| Starts | Santa Marta, Colombia |
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| Ends | Santa Marta, Colombia |
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| Region | South America |
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| Duration | 7 days |
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| Tour Operator | Gadventures |
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| Tour Code | SMLC 22616 |
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| Overview PDF | Download PDF |
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Itinerary
Day 1 - Starting: Santa Marta & Finishing: Santa Marta
Arrive at any time.
Day 2 - Starting: Santa Marta & Finishing: Adán Camp
Transfer to Machete Pelao, where the trek to the Lost City of Teyuna begins. Trek for 4-5 hrs each day through farmland, steamy jungle, and rural Kogi communities. Get a glimpse into the local way of life in the remote river valleys of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Day 3 - Starting: Adán Camp & Finishing: Wiwa Camp
The route starts along the Buritaca River, taking you further into the vivid green jungle past small villages en route to the camp for the evening. After a long day of trekking, enjoy a refreshing dip in one of the natural swimming pools.
Day 4 - Starting: Wiwa Camp & Finishing: Teyuna Paraiso Camp
Continue trekking along the route to Ciudad Perdida. Today is a tough portion of the trek with a lot of steep inclines, make sure to rest and take in the beautiful views.
Day 5 - Starting: Teyuna Paraiso Camp & Finishing: Wiwa Camp
Get started early to climb the 1,200 steps up to the Lost City. The view of the surrounding Sierra Nevada Mountains makes it well worth the hike. Explore the Lost City and learn what is known of its origins from the indigenous guide, before making the descent back to Wiwa Camp for the night.
Day 6 - Starting: Wiwa Camp & Finishing: Santa Marta
In the morning, take in your last views of the jungle as you trek back to Machete Pelao. Transfer to Santa Marta where the rest of the day is yours to relax.
Day 7 - Starting: Santa Marta & Finishing: Santa Marta
Depart at any time.
View Dates
More Information
What’s Included
Trek to the Lost City (five-day). Transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
Highlights
Climb 1200 steps to reach the Lost City of Teyuna, enjoy spectacular jungle scenery along the trek, swim in the cool Buritaca River, watch hummingbirds in the trees from the comfort of a hammock.
Itinerary Disclaimer
Important Notes
The trekking on this trip is not all that challenging by itself. The hiking days themselves are between 4-6 hours a day, and the highest altitude reached is 1,200 m (3,937 ft) at the Lost City itself. However, what can make this a challenge is the humidity and the heat. Throughout the year the temperature is generally between 35-45 degrees, and there can be heavy rain and muddy conditions.
Along the trek, you will be required to carry your own gear. We recommend not carrying more than is necessary for the route. One or two changes of clothes is enough to give you a change for each day on the trek. Remember, while on trek, it’s not a beauty contest, comfort is more important. You will need space for clothes, water bottles and anything specific that you think you should take with you – mosquito repellent, towel, waterproofs. So, please being a bag that is sufficient in size to carry what you might need. If you are struggling with the amount of gear that you are carrying, it is possible to hire a mule to carry equipment for the trek, at a cost of 25USD per day.
As with any activity, the best clothing to wear while trekking is quick drying, lightweight gear. Ideally, this should be synthetic or wool. In hotter climates, synthetic clothing or merino wool are the best options. While trekking, the best suggestion is to layer clothing, so that it is easier to regulate temperatures and manage with the changeable climate.
A good level of fitness is required to enjoy this trek, and preparation for the humid conditions is essential. For the most part, the trail is well-maintained and an easy route to follow, although the terrain can vary throughout the year. In the dry season (December – March), the trail can be dry and dusty. When the rains arrive (April – November), the trail can be muddy and slippery underfoot. This also affects the numerous river crossings, as the rainy season brings higher rivers. This can mean that river crossings can be as high as waist height, so we recommend that you bring a dry bag or a plastic bag to cover your daypack as you might need to carry this above your head to keep it out of the river. The Buritaca River criss-crosses the route along the Lost City Trek. At times there will be the need to cross this. This can be over bridges, across rocks, or even on foot. The river also serves as an opportunity for swimming along the way.
As the majority of this trek is through the jungle, please be aware of the presence of mosquitos and other bugs. We highly recommend bringing some form of insect repellent. While the campsites have mosquito nets over the beds and hammocks, mosquitos can be unavoidable at times. A sleep sheet can help to prevent bug bites at night as well.
Group Leader Description
All G Adventures group trips are accompanied by one of our group leaders, a G Adventures representative, or an expedition team. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They 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 countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting- we think it’s the best of both worlds.
Group Size Notes
Max 16, Avg 10
Meals
Eating is a big part of traveling. Travelling with G Adventures you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in the world. On trek in Colombia the food is plentiful and designed to give you the best possible fuel to walk each day. Meals are prepared by a cook who accompanies each group on the hike. Typical breakfast includes juice, eggs, coffee or hot chocolate, fresh fruit. A common lunch would be chicken/fish with rice and juice. Dinner will usually include meat, chicken or fish, with rice, vegetables and a sweet or chocolate for dessert.
Transport
4×4, walking
Solo Travellers
Accommodation
Hotels (2 nts), camping (4 nts in hammocks or rustic bunks).
About Accommodation
Accommodation on the Lost City trek varies from day to day. In the campsites, the majority of the accommodation is in hammocks or bunks, with a mosquito net for cover. In the campsites, there are cold showers, flushing toilets and seating areas. Some of the campsites have lighting and power sockets, although these are not always guaranteed to be available. Because of the humidity, we do not suggest bringing a sleeping bag, as it would be too hot. Recommended is a sleeping sheet or a sleeping bag liner that can provide a level of comfort at higher temperatures.
Joining Hotel
Hotel Tayromar
Calle 20 #1C – 71
Santa Marta
Colombia
54217324
Joining Instructions
Simon Bolivar Airport is approximately 20 minutes away from the joining hotel. The cost of a taxi to the joining hotel is approximately 20.000 COP.
From Cartagena a shuttle costs around 50.000 COP and it takes between 3 to 4 hours to get to the joining hotel in Santa Marta.
Please note that Day 1 is an arrival day and no activities have been planned for that day other then your welcome meeting in the evening, so you can arrive at any time. Similarly the last day is a departure day during which no activities have been planned.
A G Adventures Representative will organize a short meeting soon after arrival, during which you will meet other tour participants and receive information about general and specific aspects of the trip. A welcome note will be left for you in the hotel so you have all the necessary information regarding the meeting time.
Arrival Complications
Emergency Contact
Should you need to contact us during a situation of dire need, it is best to first call either the G Adventures Representative (if one is listed below) or our G Adventures Local Office. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, so they may return your call and assist you as soon as possible.
AIRPORT TRANSFER
If you have purchased an arrival through G Adventures or if an arrival transfer is included in the cost of your tour, please note that:
Your arrival transfer has been arranged based on flight information provided to us. If you are advised of a flight schedule change within 48 hours of your scheduled arrival time, we will do our best to rearrange your arrival transfer however we cannot guarantee this. If your arrival transfer does not arrive within 30 minutes after you have exited the arrivals area please take a taxi to your start point hotel.
EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS
G Adventures Office Quito, Ecuador
During office hours (Weekdays 9am-6pm Local Time)
From outside Ecuador: +593 2250 6610
After hours Emergency number
From outside Ecuador: +593 999 506 000
If you are unable for any reason to contact our local office, please call the numbers listed below, which will connect you directly with our 24 hour Sales team, who will happily assist you.
Toll-free, North America only: 1 888 800 4100
Calls from UK: 0844 272 0000
Calls from Germany: 01805 70 90 30 00
Calls from Australia: 1 300 796 618
Calls from New Zealand: 0800 333 307
Outside North America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the UK: +1 416 260 0999
What to Take
We strongly recommend the use of a small backpack. It is essential that you travel as light as possible as you will be carrying all your own gear during this trip. You should be able to fit everything you will need into a 30-35litre rucksack.
You may leave some extra gear or a piece of luggage at the start hotel and get it back on Day 6 at the end of the trip (check with your CEO or hotel front desk about the luggage storage policy).
Checklist
– Day pack (large enough to carry gear for the hiking days)
– Passport (with photocopies)
– Travel insurance (with photocopies)
– Airline tickets (with photocopies)
– Credit or debit card (see personal spending money)
– G Adventures vouchers and dossier
– Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required
– Reading/writing material
– Sleep sheet or sleeping bag liner
– Binoculars
– Rain cover for backpack
– Fleece top
– Windproof/waterproof jacket
– Small towel or sarong
– Swim wear
– 4 shirts/t-shirts
– Long sleeved shirt
– Sun hat
– 1 pair of shorts
– 2 pairs of long trousers
– 1 pair hiking pants/track pants
– Money belt
– Hiking boots/ sturdy walking shoes
– Sport sandals or water shoes for river crossings
– Sun block
– Sunglasses
– Toiletries (biodegradable)
– Watch or alarm clock
– Water bottle (1 litre min.)
– Flashlight
– Hand sanitizer
– First-aid kit(should contain lip salve, Aspirin, Band Aids, anti-histamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, re-hydration powder, extra prescription drugs you may be taking.)
– Insect repellent
– Toilet paper
Laundry
Laundry facilities are offered by some of our hotels for a charge. There will be times when you may want to or have to do your own laundry so we suggest you bring non-polluting/biodegradable soap.
Spending Money
Money Exchange
Credit cards and debit cards are very useful for cash advances. Visa cards are the most widely accepted cards. While ATMs are widely available, there are no guarantees that your credit or debit cards will actually work in Latin America. Check with your bank. You should be aware that to purchase products or services on a credit card a fee of 5%-10% usually applies. Do not rely on credit or debit cards as your only source of money. A combination of US dollar cash, travellers cheques and cards is best. Always take more rather than less, as you don’t want to spoil the trip by constantly feeling short of funds.
CURRENCY EXCHANGE TIP: Please be advised that slightly torn notes, notes that have been heavily marked or are faded may be difficult to exchange. It is best to bring notes in fairly good condition, in denominations lower than 100USD (or equivalent).
Emergency Fund
Tipping
It is customary in Latin America to tip service providers such as waiters, at approximately 10%, depending on the service. Tipping is an expected – though not compulsory – component of your tour program and an expression of satisfaction with the persons who have assisted you on your tour. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. There are several times during the trip where there is opportunity to tip the local guides or drivers we use. Recommendations for tipping drivers and local guides would range from $5-10 USD per day depending on the quality and length of the service; ask your CEO for specific recommendations based on the circumstances and culture.
Also at the end of each trip if you felt your G Adventures Chief Experience Officer (CEO) did an outstanding job, tipping is appreciated. The amount is entirely a personal preference, however as a guideline $20-25 USD per person, per week can be used.
Optional Activities
Santa Marta:
Museo del Oro, Calle 14 No.2-67 (on plaza BolÃvar) – Free entrance (currently close for restoration).
Quinta San Pedro Alejandrino in Mamatoco.
Safety and Security
Medical Form
A Couple of Rules
Travel Insurance
Planeterra-The G Adventures Foundation
Feedback
Newsletter
Travel Forum – The Watering Hole
Max Pax
Group Leader
Chief Experience Office (CEO) throughout, local guides.
