Planning a trip to the Lost City (or La Ciudad Perdida in Spanish) means organising an adventure to one of Colombia’s most fascinating archaeological sites. The Lost City, located 1,200m above sea level in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, is an ancient city of the Tayrona people, accessible only by a multi-day hike. The journey involves crossing dense jungles, rivers and ascending steep mountains. This trek not only offers the opportunity to explore an impressive historical site, but also to discover the rich biodiversity and connect with the culture of the region.
In this post, we have all the information you need to help you plan a trip to the Lost City efficiently and safely. We provide details on the best times to visit, what to bring, and how to prepare physically for the trek. In addition, you’ll find recommendations on travel insurance, accommodation and food options, as well as other practical tips to make the most of this unique adventure. read on and don’t miss out on the adventure!
1. Have your documentation ready for travel to the Lost City
One of the first steps in planning a trip to the Lost City is to know what documents are required to enter Colombia so that you can prepare them in advance. The first thing you should know is that you don’t need a visa if you’re going to be a tourist for less than 90 days. What is necessary is to have a valid passport for at least six months after your arrival in the country. You will also need to show your return tickets on arrival, as well as the Check Mig form. This is an online document that collects information about your health and recent movements before you enter the country. This form must be completed before your trip and presented to the immigration authorities upon arrival in Colombia.
Other travel recommendations are to carry copies of your passport and other important documents such as reservations and boarding passes, and to take out travel insurance, as we discuss in details later in this article.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
2. Choose the date to plan your trip to Lost City
Travelling to the Lost City is an extraordinary experience that can be undertaken all year round. However, weather conditions vary considerably and can affect the comfort and safety of the trek. The rainy season in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta region, where the Lost City is located, runs from May to November. During these months, the rains can be heavy and constant, making the trails slippery and more difficult to walk on. In addition, rivers that cross the route can swell and become dangerous. While some travellers enjoy the additional challenge presented by these conditions, it is important to be prepared for rain and mud, and to be aware of possible delays and hazards on the itinerary.
For all these reasons, the best time to visit the Lost City is during the dry season, which runs from December to April. In these months, rainfall is less frequent, making trails to be in better condition and river crossings safer. The weather tends to be warmer and drier, providing a more pleasant walking environment. In addition, visibility is generally better, allowing you to fully enjoy the stunning scenery and lush jungle vegetation. Travelling at this time can also mean a lower insect presence due to the lower humidity.
3. How to get to and around the Lost City
The way to get to the Lost City is in itself the essence of this trip. This trekking route starts from the city of Santa Marta, in northern Colombia. You can get there directly by plane by flying into the recently refurbished Simon Bolivar International Airport, 16.5km from the city centre.
To safeguard the natural setting in which Colombia’s Lost City is nestled, it is mandatory to hire a tourist package. These packs provided by different companies offer itineraries of between 4 and 6 days, depending on the difficulty we are willing to overcome. There, an official guide will take us into the jungle, giving us valuable details of our journey.
As we mentioned, our starting point is Santa Marta, from where we will go to the village of Mamey, 50 kilometres away, by Jeep by dirt roads (3 hours) or in a 4×4 pick-up truck by road (1.5 hours).
Tour to the Lost City of Colombia
Once in Mamey, we will have to start walking to our destination. It is important to know that to do this hike you must have some experience in hiking and mountain climbing. On many occasions the terrain is uneven and even crosses rivers.
It is very easy to find on the Internet official pages of agencies that are dedicated to this exciting trip. The common thing is that they let us to choose according to our physical shape. The packs offer us the possibility of doing the route in 4 days: 2 uphill and 2 downhill. This is one of the most popular options among tourists, who usually make the trip in groups of 3 to 10 people. If you want to enjoy more days of walking, adventures and experiences and a slower, more personalised pace, then you can opt for the 5-day or even the 6-day trek.
Prices for these tourist plans are usually around 300 euros per person. They usually include transport between Santa Marta, as well as meals, accommodation in camps run by locals, a guide and medical insurance. In addition, there is the possibility of hiring the service of transporting our backpacks with mules for a price of around 40 euros for each trip requested.
4. Compare and find accommodation
If you need to spend the night in Santa Marta before embarking on your adventure to Colombia’s Lost City, you can use accommodation comparison sites such as Booking to book a night in Santa Marta.
As we said, once the journey to the Lost City has begun, the companies organising the trips will secure your accommodation each night in one of the camps run by the local communities. These camps are equipped with hammocks or basic beds, with mosquito nets to protect you from insects. They also have basic facilities such as toilets and common areas for resting and sharing meals. Sleeping in these camps not only provides the rest you need after long days of trekking, but also offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in the culture of the region.
5. Discover where to eat in the Lost City
Of course, on a trip like the Lost City, food is an essential part of the experience. Throughout the trek, meals are prepared and served at campsites organised by local communities. The guides and cooks at the camps are in charge of preparing nutritious and energetic meals, adapted to the travellers’ needs after long days of trekking. Menus often include traditional Colombian dishes, with fresh, local ingredients, providing an authentic gastronomic experience. Eating at these camps not only allows you to recharge your batteries, but also to enjoy the hospitality of the indigenous communities and share moments with other hikers.
6. Is it safe to plan a trip to the Lost City?
Yes, the Lost City is a perfectly safe destination as these are organised tours where you will always go under the supervision of a guide who knows the area well and the safety measures to follow. That said, there are a few basics to keep in mind to prevent risks:
- Maintain a good physical condition, the walk can be quite demanding
- Stay hydrated
- Use insect repellent
- Take only the essentials to avoid loss and unnecessary weight
- Follow the guide’s directions at all times and do not deviate from the group
- Carry a first aid kit
- Wear good trekking shoes suitable for the conditions you will encounter.
7. Take out travel insurance: cover yourself against unforeseen events
Buying travel insurance for your adventure to the Lost City is an excellent idea for several reasons. Firstly, treks to this ancient city are often long and strenuous, with potential risks such as injuries and medical emergencies. Good travel insurance can cover medical and evacuation expenses, providing peace of mind should you need urgent medical attention in a remote location. In addition, insurance can also protect you against lost luggage, trip cancellations and other unforeseen events that could hinder your experience.
It is possible that the company you book your trip to the Lost City with may already offer some form of insurance included in their package. However, it is always advisable to carefully review the terms of each insurance policy and compare with other available options. Make sure that the insurance covers all your personal needs, including specific activities such as hiking, and that it has adequate cover for any eventualities that may arise during your trip. This way, you can make sure you are fully protected and enjoy your adventure to the fullest without worrying.
8. Prepare yourself physically for the adventure
As mentioned earlier, an essential part of planning a trip to the Lost City also includes physical preparation. This trek requires several days of walking through mountainous terrain and dense jungle, crossing rivers and climbing steep slopes, so being in good physical shape is crucial to enjoying the adventure.
So, when you plan a trip to the Colombia’s Lost City, to prepare, it is advisable to take long, frequent walks, to train on hills or stairs to improve cardiovascular endurance and leg strength, and carry a backpack with a weight similar to that which you will have on the trip. In addition, it is important to develop a good stretching exercise routine that will help prevent injury before and during the trip. Ideal physical preparation should begin at least several weeks before the trip, although this depends on individual fitness levels. Those who are used to outdoor activities may need less preparation time than those who lead a more sedentary lifestyle.
9. How to plan a travel itinerary to the Lost City
Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.
- Get inspired by other travellers’ experiences, photos and itineraries
- Organise your trip by the categories that suit you best: dates, number of days or type of trip (beach, mountain, restaurants…).
- Add your friends so they can see and modify all the plans and information about the trip.
- Create your own itinerary of your destination with everything you feel like visiting each day.
- Add the stops that interest you the most, including your accommodation, restaurants, museums…
- Book your accommodation on the Passporter app via Booking.com
- Save all your documents in the app so you always have everything at hand: reservations, boarding passes, important documentation…
- Make any modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
- Share your experience with other users. Upload photos of the places you’ve visited on your trip to the app and inspire other travellers with your experience. You can also share your own tips on how to plan your trip to Colombia’s Lost City.
- Enjoy your trip to the Lost City!
If you have doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.
10. Frequently asked questions about planning a trip to Lost City
The Lost City has a tropical savannah climate and temperatures are warm all year round, with hardly any difference between the wet and dry seasons. However, as a tropical climate there are very few days of the year when it doesn’t rain, an average of only 38 days a year when there is no rainfall. Highs tend to be in the high 30s every month of the year and lows of 19 degrees.
Despite consistent temperatures, December, January, February and March are the best months to travel as they are the least rainy.
When you plan a trip to the Colombia’s Lost City, pack fast-drying clothes for the day, as temperatures are high and humidity is up to 90%. For the evening, we recommend trousers and a long-sleeved T-shirt. Of course, good trekking shoes, hat, sun protection and mosquito repellent.
There are 5 companies that organise trips to the Lost City. This trekking route starts from the city of Santa Marta, in the north of Colombia. You can get there directly by plane to the recently refurbished Simon Bolivar International Airport, 16.5 kilometres from the city centre. From Santa Marta, you will be driven to the village of Mamey, 50 kilometres away, by Jeep on dirt roads (3 hours) or in a 4×4 pick-up truck by road (1.5 hours).
The trip to the Lost City is a trekking route so you will be walking and sometimes the trails are a bit demanding, so it requires some physical preparation.
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