13 km, approx. 7 hours
Elevation: start 450 m / end 135 mDay 6: Santa Marta - Minca - La Victoria - La Maria - Santa Elena
There will be a short tour around the village and a stop at a restaurant on the edge of the Minca River to have a coffee or a fresh fruit juice. Afterwards, you continue on to the coffee farm La Victoria (30 Min.). This is one of the oldest and largest coffee farms in Colombia. Micky Weber, the owner of the farm, managed to make use of machines dating back to the year 1892, turning the place into a real living museum. His ideas led the farm to self-sufficiency - from electricity to crop fertilizer, everything is produced on the farm. On a guided tour of approx. 2 hours, you learn all about the ingenious process of La Victoria 1892 coffee, from the production to the finished product. After, you will continue uphill on a trail to the farm La Maria (1.5 hours), at a height of approx. 1600m. From here, you begin a trek of about 90 minutes through the cloud forest, to the farm Santa Elena. On arrival, you will have lunch and with renewed strength, start roaming around the area to enjoy the views of the Guachaca River Valley and the snowy peaks, as well as the spectacular sunset over the Great Marsh of Santa Marta and the Caribbean Sea.
Overnight: Santa Elena
Accommodation: Finca, a traditional farm dwelling
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Hike: 3 km, approx. 5 hours
Elevation: start 600 m / end
Car Transfer: 1 1/2 hoursDay 7: Santa Elena - waterfall of Panku - Santa Elena
An early wake up is required today, as you'll walk to one of the viewing points and appreciate the stunning sunrise in the Sierra Nevada. You can observe how, little by little, the rays of the sun illuminate the numerous valleys and the eternal snow of the high peaks. After breakfast, you will start a walk through untouched nature until reaching the fabulous waterfall of Panku. Here you can take a refreshing swim before returning to the farm. After lunch, you descend to reach the transfer vehicle once more.
Overnight: Santa Elena
Accommodation: Finca, a traditional farm dwelling
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Hike: 9 km, approx. 5 hours
Elevation: start m / end
Car Transfer: 2 hoursDay 8: Santa Elena - Cerro Kennedy - La Esperanza - Finca La Jorara
An early breakfast is prepared before to starting the trek to the top of Cerro Kennedy (3,000 meters). This trek provides the most spectacular views of the valleys, the sea, and the snowy peaks of the Sierra. After lunch with a friendly family at their farm La Esperanza, you return to Santa Elena and descend to the vehicle for your return to Santa Marta.
You will continue for just an hour or so more, in direction of Tayrona National Park, where you will overnight at the Finca La Jorara. Around 6 or 7pm, you will arrive to this magnificent place surrounded by nature and just a short walk from the beach.Overnight: Just outside Tayrona National Park
Accommodation: Finca La Jorara. Double rooms available
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Hike: 13 km, 7 hours
Elevation: start / end
Car Transfer: 1 hourDay 9: Finca La Jorara - Tayrona National Park - Finca La Jorara
From the Cañaveral sector, you begin a walk through the tropical dry forest before arriving at the Arrecifes sector. Here, you will take a short break and refresh a bit before continuing to Arenilla Beach, the Piscina Beach and Cabo San Juan, where you will have time to swim and enjoy the beaches. At about 4 p.m. you will start the walk back to Cañaveral where the transfer car awaits you once more, and you return to the lovely La Jorara for another night.
Note: the roundtrip hikes up to Cabo lasts approx. 5 hours, but can be shortened to 2 or 3 hours by only visiting previous beaches. For guests who do not want or cannot manage this walk, we suggest spending the day at Playa Cañaveral. In this case, we can offer a short walk through the tropical forest (30-60 min) on the Trail Sendero 9 Piedras which also offers spectacular views of Playa Cañaveral.
About Tayrona National Park: The foothills of the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta, the highest coastal mountain range in the world, dip their toes right into the sea, in which bays and coves of singular beauty are to be found. The sandy white beaches in this park are bordered on one side by tropical dry forests and on the other side by the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean Sea, making Tayrona Park one of the most beautiful in the country, if not the world. Here you can find a variety of trails that pass the rainforest and the dry forest, and have some amazing archaeological sites along the way.
The park normally closes in February and parts of June, October & November.
Overnight: Just outside Tayrona National Park
Accommodation: Finca La Jorara. Double rooms available
Meals: Breakfast
Hike: km, 4 hours
Elevation: start / end
Car Transfer: 1 hourDay 10: Departure from Santa Marta
Today you say goodbye to this beautiful area. Your local guide will pick you up at your hotel after breakfast (included) and will take you to the airport in Santa Marta (transfer time 1.5 hours).
We hope that you will have made many great memories and perhaps even want to come back to explore more of this magnificent country!
Looking for more? Be sure to check out our other birdwatching tours, hiking and walking tours, and bike tours!
Accommodation
This guided hiking tour in Colombia will have you staying in very simple and rustic mountain dwellings, traditional fincas (farms), and beautiful and unique coastal hotels. On several nights, you will have the option between bunk beds or hammocks. Pictures can be provided of each place so please ask us! These accommodations will allow you to meet and interact with locals and give you a taste of Colombian culture like never before.
Inclusions
What’s Included
- Accommodation for 9 nights in traditional Fincas or hotels
- 9 Breakfasts, 7 lunches, 5 dinners
- Local English speaking tours guides
- Airport pick up and drop off
- All transfers as mentioned in the itinerary
What’s Not Included
- Remaining meals
- Drinks
- Gratuities
- Airfare/arrival to and from Santa Marta
Dates & Pricing
Dates
This tour is possible any day, all year round!
Please note: The Lost City Trek is not possible during the month of September, as it is a sacred time for the indigenous communities. Tayrona National Park is also closed during 3 different periods in the year (normally in February and parts of June, October and November)
Please Note
- Rates are based on double occupancy
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Pricing
2021
Number of persons 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 $ 3527 £ 1989 $ 3,520 € 2312 NZ$ 3780 kr 23275 $ 2,758 $ 2455 £ 1384 $ 2,451 € 1609 NZ$ 2632 kr 16203 $ 1,920 $ 2297 £ 1295 $ 2,292 € 1505 NZ$ 2462 kr 15156 $ 1,796 $ 2118 £ 1194 $ 2,114 € 1388 NZ$ 2270 kr 13975 $ 1,656 $ 2046 £ 1154 $ 2,042 € 1341 NZ$ 2193 kr 13502 $ 1,600 $ 1932 £ 1089 $ 1,929 € 1266 NZ$ 2071 kr 12751 $ 1,511 $ 1964 £ 1107 $ 1,960 € 1287 NZ$ 2105 kr 12962 $ 1,536 $ 1944 £ 1096 $ 1,940 € 1274 NZ$ 2083 kr 12827 $ 1,520 $ 1930 £ 1088 $ 1,926 € 1265 NZ$ 2068 kr 12734 $ 1,509 $ 1882 £ 1061 $ 1,879 € 1234 NZ$ 2018 kr 12422 $ 1,472 $ 1873 £ 1056 $ 1,870 € 1228 NZ$ 2008 kr 12363 $ 1,465 $ 1865 £ 1051 $ 1,861 € 1222 NZ$ 1998 kr 12304 $ 1,458 Single room supplement (only possible in Santa Marta and at Finca La Jorara) $ 166 £ 94 $ 166 € 109 NZ$ 178 kr 1097 $ 130 VIRTUAL EXPERIENCES: SALSA DANCING, LOST CITY TOUR
Contact us for pricing and learn about discounts for future tours in Colombia!
IMPORTANT NOTES:
Prices do not include the Colombian VAT tax (19%), but foreignor travelers do not have to pay this.Tours can only be confirmed based on availability and if the guest(s) provides their passport upon booking, this is a requirement.
The mentioned rates might be modified due to currency devaluation.
Extra Info
Skill Level — Difficult
This is a difficult hiking tour in Colombia’s Sierra Nevada and Santa Marta regions. The daily distances range from 8km to 15km, sometimes over rough and uneven terrain. Please refer to the daily itinerary for exact elevation details and for further information on each route. Participants of this tour should have a high level of fitness. Looking for something a bit easier? Check out our other hiking tour in Colombia!
Airport Info
The closest international airport to the start of this tour is Simón Bolivar International Airport.
Local Travel
A transfer to and from this airport is included on the first and last day of the tour.
Climate
This area is hot and humid during the day (65-90 ºF) and can be colder at night (55ºF during Cerro Kennedy Trek). Rainy season is in April/May as well as October/November.
Please refer to the monthly averages below.
Remarks
Additional nights can be added before, after, or in the middle of the tour. Ask us for details and pricing!
An exact packing list will be sent approx. 1 month before the booked departure date, but you will not need much for this Colombian guided trek. Food, water, and bedding will be supplied and carried by mule, you will not need to bring your own sleeping bag. You will just have to carry your clothes and one liter of water for the day. The recommended size backpack is between 25 and 30 liters.
Important to know
Documents
Before you travel, please check the passport and visa requirements of the country/countries you plan to visit. US and Canadian citizens do not need a visa to enter Colombia for stays shorter than 90 days. For any other nationality, Colombia's Foreign Affairs website has a useful tool to determine if you will need a visa (scroll towards the middle/end of the page to the dropdown menu and select your home country).
Tour Operator
This tour is run by WhereNext Travel.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
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