Hike for 4 days to the Lost City, Santa Marta
Recommended by 100% of travelers
Santa Marta, Colombia
- 4 days (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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What's Included
- Snakcs
- Pick up offered
- Lunch (4)Lunch
- Dinner (3)Dinner
- Breakfast (3)Breakfast
- Drinks
- Help to carry luggage
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Operating hours.8:30 am
Itinerary
Day 1
SANTA MARTA - EL MAMEY - CAMP 1
1 Stop
1
Centro Historico de Santa Marta
4 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Accommodation: Night in camp with showers, bathrooms, beds and hammocks to rest and spend the night.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 2
CAMP 1 - CAMP 3
1 Stop
1
Parque Nacional Natural Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
7 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Accommodation: Night in the camp of the peasant population of the region, with beds and hammocks to rest and spend the night.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3
CAMP 3 - LOST CITY - CAMP 2
1 Stop
1
Ciudad Perdida
6 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Accommodation: Night in the camp of the peasant population of the region, with beds and hammocks to rest and spend the night.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4
CAMP 2 - EL MAMEY
1 Stop
1
Parque Nacional Natural Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
6 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Accommodation: Not included
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Infants must sit on laps
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Travelers can leave the suitcase they do not wish to take on the tour at the Expotur main office at no additional cost. If you do not plan to return to Santa Marta on the last day of the tour, we can send your suitcases to the final point of the route in EL MAMEY where you can pick them up and then be taken to your destination.
- It is recommended to have the yellow fever vaccine as a preventive measure for the tour
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Monique_B
The experience was wonderfull! Our touroperator Expotur and the tourleaders Nelson, Herberth, Cormalito and Ermilo made the trip so good! We had some worries before, but it was not necessecary at all. The camps, the meals and the guide where fantastic, further more was our group so nice! It was a great experience we recommend it to everyone!
Reviews
5.0
based on 3,440 reviews
steven_o, Apr 2026
Time of my life. Antonio was a top guide and made the experience even better with his knowledge a d stories.
Jenthe_B, Apr 2026
Perfect experience with Gabriel as guide, Ariel as translator and Pollo as chef! Well organized with an incredible track, good food and lots of interesting knowledge sharing. Would recommend!!
Matthew_M, Mar 2026
It was very well planned from start to finish. Everything was as described in the details. The adventure was amazing. Great views, history, and making new friends. Hiking was very tough but breaks were provided as needed. The camps we stayed in were very nice. Our guide Jhoan and english translator Carlos were awesome. We were fortunate to have a group of similar aged and physically capable people which made the trek even better. The lost city trek was difficult but well worth it. It is something I will remember forever. Pack as light as possible because you will be carrying your bag for days. Just bring the necessities.
Monique_B, Mar 2026
The experience was wonderfull! Our touroperator Expotur and the tourleaders Nelson, Herberth, Cormalito and Ermilo made the trip so good! We had some worries before, but it was not necessecary at all. The camps, the meals and the guide where fantastic, further more was our group so nice! It was a great experience we recommend it to everyone!
Anida_K, Mar 2026
Had a great experience with Expotor! Everything was very well organized. Alberto was an excellent translator, Cesar was a knowledgeable and friendly guide, and Orlando prepared fantastic meals as our chef. The whole team was great and made the experience smooth and enjoyable. Highly recommend!
Amy_J, Mar 2026
I had the time of my life on this tour. The guide was Johan and our translator was Hebev, and Saudith was helping too. Our chef was incredible, he cooked vegan food for me the entire trip and it was so delicious. The trip itself was so much fun, we jumped in waterfalls and hiked and there was lots of encouragement and our group were amazing.
Timothy_D, Dec 2025
The pictures people upload here just don't do this experience justice. Not only is the Lost City and the surrounding landscape magnificent, the people I did this with became like family, and our guides had every smallest detail planned out in terms of itinerary and logistics. Breaks were periodic but not too frequent, snacks and drinks gave the perfect boosts of energy, meals were timely and well-rounded and filling and always included something sweet at the end and some coffee or hot chocolate. And the guides were exceptionally friendly, funny, and passionate about teaching us the history and culture of the indigenous people and the farmers of the region. While there's not much wildlife, we saw some beautiful birds and tons of fascinating insects along the way (but never saw a single roach hahaha). To my guide Camacho and translator Hugo at Expotur, you were beyond exceptional, and Jesus your food was shockingly delicious consistently along our journey. A huge thank you to everyone, and I hope to see you back in Santa Marta some day soon :)
Tuncer_T, Nov 2025
Absolutely amazing. Great experience. Great guides.
Not for the non-walkers, over 60km up and down hill requires some stamina.
Bas_S, Sep 2025
Unforgettable experience, the hikes and the city are so beautiful. Ismael coocked perfect for us, and we had the best guides, thank you Carlos and Diego!
laura_j, Aug 2025
Fantastic experience! Ciudad Perdida is an incredible place! Our guides Diego and Luz Dary, and cook Luz were excellent, and they really took care of us. Food was very good. Accomodations were comfortable. We highly recommend this tour!
Eileen_B, Aug 2025
It was a really well organized trip by expotur. The guides had a lot of knowledge about the history of la ciudad perdida.
Justine_M, Feb 2025
Better than expected . We walked fast but took a lot of breaks. Interesting informations on the indigenous people.
The best guides (Adrianna, Juan David, Aldair) and cook (Angel) . They answered our questions or needs .
Worth it
John_L, Dec 2024
The hike was stunningly beautiful with a plethora of incredible vistas that included rushing rivers, thundering waterfalls, staggering cliffs, and the simplistic beauty of the indigenous homes. The food was simply excellent; I was amazed by how good everything tasted, but I was likely biased a bit by the 5 hours of hiking that preceded every meal. The guide (Cesar), the translator (Aldair), the chef (we called him Pollo) and the other crew member (we called him Polloito) were all excellent and very kind. Cesar and Aldair were both extremely knowledgeable about both Colombian and indigenous history and were able to tell stories that were both educational and entertaining. The Taironas were welcoming and the Wiwa chief shared his culture and traditions with us.
Now for things to know:
1.) The hike is hard. If you are out of shape or not used to the heat, you may want to prepare in advance. The trail was often muddy and very steep at times. I brought trekking poles, and they were a lifesaver, even if you can't bring them back, I would recommend bringing a cheap pair to use. There are also about a thousand steps you need to walk up on the third day (but you can leave your stuff at the camp since you'll be back soon anyway).
2.) It's hot and humid, like more than you might expect. Things don't dry, including you! I brought several large ziplock bags that I could put both dry and wet clothes in to keep them separate. If you sweat a lot, be sure to drink lots of Pedialyte! There are small shops that you'll be able to buy the generic brand, Electrolyte, from a couple of times a day. I drank just water the first couple of days and started to get cramps from a loss of electrolytes. The Electrolyte helped a lot with that.
3.) The mosquitos and no-see-ums are vicious. I treated all of my clothes with Permethrin, bought 100% DEET and wore long sleeves, but I still got bit a couple of times. You do not need the Yellow Fever vaccine, but it is recommended. Same with Malaria pills, it's unlikely you'll get it there, but still recommended. I did not get either the vaccine or Malaria pills.
4.) Keep your eyes peeled! There are lots of beautiful flora and fauna around. Beautiful butterflies, colorful frogs, interesting insects, and even a tucan or two if you're lucky!
Ramona_W, Aug 2024
It was a great experience and 4 very interesting days! Well worth the effort! However, the hiking trails and weather conditions should not be underestimated. Expotur took good care of us at all times.
Kyle_D, May 2024
Friendly tour guide who went above and beyond to give us a great experience. Food was amazing and very fresh. I loved the family-business atmosphere and you could tell the staff enjoyed teaching us about indigenous life.
The hike is very physically demanding: 60km distance, and almost 2000m total elevation hiked. There are a couple long stretches of inclines, in the middle there are more balanced ups and downs. You definitely need proper hiking boots for this as you'll be hiking on rocks, over streams, and through mud; running shoes won't cut it. I went in late May where the temperature felt like 28-32 Celsius with cloud/tree cover most of the time. Just stay hydrated and you'll be fine with the heat.
My biggest tip is to pack way less than you think you need. For example, 1 hiking outfit for the four days is fine, 1 night time outfit for hanging out and sleeping, and swimming clothes and a few other necessities. I did not use my rain jacket at all because I was already soaking wet from just sweating; just make sure you have a rain cover for your backpack. You can leave excess items with the tour company so you don't have to carry everything with you, take advantage of this. Just make sure it is clear whether you are coming back to the office or being dropped off somewhere so you get your stuff at the end.
Overall I would highly recommend this tour so long as you come prepared.
susan_j, Jan 2024
Joined an expotour and had a great time. Well looked after. It’s a very hard trek needing lots of fitness but worth it for the views!
Axel_N, Jan 2024
Amazing adventure definitely worth the hike! Special thanks to our amazing translator Carlos (Carlitos) from expotur. He was especially caring and helpful when my girlfriend got sick during the hike and helped us finish it!
Hike itself absolutely the most beautiful we have been on. Jungle landscape is magical, trail goes past rivers and waterfalls that are stunning. Moreover the lost city itself was much cooler and bigger than we initially thought. The view is insane and the tour takes you through indigenous territory, on which you also get a lot of information. In our opinion much better than Machu Picchu, especially as it is less crowded as you can only reach it by hike. The hike takes four days in total and you spend the night in 3 different camps located along the route. Given that these camps are only reachable by mule, we were quite surprised by the quality of the food and the encampment. Of course the sanitary conditions are very basic and decrease the further inland you go, but nevertheless given the isolation I would say they are still quite reasonable.
We would definitely recommend this trip. Just make sure that you’re well prepared and physically OK before you start as some parts can be quite challenging in the jungle heat. Also make sure that you arrive at least a week prior to the start of the hike to Colombia/latin/Central America such that you get used to the food, water and other conditions etc.. (avoid getting sick during the hike). you can arrange transport from and to the hike via the agency, which was really helpful for us. They also arranged follow up off-road transport to minca for us
Tip for the agency/expotur: our group was amazing but we saw some other groups in which the selection seemed random without taking age into consideration. This can be improved as it will inevitably too slow or too fast-paced for some
Luz_S, Jan 2024
It’s a unique and extraordinary aventure. The views of the jungle were amazing from the beginning to the end.9
David_B, Jun 2023
Great experience, it often rains so
Be prepared for that. Most of the camps have electrical outlets to charge your devices which was a nice surprise. However outlets are limited so they’re used by everyone.
Paul_F, Oct 2022
Great experience with our guide José Miguel and our translator Aldair!
The lost city is bigger and better than the pictures show. There are indigenous villages on the way and you can see many walking along on the road.
This was a tough trek though, mostly because of the heat and humidity. Do pack your clothes in zip lock bags instead of standard plastic, that will help a lot.
Note : some camps (shared between the companies) have bedbugs in some beds. I recommend wearing repellent to sleep on all exposed skin. The nopikex brand that this company recommends works.
Do try to keep your shoes as dry as possible because once wet, up there, that's something you can't come back from.
Caroline_N, Apr 2022
Our guide was knowledgeable and cheerful, the food and snacks were excellent, and the accommodations overnight were better than expected (real mattresses). It is a difficult hike, and faster-paced, so if you work an office job like I do, I’d recommend doing lots of stairs and cardio before you go. 😅
The views along the way, including the Lost City, were stunning.
Tim_D, Mar 2022
El paseo a Ciudad Perdida is an absolute must-see if you're in Colombia and can spare 4 days trekking, don't mind hot and humid conditions and are reasonably fit. Stunning vistas the whole way, amazing final location and you are well-looked after by the guides, translators and cooks. Our group had Camacho (guide), Herbert (translator) and Pollo (cook) and had a brilliant experience - comes highly recommended.
Jeroen_R, Mar 2022
Amazing tour, one of the highlights of my vacation in Colombia. During 4 days, hiking through the jungle, with occasional stories by the guide and the translator. Small group, but everyone could go at their own pace. Fruits were provided every few kilometres, and the meals were delicious, even more so after a dive in the river after a day of walking. It’s exhausting, but exhilarating at the same time.
Michael_D, Dec 2020
First off. The people. Mostly late teens to thirty something. Me a very young eightythree, but with a trekking/climbing history. Total acceptance by that crowd, various nations. But it was impossible for them hide the care they showed about me. As young aspirants to see and do the 'so much' of our planet they seemed to love spending time chatting with me about places on Earth that had felt my feet and known my tears at the sheer beauty we have around us. Name a plaace and I had done it, mostly. But those young people, and rightly so, would leave me standing when it came to the trek/climb. My age was showed for all to see.
Camps were more than adequate, company good and reasonable food. Somehow the fear of a mixed dormitory life was just a part of what we were doing.
The trek had its wicked way with me. Hot and tiring I wondered why I was there. However the lead guide on that trip was a gem and always had an eye on me. So when, at a drinks stop I trundled in last of the group we both would receive applause.
The day of actually 'finding' the lost city, a trying combat with the roaring and cold waters of a river crossing, were done early. The guide had seen me, alone, before all the others, to ensure I climbed those thousand plus rocky steps. Having had a poor sleep the night before the final climb and suffering a nasty tummy I put all I had into the last kilometres which were mostly vertical.
But i made it. It was worth it. Another beautiful site on this planet of remarkable things to see and do.
Approaching the camp, some twenty minutes away I slipped and fell on some wet and dangerous ground. I twisted my ankle. It could have happened to anyone, but why me. With the lead guide by my side it took nearly an hour to reach camp. A very cold swim and some dinner, plus a good nights sleep in a double bed could not help me down the last three hour trek. I paid to do that last three hours by mule, an experience like no other and one I will never do again..
Withg a few days in the hostel at Santa Marta and almost a week in beautiful Cartagena, my ankle was made good and the tough parts of the trek were forgotten. The young had had no problems.My trip of three months, the first in Colombia, was a great adventure of so many I have had. A great country, lovely people, wherever I went.
It fortified me for the rest of 2020, Covid 19 and the terrors and problems it would bring.
To anyone considering the Ciudad Perdida, just go.....
Esmee_d, Apr 2026
Really a very cool experience. The hike is really seriously tough, but very nice guides and good translators for when you don't speak Spanish - that's really super nice. The sleeping places are really fine: bunk beds with mosquito nets. Along the way you can buy water (or fill it with filtered water for free), but also other drinks such as gaterode, electrolyte, cola, and beer at the camps - bring enough money for all this. The food is also well taken care of.
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Larissa_V, Mar 2026
Okay... where should I start???
That it was spicy is really an understatement. But that it's more than worth it? Absolutely, 100%!
Four days completely away from the outside world, in the middle of the jungle – it almost feels like a kind of therapy. Just back to basics, surrounded by nature.
Our guides, Camacho and David, were really fantastic. Their knowledge, humour, patience and care made the difference. You can tell by everything how passionate they are about what they do. What really touched us was how Camacho treated the children of the indigenous tribes – so lovingly and with genuine respect. Really special to see.
And then Jesús, our cook... what a winner! Every day there was a completely different, delicious meal waiting for us. Everything taken care of down to the last detail, in the middle of the jungle – really impressive.
So yes: I would definitely recommend this tour. But be prepared... you have to love a challenge 😉
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Sian_B, Mar 2026
Despite it being a bit tougher than expected, it was a fantastic experience.
Ariel, Sofi and Duewe were our guides and translator and we couldn't have done better.
Fantastic experience and I would do it so again!
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Lisa_N, Mar 2026
Where should I start... I seriously think this is the most fun thing I’ve done in my life. 🤩 I’m sorry it’s over. Everything was fantastic. The organization is great: super nice guides, the camps, the food, the care etc. I was also lucky enough to end up in a very nice group. I laughed so much and every day was a party. You walk up a lot, you sweat like crazy, you feel mega dirty because your sweat is constantly brushing and applying sunscreen but it was all worth it. I recommend this hike 100%. And no, it's not necessarily easy but if you like hiking and adventure even a bit then you should not hesitate to book.
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Yoni_F, Feb 2026
Super nice experience! Hard hike but absolutely worth it. Beautiful surroundings! Food and camps were well arranged.
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Marleen_v, Feb 2026
You have to be really fit to do this hike. Part of the hike is (for me at least) really tough!
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From $560.00
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