Lost City Trekking in Colombia

7 days
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Small Group Tour
The ancient archaeological site of Teyuna, or the Lost City, sits within the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains and can only be reached by a guided multi-day trek. On this week-long walking trip, you’ll do just that, with knowledgeable local guides to guide the way into Tayrona National Natural Park. Starting in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cartagena,...
$1,829
From$1,355
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Strenuous

Highlights

    • Hike to the Lost City to Tayrona (or Teyuna) – the most important archaeological site in Colombia. Explore this sacred place with our local guides and revel in the secrets of a site only reached by multi-day hiking.
    • Spend four days trekking in the mountains of the Sierra Nevada – a great opportunity for a true digital detox – through tropical forest landscapes, along rivers and surrounded by mountain views.
    • Visit the Indigenous WIWA Community, where a spiritual guide and leader of the community will share their ways of life, including the roles that local women and men have within the community.
    • Wander beneath the floral balconies of Cartagena – the UNESCO World Heritage-listed town that combines Caribbean charm and old-world accents.
    • End your trip in Santa Marta – a tropical paradise on the Caribbean Sea, this is the perfect place to relax after your trek.

What's this trip about?

    The ancient archaeological site of Teyuna, or the Lost City, sits within the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains and can only be reached by a guided multi-day trek. On this week-long walking trip, you’ll do just that, with knowledgeable local guides to guide the way into Tayrona National Natural Park. Starting in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cartagena, you’ll jump straight into local Colombian culture, explore the scenic port city of Santa Marta and then begin your trek to the Lost City. Meet local Indigenous leaders, sleep in mountain campsites away from the hustle and bustle of modern life and spend four days in the mountains, hiking through rainforest and jungle to this sacred Colombian site – a perfect adventure for any avid adventurer, hiker and explorer!

Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 16 people
Age range15 years and up
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityCartagena
End CitySanta Marta

Travel Themes

  • Hiking & Walking
  • Trekking & Expeditions

Destinations

Attractions

  • Santa Marta

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 16

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Cartagena

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Colombia. Your adventure begins in Cartagena – one of South America's most historic cities and a UNESCO World Heritage site – with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive early, why not walk around the Old City within the walled town, packed w...

Day 2 Santa Marta

Today begins with a scenic private transfer to the historic coastal city of Santa Marta – your gateway to the Tayrona National Natural Park. When you arrive, settle in and enjoy the hotel’s relaxing atmosphere. Then, head out with your leader for a walk through downto...

Day 3 Lost City Trek

This morning, hop in 4WDs and travel offroad to the small town in the mountains of Sierra Nevada, Mamey (or Machete Pelao), which sits at about 120 m above sea level. When you arrive, you’ll have lunch before heading out on your first scenic hike in the mountains – to...

Day 4 Lost City Trek

Your second day of hiking takes you to the WIWA Community Camp, where you’ll meet El Mamo – considered the sage and spiritual guide of this community. The Indigenous guide will share their way of living here and the role that both women and men have within the communi...

Day 5 Lost City Trek

Today is the hardest day of hiking, heading through the rainforest to the great Lost City of Tayrona (or Teyuna). To get to this ancient archaeological site, you’ll cross the roaring waters of the Buritaca River with the help of your guides, then climb the 900+ stone ...

Day 6 Lost City Trek/ Santa Marta

It’s your last day in the mountains and time to return to Santa Marta. You’ll wake up bright and early this morning and walk back to Machete, stopping at Adam campsite to recharge your batteries with a few snacks and maybe a dip in the natural pool. Continue your desc...

Day 7 Santa Marta

Today after breakfast, your trip comes to an end and you’re free to leave at any time after check-out. Consider extending your stay in Santa Marta to relax in this paradisical port city, taking full advantage of the beautiful beaches. If you do decide to stay, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $1,355
Price per day$194
Last Updated: 4/1/2025
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
13 Jul 2025
19 Jul 2025
$1,410
10 Aug 2025
16 Aug 2025
$1,390
14 Sep 2025
20 Sep 2025
$1,355
09 Nov 2025
15 Nov 2025
$1,355
07 Dec 2025
13 Dec 2025
$1,410
21 Dec 2025
27 Dec 2025
$1,410
11 Jan 2026
17 Jan 2026
$1,480
08 Feb 2026
14 Feb 2026
$1,480
01 Mar 2026
07 Mar 2026
$1,480
15 Mar 2026
21 Mar 2026
$1,480

Check current availability, prices, specials & more.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Hotel (3 nights) Hammocks or Bunks (3 nights)

Transportation & Flights

Private vehicle,

Transportation & flights

Private vehicle
Guides
All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory on all our trips for those travelling internationally. We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. If you are travelling within your home country or region please confirm before travel that you are entitled to access the public medical system easily should an accident occur. We strongly recommend all travellers have a policy that also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage or personal effects. For international trips, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number has been sighted by your group leader or local representative. If you have credit card insurance your group leader or local representative will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number, and emergency contact number rather than the bank's name and your credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country. For travellers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland or USA the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travellers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside of their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form at the Group Meeting, recognizing personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise. For assistance with travel insurance or other services, please visit the link below: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/booking-resources/our-services
Visa requirements
PASSPORT You’ll need a valid passport to travel internationally and most countries require your passport to have a minimum of 6 months validity, so remember to check the expiry date. We need your passport information to get everything ready for your trip so it’s important that the information on your booking matches your passport exactly. Please take care to provide the correct details. We recommend carrying a copy of the photo page of your passport while travelling and leaving a copy at home with family or friends. VISAS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Many countries require a visa and obtaining the correct visa for your trip and any countries you may transit through is your responsibility. We recommend you check your visa requirements as soon as you have booked your trip. This will ensure you have time to prepare your documents and for your visa application to be processed. You can check the entry requirements for your nationality on your government's foreign travel advisories, consular websites or on our page here:  www.intrepidtravel.com/visa-entry-requirements
Health & Safety
Most national governments provide regularly updated foreign travel advice on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all destinations and activities on your trip. Please refer to our website's safety page for links to major travel advisories and updates on safety issues affecting our trips here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/travel-alerts We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe-keeping of your passport, flight tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your jewellery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of our hotels have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. Your group leader or local representative will accompany you on all included activities, however, during your trip you'll have some free time to pursue your own interests or relax and take it easy. While your group leader or local representative will assist you with the available options in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your Intrepid itinerary, and Intrepid makes no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time. Please also note that your group leader or local representative has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it's deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Intrepid's operational safety policies can be viewed on our website at the link below. We recommend that you take a moment to read through this information before travelling, and would appreciate any feedback on how safety is being managed on our trips. https://www.intrepidtravel.com/safety-guidelines PETTY THEFT AND PERSONAL SAFETY While travelling there is always the risk of pick-pocketing and petty theft, particularly in the more touristy cities. We recommend that you exercise caution when walking alone at night and encourage you to walk together and only on main, well-lit thoroughfares. Be particularly vigilant on public transport. Simple measures like carrying your day pack on your front, not hanging your bag over the back of your chair or on the floor and wearing a money belt will reduce any chance that your valuables should go missing. MONEY WITHDRAWAL: In order to avoid fraud and theft, it is advisable that you withdraw money from ATMs located inside banks or guarded shops during business hours only. SEAT BELTS: Please be aware that local laws governing transportation safety may differ from those in your home country and not all the transport which we use is able to provide seat belts. LOCAL LODGINGS: On this trip you will be staying in some restored houses and local lodges - these are one of the charms of this journey, but their staircases, balconies and passages etc may not always comply with western safety standards. Please do not expect elevators in these properties as they are preserved to their original state. FIRE PRECAUTIONS: Please be aware that local laws governing tourism facilities in this region differ from those in your home country and not all the accommodation which we use has a fire exit, fire extinguishers or smoke alarms.
Age Requirements
15 years and up
Additional Information
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Trip ID
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