The Lost City Trek in Colombia: A First-Timers Guide

I spent 7 months backpacking South and Central America, and The Lost City Trek in Colombia was not on my bucket list.

Why? Because of the expensive price tag. It costs over 450 USD for a 4-day hike through the jungle.

But, after speaking with other travelers and hearing so many positive reviews, I decided to give it a go.

Was it worth it? Was it too crowded? And was it as difficult as people say it is?

I answer all those questions (and more) in this detailed guide to The Lost City Trek in Colombia.

What is The Lost City Trek

The Lost City, otherwise known as Ciudad Perdida, was built by the Teyuna People around 800 AD.

That’s 650 years before Machu Picchu was built.

It was only recently discovered, and tours to The Lost City have only operated since 2005.

Since then, it’s become increasingly popular among backpackers, and the cost of getting to The Lost City has risen significantly.

Lost City Trek Overview

Starting point | The Lost City tours depart from Santa Marta, and it’s a 90-minute drive to thetrailhead in Mamey.

Duration | You’ll cover 46 to 60 km in 4 or 5 days. I did this 4-day tour, and it’s the most popular option.

Price | 1.860.000 COP for an all-inclusive tour (2025 fixed price 4-day tour).

Difficulty | Challenging. It’s a tough hike that involves lots of walking in brutal heat.

Time of year | November to April offers the best conditions. I hiked in February, and we had great weather.

Route Type | Out and back route, meaning you’ll follow the same route back (unless you’re doing the 5-day tour)

Is The Lost City trek worth it

Yes, the trek to The Lost City is worth it, and I’m so glad I made the last-minute decision to do it.

Cooling off in the rivers, sipping on ice-cold beers after a grueling 6-hour hike, and meeting people from all over the world – it was the entire journey to and from The Lost City that made it special for me.

But it is expensive, and you need at least 4 days to complete the tour.

If you’re short on time or traveling on a budget, you may need to reconsider whether it’s worth including in your itinerary.

This post will hopefully make that decision easier for you.

Best time to hike to The Lost City

Tours to The Lost City operate year-round, but it’s best to plan your trip during the dry season, from November to April.

You’ll have long days of clear skies and optimal hiking conditions.

But there’s no escaping the heat and humidity, no matter what time of year you do The Lost City trek.

May to October is considered the wet season with daily rain showers. Despite this, many people choose to hike during this time and enjoy the quieter trails.

I have heard that the rain can be quite intense from August to October, so you may want to reconsider your plans if this is the only time you can go.

What to expect

Discovering remains of ancient civilizations. Hiking through lush jungle. Swimming in cascading waterfalls.

Here’s what to expect.

Day 1 | We met at 8 am in Santa Marta and drove 90-minutes to the starting point. We then hiked 4 hours to Camp 1 and swam at a gorgeous waterfall.

Day 2 | This was a tough day! We hiked 8 hours to Camp 2, which was alongside another swimming hole.

Day 3 | We reached The Lost City on day 3. It was a 2-hour hike from Camp 2 to The Lost City. Afterwards, we retraced our steps and walked an additional 6 hours back the same route we had come from.

Day 4 | On the last day, we hiked 6 hours back to the starting point and our tour bus was waiting to take us back to Santa Marta.

Lost City Trek difficulty

The Lost City trek involves a lot of walking on uneven, muddy terrain, often uphill.

And in high humidity.

But overall, it’s not a technical hike nor overly challenging. It’s the temperature and jungle setting that get to most people.

You’ll walk at least 6 hours a day and there are a lot of steep sections. When you reach the top of a hill, you’ll be huffing and puffing, and drenched in sweat.

The final stretch to the Lost City involves hiking up 1200 stairs. They are steep, slippery, and very narrow so you need to watch your footing.

I found this day (day 3) to be the most challenging as it’s the longest day of hiking. You’ll hike to the Lost City and then retrace your steps back to the halfway point to spend the night.

It’s not a hidden gem

A few years ago, the Lost City was regarded as an off-the-beaten-track destination in Colombia.

Nestled deep in the Sierra Nevada mountains, few people made the trek to Ciudad Perdida. And those who did were met with isolated communities, remote landscapes, and very few creature comforts.

That has since changed!

The Lost City trek is no longer a hidden gem, and the trails are busy, especially during December and January. It’s a backpacker haven where you’re guaranteed to meet like-minded travelers.

The camps are crowded, and you may be stuck behind a large tour group during certain sections of the hike, especially on the last day.

You’ll also share some sections with donkeys, and it can get quite smelly!

Can you do The Lost City trek independently

No, you cannot hike to The Lost City independently. The only way to reach it is by booking a tour.

It’s a requirement, and you need to use a certified company that follows strict rules and regulations.

I booked my Lost City tour the day I arrived in Santa Marta and had no problems finding an operator with availability. But this was in February. If you’re travelling in December or January, you’ll need to pre-book your tour.

If you prefer to plan ahead or have fixed dates, you can book your tour here.

Lost City tours

I booked my tour with Magic Tours, and I highly recommend them.

I paid for the trip myself, and they did not know that I was a travel blogger (so this is my unbiased opinion).

They have 12 people per guide, with a maximum of 24 people and 2 guides.

I was happy with this group size because it gave me the chance to meet 24 of the most amazing, diverse, and interesting people. We sang, we drank, we sweated buckets – and I formed real connections with people from all over the world.

We also had a translator, as most guides and people from the local communities do not speak English.

Teyuna Tours and Expo Tours also come with positive reviews (and their groups are equally as big).

If you’d prefer a smaller group, then you may want to avoid these tour operators.

Why is Lost City trek expensive

The 4-day Lost City trek costs 1.860.000 COP per person in 2025.

It’s one of the most expensive activities to do in all of South America. The Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu is even cheaper!

And no, you’re not getting anything luxurious in return.

The accommodation and food are very basic, and the hefty price tag is due to money that goes back to the communities that call the Sierra Nevada mountains home.

Lodging on the trek

I was pretty impressed with the sleeping arrangements on The Lost City trek.

Each camp is lined with rows of bunk beds with comfortable mattresses. There’s even clean bedding (sheets and blankets) and mosquito nets around each bed.

I had read online that there are bed bugs, with a few people suggesting bringing your own sleeping bag. I didn’t do this.

Instead, I went to this fabric shop in Santa Marta and purchased 3 meters of fabric, which I used as a fitted sheet.

There are showers at each camp. The water is cold, but at least you’ll feel fresh at the end of the day!

There are also flushing toilets (bring your own loo paper).

Where to stay before the trek

The coastal city of Santa Marta is the gateway to The Lost City trek.

All tours depart early in the morning, so you’ll need to spend a night in Santa Marta before your start date. I stayed here and highly recommend it. It’s in the center of town and a short walk to tour operators and the bus stop.

Santa Marta wasn’t my favorite place to visit, so don’t stay any longer than you have to!

What to pack

Because you’ll be carrying everything yourself, it’s important to keep your pack as light as possible.

Hiking clothing | Bring light and breathable clothes to walk in. I brought two sets of exercise clothes and switched them after two days. I wore trail shoes.

Evening clothing | Pack a clean set of clothes to change into after showering. Also bring flip flops.

Toiletries | Soap, sunscreen, insect repellent, toothbrush.

Cash | 200.000 COP cash. You can buy cold beers and snacks at all camps. But things get more expensive the further up you walk.

Extras | Swimmers, a light towel, hat, sunglasses, reusable water bottle, power bank (there’s no cell reception on the trail)

Tips for visiting The Lost City, Colombia

Should you do the 4 or 5 day tour

The most popular Lost City trek tour is 4 days. This is the perfect amount of time for most people.

You don’t want to do any shorter, trust me.

There is also the option to do a 5-day tour. It differs from the standard trek as you won’t rush to get back to the trailhead on day 4.

Instead, you will take a detour along a quieter route and have an extra day to get back to the start.

I did the 4-day tour and was very happy with my decision.

Visit Minca after your Lost City Tour

Minca is a mountain town about an hour south of Santa Marta.

It’s the perfect place to rest and relax after trekking to Ciudad Perdida.

We visited Hostal Sierra Minca (photo below) and wish we had stayed here for a night instead.

Drinking water is provided

Filtered drinking water is available at all camps so be sure to bring a reusable bottle with you.

Many people question the quality of this water and if it’s really safe to drink. I used my Grayl Ultrapress water bottle to filter the drinking water that was provided and didn’t have any issues.

But everyone else on my tour drank the water without filtering it, and they were all fine.

Some operators will arrange transport to and from Minca and Palomino

You can request a drop-off or pick-up in one of the nearby towns, such as Minca or Palomino.

But you need to check that the company offers this service at no extra cost.

A few people in my group had specifically requested to be dropped off in Minca after the tour. Arrangements were made for them, and their stored luggage was brought to the trailhead on the last day.

I believe the bigger tour companies offer this service at no extra cost so inquire about it if you have plans to visit Minca.

2025 Update: Magic Tours no longer offers this complimentary drop-off in Minca after the Lost City Trek. They will drop you off at the bus station in Santa Marta, and you can take the bus from there. A reader has let me know that Teyuna Tours does drop-offs in Minca. If you’re reading this and have found another operator that offers this Minca drop-off service, please let me know in the comments section!

There’s constant development

To cater to the growing number of tourists, there is constant development along the Lost City route.

This is particularly true for the trail on day 1. As you go deeper into the jungle, there’s a lot less going on.

There are also new camps being built as tourists have previously had to sleep in hammocks (and even on tables).

You can get a moto-taxi on day 1

The first day of the Lost City trek is mostly on a dirt road leading to the first camp.

I assume this was once a small path surrounded by jungle that has been cleared to make way for motorbikes and supply vehicles to get to camp 1.

Tourists now have the option to pay an extra fee for a moto-taxi to the first camp.

Taking a moto-taxi (instead of walking) is not common and you will need to request this – but it is an option if you choose.

But are you missing out by not walking on day 1?

Tough question.

If you’re traveling in a group tour, then I definitely recommend walking to Camp 1 (instead of taking the moto-taxi option).

That first day is the perfect opportunity to get to know your team and form connections. You’ll miss out on this if you take the easy way!

In terms of scenery, day 1 is still beautiful and offers plenty of spectacular views. But you’re walking on a gravel road for most of the way, not a small trail covered by lush jungle.

The scenery on days 2 and 3 is better. But I still recommend walking on day 1.

You can’t hide from the Mosquitos

Bring Deet bug spray with you as there are lots of mosquitos.

Most of my group, including me, got bitten all over, but thankfully the bites weren’t as itchy as those in the Bolivian Amazon.

All bunk beds have mosquito nets, and they were in good condition.

Some tour operators camp next to the Lost City

There is a small camp alongside the Lost City which is without a doubt the best place to stay!

I was surprised when I first heard this and was so bleak that we weren’t camping next to the ruins.

But this particular camp is very small and can’t accommodate many people.

I also heard of groups that were promised they’d stay at the Lost City camp, but when they arrived, there was no space for them, and so they had to go back down to another camp.

Embrace the Lost City trek experience

The site of Ciudad Perdida is truly a special place and is more impressive than I ever could have imagined.

While the Lost City trek is gaining popularity amongst all travelers, it still has an authentic charm and is one of the best things to do in Colombia.

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Are you planning on doing the Lost City trek in Colombia? Let me know if you have any questions!

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