The Lost City Trek: An Epic Jungle Adventure

The Only Way to Get There? By Foot! 🥾

Reaching the Lost City requires a challenging trek through:
✅ Dense rainforest 
✅ Hanging bridges 
✅ Steep ascents & descents 
✅ Breathtaking landscapes 
✅ Indigenous villages – Meet the Kogi people, who still call this jungle home.

Is This Trek for You? 

🚫 If you just want to see the ruins, this might not be the right adventure. The Lost City, while historically impressive, isn't as visually striking as Machu Picchu.

✅ But if you love physical challenges, raw nature, and the journey itself, this trek is absolutely unforgettable. It exceeded my expectations!

How Long Does It Take? ⏳

Originally, explorers in the 1970s took 12 days to reach the site due to the rough terrain. Luckily, today's trekkers have easier options:

• 3 days – Only for the extremely fit 🏃‍♂️💨
• 4 days – The standard itinerary (most common) 
• 5 days – A slower, more relaxed pace, with extra time to soak in nature 🌿

Preparation for The Trek

Trekking to the Lost City is an epic adventure, but proper preparation is key to making it enjoyable. Here’s everything you need to know before you go!

🗓️ Best Time to Go

✅ Open year-round, except in September (closed for jungle & indigenous community recovery).
✅ Best season: December–March (dry season) for better trails and fewer downpours.
✅ Rainy season (April–November): Expect muddy paths, river crossings, and heavy rain—still doable but tougher.
⚠️ Peak crowds: Christmas & New Year’s attract the most trekking grou

🏋️‍♂️ Fitness Level Required

This trek is not for beginners—you’ll need decent fitness and hiking experience. If you’re not very fit, it’s still possible, but it’ll be tougher and less enjoyable.

Be prepared for:

✔️ Steep climbs & descents (not ideal if you have knee issues!)
✔️ 12–15 km of hiking per day for multiple days
✔️ Carrying your own backpack (6–7 kg) 
✔️ Heat, humidity & mud—even in the dry season! 

💡 Pro Tip: Pack light! Every extra kilo will feel heavier after four days of trekking.

🚶‍♂️ Best Tour Providers

Around 10–15 companies run the Lost City trek, but these are the most reputable:

1️⃣ Wiwa Tours – Works closely with the Wiwa indigenous community and offers local indigenous guides.
2️⃣ Expotur – One of the oldest & most experienced operators (20+ years). Highly rated for guides and service.
3️⃣ Magic Tours – Offers both traditional & custom treks with flexible options.

💡 My Experience: I went with Expotur and highly recommend them! Here’s why:

🏕️ Accommodation

Better than expected! Dorm beds were clean, and mosquito nets were intact (no holes for unwanted visitors). All the campsites had cold showers.

🍽️ Food

Big, filling portions with options for vegetarians. Meals were mostly protein (meat, fish) + rice, plantains, and veggies. Not the most exciting flavors, but considering they cook everything in the jungle, no complaints!

🧑‍🏫 Guides & Translators

The guide was super knowledgeable, sharing insights about the trail, Lost City, and indigenous history. He didn’t speak much English, but the translator did a great job.

📞 Customer Service

Responsive to pre-trek questions and stored our extra luggage for free in a locked room during the trek.

Packing list

Packing smart makes a huge difference in your comfort, safety and overall experience. Here’s what you need:

Must-Have Items

✅ Mosquito repellent – mosquito activity is not TOO bad during the dry season, however the applying spray several times a day is still a must

✅ Sunglasses & Sunscreen – The sun is brutal on exposed trails.

✅ Water bottle (1.5–2L) or hydration bladder – it can be refilled each evening at the campsite, so make sure to rake the size that would last you one day - 1,5-2l

✅ 4-5 pairs of socks – bring some extra, due to potential rain and mud, as well as mosquitoes in the evening in the camps

✅ Sandals – for evenings at the campsites.

✅ 4 pairs of underwear – You don’t want to skimp here!

✅ Trekking clothes – Bring 4 outfits or less and wash them, but be warned that they will NOT dry overnight so you will have to hike with wet clothes. On the upside, after a few minutes of hiking, even dry clothes will be wet.

✅ Dry bags (2) – One for clean clothes, one for dirty/wet ones.

✅ Long sleeves & pants (for evenings) – Protects against mosquitoes.

✅ Swimsuit – there will be plenty of chances for swimming in waterfalls and rivers

✅ Quick-dry towel – A lifesaver.

✅ Power bank – while there is limited electricity supply and power sockets in the campsites, you don't want to run out of the battery on the way or fight for the few available sockets

✅ Personal Toiletries & medications – e.g. shampoo, showergel, toothbrush,toothpaste, ibuprofen, anti-diarrheal meds, band-aids for blisters etc.

✅ Toilet paper – Not all campsites provide it

✅ Rain cover for backpack –  it can rain even during the dry season, and you'll want to keep your electronics dry

✅ Cash – For beers at campsites and tipping guides.

Optional Items

🔸 Earplugs – Dorm-style sleeping = potential snorers.

🔸 Trekking poles – Big help for muddy, steep terrain.

🔸 Offline maps – it's a good idea to download offline maps before the trek, as everyone walks at their own pace (not necessarily in a group) so you won't be worried about taking a wrong turn

🔸 Malaria first-aid pills  are optional if you want to be prepared. Preventative malaria pills, on the other hand, are not needed, as it's rare in this region and does not justify the side affects.

🔸 Snacks – You’ll be well-fed, but an energy bar here and there won’t hurt.

🔸 Headlamp – Electricity shuts off at 9 PM, so a headlamp (or phone flashlight) helps for late-night bathroom trips.

Day-by-Day Breakdown

Day 1: Santa Marta to Camp 1

• Start Time: Meet at Expotur’s office between 9-10 AM to meet your group.
• Travel: Hop into a 4x4 for the ride to Machete Pelao, the official start of the trek.
• Lunch: Arrive around noon and enjoy a quick lunch before hitting the trail. 
• Trek:
  • Distance: 10 km, mostly uphill.
  • Terrain: Dirt road with motorbikes zooming by—not too remote yet.
  • Pro Tip: If your backpack feels heavy, offload it onto a scooter before the real jungle trail begins. 
• Camp 1:
  • Arrive at Camp 1, enjoy a cold shower (trust me, you’ll love it!).
  • Have a hearty dinner to recharge for tomorrow. 
• Lights Out: 9 PM—early, but after a long day and a 5 AM wake-up, you'll be ready for sleep! 

Day 2: Camp 1 to Camp 3

• Wake-Up Call: 5 AM—yes, it's early, but you'll get used to it!

• Breakfast: A quick 5:30 AM breakfast to fuel up for the day. 🍽️

• Trek Highlights:

  • Expect 8-9 hours of hiking, including breaks.
  • 16 km of trail with around 1,000m of altitude gain—a tough day, but the views make it worth it. 
  • Indigenous Communities: Visit a Kogi community where you'll meet an elder who will show you how they extract fiber from plants, weave colorful bags, and share their spiritual beliefs. 
  • Villages Along the Way: Pass through several indigenous villages—a nice distraction from the tough trek. 

• Mid-Trek Refreshment:

  • Stop for a refreshing jungle waterfall dip—a welcome treat after hours of sweating! 🌊

• Lunch: Stop at Camp 2 for a quick break and lunch.

  • You’ll return here on Day 3 for the night.
  • If you're tired, take a small nap after lunch to recharge. 

• Camp 3: Overnight at Camp 3, which is located close to the Lost City entrance. 

Day 3: The Lost City!

• Friendly Competition: There’s a bit of a race among trekking groups to reach the Lost City first. While it’s unlikely you’ll be the first, leaving last has its perks—a more peaceful, crowd-free experience with no rush. 

• Climb to the Lost City:

  • From Camp 3, it’s a 45-60 minute hike to the Lost City—but there’s a catch!
  • 1,200 stone steps await you, steep, uneven, and often slippery—take your time and enjoy the journey! 

• Arriving at the Lost City:

  • Once you arrive, your guide will take you through the incredible history of the Lost City, from its Tayrona origins to its rediscovery by tomb raiders (until the military intervened).
  • You’ll also meet the Mamo, the spiritual leader of the Kogi people—featured on Colombia’s 50,000 COP bill. 

• Epic Views & Fruit Salad:

  • At the highest terraces, your guide will prepare a delicious fruit salad. Enjoy the snack while taking in the epic views of the Lost City! 

• Exploration Time: Spend 3-4 hours exploring the Lost City before heading back to Camp 2 for the night. 

Day 4: Trek Back & Return to Santa Marta

• Final Day of Hiking:

  • Today is another challenging hiking day—you’ll cover the same distance as Day 2, but in less time, aiming to reach Machete Pelao by lunchtime.
  • The first part is mostly uphill, but once you’re past that, it’s all downhill—your knees might not be thrilled, but you’re almost there! 

• Snack Break:

  • Instead of a full lunch, you’ll stop for a quick snack and a bit of rest along the way. 

• Celebratory Lunch:

  • Upon reaching Machete Pelao, enjoy a celebratory lunch of fried fish and coconut rice—a coastal specialty! 
  • Toast to completing the trek with your fellow hikers! 🥂

• Return to Santa Marta:

  • After lunch, hop back into the 4x4 for the ride back to Santa Marta. 
  • Need to be dropped off somewhere else? The tour company can usually arrange it, along with luggage transfer.