Lost City (Ciudad Perdida): The Teyuna Trek in the Sierra Nevada
Ciudad Perdida — the "Lost City", also known as Teyuna — is one of Colombia's most important archaeological sites and one of South America's most iconic treks. Built by the Tayrona culture centuries before Machu Picchu, this ancient city sleeps high in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and can only be reached on a multi-day hike through the jungle.
Ciudad Perdida was built around 800 AD by the Tayrona people, centuries before the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. At its peak it is thought to have been home to thousands. It sits at 1,200 meters above sea level, deep in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in northern Colombia, within the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Natural Park.
The site was rediscovered in 1972 by treasure hunters (tomb looters) and later recovered by the Colombian state. Today it is managed by the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History (ICANH) and the four Indigenous peoples who are the guardians of the Sierra Nevada: the Kogui, Wiwa, Arhuaco and Kankuamo.
How to get to the Lost City
Ciudad Perdida can only be visited on an authorized guided tour departing from Santa Marta. There is no way to reach the site in a single day or to enter without a guide, since access requires permits from the Indigenous communities and the environmental authorities, plus several days of hiking.
The starting point is always Santa Marta. From there, a 4x4 vehicle travels about 2.5 hours along the Troncal del Caribe highway to the La Aguacatera area, then along an unpaved road to El Mamey (also called Machete Pelao), the official point where the trek begins.
To get to Santa Marta:
- By air: Santa Marta's Simón Bolívar airport has flights with Avianca, LATAM and Viva from Bogotá, Medellín and other cities.
- By bus: from Cartagena there are direct buses to Santa Marta, about four and a half hours, with a stop in Barranquilla.
The trek: length and options
The Ciudad Perdida tour comes in three lengths:
- 3 days: for people in excellent shape with hiking experience. It is the most demanding option and leaves little time to enjoy the surroundings.
- 4 days: the most popular and recommended option, with the ideal balance of pace, effort and enjoyment. It includes enough time to explore Ciudad Perdida at a relaxed pace.
- 5 days: recommended for those who want a gentler pace or wish to visit the Wiwa community of Gotsezhy. The return follows a different trail that passes waterfalls.
The total distance on the 4-day trek is about 50 kilometers (round trip). Each day involves 5 to 8 hours of walking through tropical jungle, river crossings, mountain trails and ancient Tayrona stone paths.
4-day tour itinerary
Day 1: Depart Santa Marta at 8:00 a.m., 4x4 transfer to El Mamey. Lunch and a first 5-hour walk (about 10 km) to Camp 1. Swim in a natural pool.
Day 2: A 7-8 hour walk (about 14 km) through the Buritaca River valley, visiting the Kogui village of Mutanzhi. Arrival at Camp 3, the closest to the ruins.
Day 3: The most anticipated day. Climb the 1,200 stone steps up to Ciudad Perdida. A 3-hour tour of Teyuna's terraces and plazas with the Indigenous guide. Return to Camp 2.
Day 4: Return to El Mamey (18 km) in two stretches. Final lunch at El Mamey and 4x4 transfer back to Santa Marta, arriving around 4:30 p.m.
Ciudad Perdida (Teyuna): the ruins
Ciudad Perdida is a complex of circular terraces carved into the rock, ceremonial plazas, stone paths and dwelling structures built into the mountainside. It covers several hectares, and the 1,200 access steps are carved into the living rock of the sierra itself.
The direct descendants of the Tayrona — the four Indigenous peoples of the Sierra Nevada — consider Teyuna the spiritual heart of the mountain and perform "pagamentos" (rituals of thanks to nature) before visitors may enter. The guide explains the meaning of each space and the worldview of the people.
What the tour includes
Tours run by authorized agencies from Santa Marta include 4x4 transport from the city to El Mamey and back, all meals during the trek (breakfast, lunch and dinner at the camps), accommodation in hammocks or beds with mosquito nets at the camps, a certified Indigenous guide throughout, and the entrance permits to the Teyuna Archaeological Park.
The 4-day tour costs around COP 1,860,000 per person (about USD 450), and the 5-day tour around COP 2,150,000. Prices may vary by agency.
Difficulty level and fitness
The Lost City trek is moderate to challenging. It requires no technical mountaineering experience, but it does require good general fitness. The heat, jungle humidity and long days (6 to 8 hours of walking) make it a real effort, so it's best to arrive used to long hikes and in good shape.
Along the route you wade across rivers and your feet will get wet. It's a good idea to bring water sandals or booties for the crossings and keep your trekking boots dry for the rest of the walk.
What to bring on the Lost City trek
Pack as light as possible. Essentials: waterproof, well-worn trekking boots, water sandals, light quick-dry clothing (a change for each day), a light rain jacket, a hat and sunscreen, insect repellent, a headlamp, a reusable water bottle and cash in Colombian pesos. Leave valuables behind, and do not photograph the Indigenous communities without the guide's explicit permission.
Best time to visit the Lost City
The trek can be done all year round. December to March and July to August are the driest months, with less rain and more walkable trails. In the rainy season (April-June and September-November) the paths can become slippery and the river crossings higher, but the jungle is at its lushest. Rain does not stop the trek; it just makes it muddier and more of an adventure.
Map of Ciudad Perdida and Santa Marta
Frequently asked questions about Lost City
It is an archaeological site of the Tayrona culture in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, built around 800 AD, centuries before Machu Picchu. It can only be visited on a multi-day jungle hike.
The trek usually takes 4 days (3- and 5-day versions also exist), with nights in camps. The starting point is always Santa Marta.
No. Entry is only possible on an authorized guided tour, because it requires permits from the Indigenous communities and environmental authorities. It cannot be done as a day trip.
It is a demanding jungle hike, with climbs, heat, humidity and river crossings. It requires no technical experience but does require good fitness and readiness for several days of trekking.
Trekking footwear, light clothing with changes, a rain jacket, repellent, sunscreen, a headlamp and cash. Agencies usually include meals, hammocks and guides.
It can be done almost all year; the dry season (December–March) offers less muddy trails. The trek closes a few days each year by decision of the Indigenous communities.