Hiking in Colombia

Transfer from Bogotá Airport to your hotel - Transfer from Bogotá Airport to your hotel - At leisure in Bogotá

Day 1: Bogota

Transfer from Bogotá Airport to your hotel
Car Transfer: You will have a private transfer waiting at Bogotá Airport to take you straight to your hotel. Estimated travel time: Between 15 minutes and 1 hour depending on hotel location


At leisure in Bogotá
Excursion: The vibrant capital of Colombia, and by far its largest city, Bogotá is bursting with colourful colonial buildings, cathedrals, street art, music, cuisine and green Andean peaks. Its chic northern districts hug the hills, hosting entertainment, boutique hotels and glam bars, whilst in contrast, the south struggles to entirely shake off its reputation for crime. Rest assured the historic, cobbled epicentre of La Candelaria will give you a taste of the wonderfully musical Colombian culture. And soaring above it all is the white-washed sanctuary of Christ Fallen, glinting atop the vertiginous Monserrate mountain. Orient yourself with an exploration of the central Plaza de Boliver, ringed with four of Bogotá's architectural highlights: the city hall, the houses of congress, the supreme court, and the venerable Catedral Primada. Afterwards, head into La Candelaria proper and find one of the traditional restaurants selling Bogotá's signature dish - ‘ajiaco’ - a soup made with shredded chicken and three kinds of potatoes. Try ‘chicha’, an alcoholic corn-based drink, drunk since the pre-conquistador days of the indigenous Muisca people. Away from tourist hordes, look around Chapinero, another popular central neighbourhood. Here you can find the Paloquemao market, held daily and offering a completely bewildering selection of exotic fruits hardly seen outside Colombia. For the daring, there is the Jugo de borojo y cangrejo, a traditional rural fruit shake thought to encourage virility, blended with live river crabs. Alternatively, delve into Bogota's dynamic street art culture; including the bright, indigenous-inspired works of Guache, and the large women’s rights pieces by local Bastardilla. Or, join one of the excellent (and free) walking tours conducted by artists involved in the scene itself to gain an inside perspective on the works. If you have time you should head over to the Museo Botero - one of the best museums in Bogotá - to admire its impressive international art collection and discover the paintings and sculptures of one of Colombia's most renowned artists - Francisco Botero. If your visit lands on a Sunday, you have the opportunity to experience a very different kind of Bogotá . Every Sunday morning, the congested streets are open to runners, bikers and skateboarders in what is known as the Ciclovia. Fitness instructors give free classes in stadiums and parks, and locals and visitors take to the roads to explore the town without the tumult of the traffic. Join them and explore a more relaxed city centre.

Explore the Plazoleta del Chorro de Quevedo - Visit the Museo Del Oro - Ascend Cerro de Monserrate

Day 2: Bogota

Explore the Plazoleta del Chorro de Quevedo
Excursion: Today you will walk around the neighbourhood of La Candelaria - the most famous colonial district of the colombian capital - and explore its narrow streets and beautiful architecture. First you will walk to the Chorro de Quevedo, a small dusty square believed to be the site where Bogotá was founded in 1538 by conquistador Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesada. However, its historical significance doesn't begin here: according to the earliest chroniclers that accompanied the first conquistadors, it was also the site where the indigenous Muisca rulers would have sat and surveyed the expanse of their territory stretching across the Sabana below. You will approach the square along a narrow, cobbled street called Calle del Embudo. Walk around the breezy plaza and have a look at the tiny Chapel of San Miguel del Principe, built in 1969 when the square underwent other restoration work. It is designed to resemble the historic Chapel of the Shrine, the first Christian church ever to be constructed in Bogotá. Peruse the many craft shops at the plaza’s periphery, and head into your choice coffee shop for a Colombian brew to recharge.


Visit the Museo Del Oro
Excursion: A trip to the Museo del Oro is one of the most popular things to do in Bogotá, for this museum boasts of over 55,000 pieces of gold along with other artefacts from pre-Hispanic cultures in Colonbia. You will continue your walking exploration of la Candelaria by heading towards the Museo Del Oro (Gold Museum), located in downtown Bogotá, whilst passing churches, palaces and other museums on the way. Look out for its brutalist concrete exterior, an amusing contrast to what is housed inside: the largest collection of gold in the world. 6000 pieces of gold are on display, representing the artistic and votive works of every major indigenous culture in Colombia. This includes the Muisca, the civilisation that developed in the Andes mountains around Bogotá and northern Colombia. Study the exhibitions inside and discover why the Museo Del Oro is the most celebrated museum in the country. The building is laid out across three storeys, with the top two acting as exhibition space. The second floor presents archaeological findings according to region, with bilingual explanations for how the items were used. Look out for the beguiling transformational creatures made out of gold, such as jaguar-frog or man-eagle, perhaps hinting at the hallucinogenic visions of shamans in Muisca religious rituals. The third floor is occupied with gold figurine offerings, or ‘tunjos’, that were central to Muisca ritual. Hundreds were found in Lake Guatavita, the forest-fringed crater north-east of Bogotá. One of the most famous pieces in the museum, the Muisca Golden Raft, may offer some clue as to why this is: the raft is thought to refer to the ceremony that inaugurated a new ‘zipa’, the ruler of the Muisca. A Spanish chronicler’s account recalls how the new ‘zipa’ would cover his entire body in gold dust, row out on a raft with his pre-eminent priests to the centre of Guatavita, tip a heap of ‘tunjos’ and other treasures into the lake, and submerge himself in the sacred water. The arriving Spanish were beguiled by this story and began to refer to this ‘zipa’ as El Dorado, ‘the golden one’. Over hundreds of years, this grew into the myth of a lost city of gold of the same name, transfixing Europe’s avaricious explorers for centuries. The museum is a fascinating place to question these conflicting cultural associations surrounding gold: the sacred and artistic associations of the Muisca, and the commodified and wealth associations of the Europeans. Explore this museum and come face to face with the indigenous cultures of Colombia, before the very contents of this museum drove others to challenge them.


Ascend Cerro de Monserrate
Excursion: You will climb Cerro de Monserrate, the Andean peak that towers over Bogotá, its slopes beginning at the edge of La Candelaria district and ascending to 3152 metres above sea level. Atop the hill (cerro) is the Sanctuary of Saint Christ Fallen, a major pilgrimage destination due to the various miracles that have been attributed to its altar statue. The spot has been associated with Christian worship since the 1620s, although it was not until the 1650s that the first sanctuary was built, originally in the name of Monserrat’s Morena Virgin (near Barcelona) thus endowing the hill with its name. In 1917 an earthquake damaged the sanctuary, meaning construction of a new basilica started that year. Pilgrims were encouraged to help with the construction by each carrying at least one brick up to the summit with them on their visit. Today you can either climb along the one hour walking path up to the peak, ride the funicular Monserrate train, or take the seven minute cable-car straight to the top. When you reach the summit, enjoy the panoramic views across the green Bogotá Sabana below - the ultimate way to do a Bogotá city tour! Downtown and south Bogotá are also easily visible looking west, so wait until evening and watch the sunset wash over the town’s dwarfed buildings.

Venture underground to the Salt Cathedral - Transfer from Bogota to Villa de Leyva - Transfer from Bogota to Villa de Leyva

Day 3: Zipaquirá - Villa de Leyva

Venture underground to the Salt Cathedral
Excursion: You will drive to the mountains 500 metres from Zipaquira’s central plaza to explore the surreal Salt Cathedral, an underground Roman Catholic Church constructed in a salt mine 190 metres below the mountain, and one of the most famous cathedrals in Colombia. You will follow the 13-stage walkway following Jesus’ last day, ending in the enormous three-caverned cathedral. It is actually the second underground cathedral of the area, built directly below its predecessor (having been closed in 1992 for safety reasons). Construction of the new cathedral saw 250,000 tonnes of salt removed from the mine. The church can accommodate 8400 visitors at a time, and still conducts services on Sundays - a visit here makes for the perfect day trip. The salt deposits around Zipaquira have been exploited for centuries, at least since the fifth century BCE by the local Muisca, whose major economic activity was salt mining (the town’s name derives from their Chibcha language and means ‘land of the zipa’). Today, the mines still excavate 40% of Colombia’s salt. A Catholic sanctuary has existed in the mines long before the first church was constructed, carved out by the miners to provide a space for regular prayer in their dangerous day-to-day lives. As you explore the eerie "Catedral de Sal", look out for the hand-carved decorations in the halite rock face, and admire the staggering crucifix – it is the largest to ever be constructed in an underground church.


Transfer from Bogotá to Villa de Leyva
Other Transfer: You will receive a private transfer to take you north to the colonial village of Villa de Leyva. On the way, take a look around the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira, an underground Roman Catholic Church built inside a salt mine 180 metres below the surface. Estimated travel time: 2 hours 30 minutes (not including stopovers).


Transfer from Zipaquira to Villa de Leyva
Other Transfer: You will continue north and make your way from Zipaquira to the beautiful colonial town of Villa de Leyva, known for its fascinating history and culture. One of the most popular places to visit here is the Plaza Mayor Villa de Leyva - one of the largest town squares known to the Americas. Estimated travel time: 1 hour 50 minutes.


Afternoon at leisure in Villa de Leyva
Excursion: You will have the rest of the afternoon to explore the beautiful colonial town of Villa de Leyva Colombia at your own pace. The cool dry climate allows for comfortable sightseeing and an excellent atmosphere for relaxing outside, and its remote countryside setting offers a welcome change of pace from the bustling streets of Bogotá. In fact, its obscure location far from any major trade routes or mineral deposits is the key to its success: Villa de Leyva has undergone little development over the past 400 years, and is thus one of few towns in Colombia to preserve its historic colonial charm and architecture. You can wander its cobblestone streets and whitewashed homes, originally built as a retreat for military officers, clergy and nobility, and feel yourself transported back to the sixteenth century, to the days of the New Kingdom of Granada. Have a walk around the Plaza Maya, the largest square in Colombia and the largest fully cobbled square in South America, sweeping across the centre of town, with undulating Andean hills rising behind. Take in the enchanting architecture at its periphery, or drink a sangria under the terrace of an outdoor restaurant and watch the setting sun paint the cobbles orange. For a dose of history and culture, be sure to head into some of Villa de Leyva's museums of note, including the Museo del Carmen, the Casa Museo de Luis Alberto Acuña, and the Casa Museo de Antonio Nariño.

Hike to Lake Iguaque

Day 4: Villa de Leyva

Hike to Lake Iguaque
Excursion: Today you will hike through Iguaque Natural Reserve to the eponymous Lake, residing at 3800 metres above sea level. The hike will take you through a variety of flora until you reach the ‘paramo’, an unusual high-altitude ecosystem unique to the northern Andes, and one of the fastest evolving ecosystems on earth. As well as an area of fascination to biologists, it was of great significance to the indigenous Muisca, who regarded Lake Iguaque as the birthplace of all humanity. Here they believed the mother goddess Bachue rose out of the waters carrying a baby, who grew into her husband and who populated the earth with her, before the pair turned into snakes and retreated back into the lake. You will climb to this sacred lake and experience the mystery of this outlandish location for yourself. You will be met early at your hotel and driven up the nearby mountain next to Villa de Leyva to the entrance of the Natural Reserve, around 2700 metres above sea level (the same elevation as Bogotá). You will then head through dense high Andean jungle filled with moss-covered ferns and trees and awash with birdsong to the first of ten stations that dot the path to the lake. Look out for interesting information about Muisca belief and nearby flora at these stations, as the vegetation changes quickly with the elevation. As you climb through the narrow path, the jungle will open up to pines, then to shorter trees and finally to small shrubs, before reaching the paramo at the top. Around the fourth station you will encounter a section known as ‘la pared’, or ‘the wall’, the steepest part of the hike (although certainly not as vertical as this name would suggest). This part is the most challenging but can still be completed without specialised climbing equipment or experience. Negotiate your way through the large boulders and enjoy the fantastic mountain scenery around you, and the fabulous views of the jungle below. Once you emerge from this steep ascent, you will find yourself on a narrow path between a steep hill and tall mountain, perhaps the most dramatic landscape of the trek. Look out for the towering ‘frailejón’, a kind of daisy that grows as tall as trees and looks like an alien palm tree, one of the most distinctive and unique plants of the region, and a signal that you have reached the start of the paramo. Continue walking for 30 minutes or so and enjoy the views of continuous mountains and small villages and farms, or the sweeping cloy of thick mist. Finally, the Iguaque lagoon will come into view. Here you can enjoy the serene peace of the lake and have a rest after the long climb. When you are ready, make the descent back down the mountain and take in the panoramic views of the Andean forests below. Find the park entrance and be driven back to your hotel to relax, satisfied with your day’s achievement.

Transfer from Villa de Leyva to Barichara - Transfer from Villa de Leyva to Barichara - At leisure in Barichara

Day 5: Barichara

Transfer from Villa de Leyva to Barichara
Other Transfer: You will be met at your hotel and transferred from Villa de Leyva to Barichara. Look out of your window and witness the terrain transition from the arid, desert-like setting of Villa de Leyva, to the luscious green of Boyaca region, to the dramatic canyons of Santander department. Estimated travel time: 3 hours 10 minutes.


At leisure in Barichara
Excursion: You will then be able to explore the town of Barichara, one of the most beautiful small colonial towns in Colombia, located in the Santander department. A more upscale and slightly less touristy version of Villa de Leyva, it has risen in popularity since the 1970s when the place was first declared a national monument. Affluent Colombians have since been drawn here to snatch up one of the traditional adobe homes built along the hillside, with multi-coloured shutters and doors enlivening their whitewashed exterior. You will be able to explore these alluring buildings at your own relaxed pace. Must-do cultural activities in Barichara include visiting the "Capilla de Santa Barbara" church and the Cathedral "Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción". Walk along the narrow cobble-stoned streets up to the viewpoint overlooking the red-tiled roofs of the houses, and enjoy the panoramic view of the Suarez river churning through the canyon below. Once the day-trippers from San Gil leave, you can wander back through the semi-deserted streets and take in the tranquil, laid-back nature of the town. This is when the true meaning of Barichara comes to life (derived from the Guane word 'barachala', meaning 'place of relaxation'). Enjoy the sedate atmosphere, and find one of the many restaurants and bars tucked away in their adobe edifices to while away the rest of the evening.

Hike to Guane village - Tour of Barichara's artisan workshops

Day 6: Barichara

Hike to Guane village
Excursion: This morning you will hike downhill to the charming and tiny village of Guane. The route, called the Camino Real (the Royal Way), was first used by the indigenous Guane people and later adopted by the Spanish, who used it as an important trade route to link Bogotá and other inland cities with the Caribbean coast. You'll start the path in Barichara, just off the main leafy square. Head down the stone-paved path and be led into a stunning cactus-filled valley, with incredible mountain views. Draping grey moss dangles eerily from the trees, and beautiful bright birds fleck through the greenery, including yellow finches, blue tanangers, and iridescent motmots, with their strange outstretched tails. Listen out for the ubiquitous birdsong ringing out across the valley, and lose yourself in the peaceful scene. After around two hours you will stumble across the tiny village of Guane, a settlement even smaller than Barichara, with similar whitewashed adobe-style homes. Look around the small town and greet the friendly locals relaxing on benches in the shade of the central square, with goats wandering the dusty floor. A small stone building acts as the village museum, and is rammed with over 10,000 fascinating fossils and colonial treasures, including a 700-year-old Guane mummy. Step inside and take the 20 minute tour of the exhibition, and test your Spanish comprehension skills (the curator leads the tour and only speaks Spanish). Perhaps the most interesting items on display are the uncannily disfigured skulls, intentionally deformed by the Guane people to appeal to their ideals of beauty and social stature.


Tour of Barichara's artisan workshops
Excursion: After returning to Barichara, you will wander the town and visit the colourful artisan workshops and handcraft shops dotted around this wonderfully colonial village. Barichara is well-known as having a higher concentration of artists than elsewhere in Colombia, and has been associated with resident artisans and artists for centuries. You will be able to look around the different studios with their vast variety of wares, from detailed stone carvings to brightly woven seats, rugs and wall hangings. Why not adopt the local fashion and buy yourself a soft linen shirt and trousers, and the comfortable sandle-like ‘alpargatas’ to better suit the local heat. Woven bags and baskets in vivid colours and other home accessories are also part of the Barichara art scene. Local ores and metals keep Barichara’s jewellers and metal workers busy, who craft intricate pieces out of copper, silver and gemstones. Finally, keep your eyes peeled for the influence of Guane tradition: indigenous Guane often made beautiful pieces of art out of the simplest of materials, such as dried earth or clay.

Chicamocha Canyon trek: Villanueva - Jordán - Transfer from Barichara to Villanueva - Transfer from Barichara to Villanueva

Day 7: Jordán

Chicamocha Canyon trek: Villanueva - Jordán
Excursion: Today you will start your two day hike around the immense Chicamocha Canyon, formed over several millennia by erosion from its river, stretching across Santander department for 108,000 acres, and reaching a depth of 2000 metres, making it deeper than Arizona’s Grand Canyon. This beautiful canyon is currently managed by the Chicamoca National Park. The name derives from the indigenous Chibca language and means 'silver-plated son, under the moon on the mountain range'. Some remnants of the local Guane civilisation were found in this canyon, including some invaluable cave paintings. On the first day you will set off from Villanueva in the morning and wander along the historic cobblestone path that follows the mountains all the way down to Jordán in the canyon bed. Start by walking through Colombian farmland and small villages and watch rural life play out around you as it has done for centuries. This part of the trek really is like travelling back in time. Eventually the path will reach the edge of the canyon, where it will follow parallel to the crevasse, before cutting down the face of the canyon. The landscape and views here are spectacular. Look down on Jordán 900 metres below on the canyon floor, and take in the dramatic scenery around you. Next you will begin the tricky descent down the canyon wall. This part of the trek is rather hard on the knees, but is worth it for the incredible views. When you reach the canyon floor, you will head along a dust track through farmland and emerge in Jordán. Here you can rest and explore the deserted streets at your own pace. The place is an eerie ghost town: after the main road opened along the top of the canyon, traffic and thus trade was redirected away from the town, and so its 800 residents gradually reduced to around 50. Explore the town and the surrounding arid countryside before settling down for the night.


Transfer from Barichara to Villanueva
Car Transfer: You will be met in the morning at your hotel in Barichara and driven to nearby Villanueva, where your trek will start. Estimated travel time: 10 minutes

Chicamocha Canyon trek: Jordán - Los Santos - Transfer from Los Santos to Girón - Transfer from Los Santos to Girón

Day 8: Mesa de los Santos - Girón

Chicamocha Canyon trek: Jordán - Los Santos
Excursion: Today you will make the final part of your trek through Chicamocha Canyon. You will start by crossing the nineteenth century McCormick Bridge, a swinging, wooden-planked bridge spanning the Chicamocha River, the first of its kind to be built in Colombia. Crossing it feels rather like you’ve been dropped into an Indiana Jones film. Be sure to watch out for any interesting wildlife, as Chicamocha Park is known to have goats and ostriches. After crossing the river you will make the epic 900 metre ascent up the canyon wall. It is a continuous ascent but never reaches ridiculous gradients, and should only take around two hours to complete. Set off in the morning and watch the early morning sun rise over the canyon. When you arrive at the top, there is a short walk to Los Santos, a larger sized Spanish colonial town than that of Jordán. Spend some time exploring the architecture and find one of its cafes or restaurants to relax and recharge.


Transfer from Los Santos to Girón
Car Transfer: You will be met at Los Santos and driven straight to your hotel in Girón, a quaint colonial town just 9km from Bucaramanga, and situated in the Santander Department of northeastern Colombia. Estimated travel time: 1 hour.


At leisure in Girón
Excursion: You will then have time to explore the quaint historic town of Girón at your own pace. Unlike Villa de Leyva and Barichara, Girón’s colonial charm is confined to one large district, as modern urbanity sprawled outwards from this historic centre. Wander along the cobbled streets and view the whitewashed exteriors of the Cathedrals, homes and churches that dot the district, providing the town with its nickname ‘the white city’. Originally founded in 1631 on the banks of the Rio de Oro (River of Gold) around the Plazuela Peralta, the settlement slowly expanded into the 40 or so blocks of the colonial area. You can see the tiny plaza today, situated just behind the gleaming Catedral del Señor de los Milagros, construction of which started in 1646 but wasn’t completed until 200 years later. Opposite the cathedral, across the leafy Parque Principal, you can find the grand Town Hall. Nearby, another small square called the Plazuela de las Nieves can be found, presenting the charming village church of Capilla de las Nieves, built around 300 years ago. Explore the squares and their connecting streets and acquaint yourself with the history of this stunning town. When you are ready for a break after sightseeing, head for one of the outdoor restaurants or bars and relax for the rest of the evening.

Transfer from Girón to Bucaramanga Airport - Transfer from Girón to Bucaramanga Airport - Domestic flight from Bucaramanga to Santa Marta

Day 9: Santa Marta

Transfer from Girón to Bucaramanga Airport
Other Transfer: You will receive a private transfer from Girón to Bucaramanga airport in Santander (BGA). Estimated travel time: 10 minutes.


Domestic flight from Bucaramanga to Santa Marta
Scheduled flight Transfer: You will fly from Bucaramanga (BGA) to Santa Marta (SMR), with a stopover at Bogotá. Estimated travel time: 3 hours 30 minutes.


At leisure in Santa Marta
Excursion: Santa Marta, South America’s first Spanish settlement and oldest surviving city, and the second-most prominent colonial city on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, is a hot coastal city of sea breezes and sprawling urbanity. Fringed by breezy beaches and ringed by the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range (the tallest coastal mountains in the world), you would expect it to be a scenic, photogenic place. However most visitors rightfully complain of its unsightly tower blocks and concrete buildings, placing it in a definite second-place to Cartagena. It is known for its proximity to the popular Tayrona National Park. Nevertheless, if you keep an open-mind when exploring the colonial district, you will be able to uncover its hidden charm, and may wish you were staying for longer. Santa Marta has some lovely beaches - the Caribbean breezes rolling in from the coast make it a pleasant place to wander about, and there is enough colonial architecture and small bars and restaurants around the leafy parks to keep you enchanted. Head for the Parque Los Norios to relax into the evening at one of these outdoor spots.

Lost City trek - day 1 - Transfer from Santa Marta to Machete Pelao - Transfer from Santa Marta to Machete Pelao

Day 10: Machete Pelao - Santa Marta

Lost City trek - day 1
Excursion: The Lost City, or 'La ciudad perdida' as its known in Spanish, is hugely popular amongst travellers for a truly authentic trekking experience, deemed by some to be the best hike in South America. Deep in the jungle-clad Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains is buried the ruins of Ciudad Perdida, the Lost City of the Tairona. Known by local indigenous people as Teyuna, the city was founded around 800 CE, preceding Machu Picchu by more than six centuries. Very little is known about the settlement, as only a tiny fraction of the site has been excavated (indigenous people have not allowed further excavation). However, as the largest Tayrona city to ever be discovered, it seems to have been a political and manufacturing centre for a vast network of nearby indigenous villages. 250 terraces covering 30 hectares have been uncovered so far, but far more lies hidden in the undergrowth of the jungle. It is estimated that 2000-8000 people may have lived here until it was apparently abandoned during the Spanish conquest. The Lost City has been nicknamed the new "Machu Picchu", and for good reason - it is historically rich and visually stunning. The city then remained ‘lost’ to the modern world until 1972 when some ‘guaqueros’ (grave robbers) discovered the 1200 stone steps leading up to this hidden metropolis, with Colombian archaeologists arriving in 1976. However, the ruins were not lost to the local Kogui and Wiwas people, who continued to visit the site and pay their respects to their ancestors throughout the passing centuries – they simply kept quiet about it. Continued grave looting destabilised the area, which guapueros came to refer to as ‘Infierno Verde’ (Green Hell), and FARC militias and warring drug cartels descended the region into a guerilla war zone for several decades. The last report of FARC activity here was back in 2005; now the only remnant of this period of Colombian history is the presence of government soldiers at the top posing for pictures with the (relatively) newly arriving visitors. The only way to reach this mysterious city is by making what is easily the most exciting and breathtaking trek in Colombia: the 44km journey through pristine jungle and Kogui settlements to the foot of the stone staircase that leads up to the city, perched on a ledge on the steep slopes of the Rio Buritaca valley. The adventurous Lost City hike begins at Machete Pelao on a track that takes you up a 600 metre ascent into the mountains. At the top you can have a break and jump into one of the many refreshing swimming holes that have been carved out by the river along this route. From here it is a long descent into the valley where the first camp of Adán is located. Look out across this section over the dense forests of mango, orange and lime trees that carpet the hills, enmeshed in thick liana vines. At the camp, you will have dinner and spend the night in hammocks with mosquito nets.


Transfer from Santa Marta to Machete Pelao
Car Transfer: After an early breakfast, you will be met at your hotel and driven to Machete Pelao Colombia, deep in the jungle, where you will start your trek to Ciudad Perdida. Estimated travel time: 3 hours.

Lost City trek - day 2

Day 11: Machete Pelao - Santa Marta

Lost City trek - day 2
Excursion: You will leave camp early in the morning and trek uphill through local farms and rolling hills, until you reach an indigenous Wiwa camp, where you will shelter from the midday sun and eat lunch. Here there is another swimming pool where you can cool off after the morning hike. Once you are rested you will commence the afternoon portion of the Lost City trail, where you will cross several streams and the Buritaca river, pass through thick jungle and see small Kogui villages, before arriving at the third camp of El Paraiso. Here you will settle down, eat dinner, and spend the night suspended in a hammock, just one kilometre downhill from the staircase to Teyuna itself, the Lost City.

Lost City trek - day 3

Day 12: Machete Pelao - Santa Marta

Lost City trek - day 3
Excursion: This morning you will leave camp especially early to set off for your climb of the 1200 steps up to Teyuna, the Lost City. Near El Paraiso camp is the long-hidden staircase, just visible from the path through a curtain of thick lianas and low-hanging branches. Through here you will climb the lichen-covered jagged stones upwards to the high slopes of the Rio Buritaca valley. After the long climb, you will reach the lower terraces of Ciudad Perdida, bathed in the cool air and golden light of the morning. Your guide will pass onto you stories and traditions of the city and its people, that have in turn been passed down to him through the centuries. He will show you the large carved boulder that some refer to as Teyuna’s Rosetta stone, the carvings interpreted as some sort of map of the region. You will continue up to the top terraces of the city that are perched on a high ledge, lending it the appearance of floating above the jungle. Some of the larger round plazas here were originally used as sites for religious ritual, whereas the smaller ones were probably foundations for the homes that would have existed here. Wander around these incredible ruins and take in the atmosphere of this mysterious site. You will then head back down the steps to El Paraiso camp where you will eat lunch. After lunch, you will take the path back to Wiwa camp, where you will stay the night in mosquito nets and hammocks.

Lost City trek - day 4

Day 13: Machete Pelao - Santa Marta

Lost City trek - day 4
Excursion: This morning you will make the trek back from Wiwa camp to Machete Pelao, which marks the end of your trek in Colombia's lost city. Take your time and make the most of the incredible mountainous scenery and jungle widlife and plants. On the way there will be a chance to cool off in a water hole for some respite from the heat.

Transfer from Santa Marta to your hotel in Tayrona area - Transfer from Santa Marta to your hotel in Tayrona area - At leisure in the surroundings of Tayrona National Park

Day 14: Tayrona National Park

Transfer from Santa Marta to your hotel in Tayrona area
Other Transfer: You will receive a private transfer from Santa Marta to the areas surrounding Tayrona. Various tours are on offer here including exhilarating horseriding tours and hiking trails. Estimated travel time: 40 minutes.


At leisure in the surroundings of Tayrona National Park
Excursion: One of Colombia’s most popular national parks, and a veritable paradise on earth, Tayrona National Park, or "El Tayrona" hugs the beautiful Caribbean coast and is hemmed in by the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range (the highest coastal mountains in the world). Its sandy, palm-shaded beaches at the coast quickly rise to the verdant rainforest hills in the south, with arid, cactus-filled landscape stretching to the west. An incredible diversity of species reside here: 108 kinds of mammal have been found, and 300 bird species populate the skies. Along the unique coastline can be found 110 species of coral, 471 crustaceans and 700 kinds of mollusk. Look out for the distinctive leopard-like print of the small ocelot in the undergrowth, as well as local deer, and listen out for the calls of howling monkeys piercing through the ubiquitous chorus of birdsong chattering from the forest canopy. One of the main draws of Tayrona is its spectacular beaches. However, be wary of red flags in the water as this signals aggressive rip tides which are deadly to swim in. There are designated areas for snorkelling and swimming, the best being La Piscina and Cabo San Juan for their excellent opportunities to explore the unique Colombian coral ecosystem. Arrecifes beach, although beautiful, cannot be swam in. However a seaside walk would be an excellent way to enjoy this pristine stretch of coastline. Wait until evening and watch the bats emerge from the darker corners of the park, and see the stars slowly increase in brightness into an incredibly vivid night’s sky – the lack of light pollution here makes Tayrona an excellent spot for stargazing. Or, go and check out the nightly jam of local musicians at Cabo San Juan beach. Remember to throw some pesos their way if you are enjoying yourself, they will stop playing if they don't receive tips! Finally, if you do anything in Tayrona, make sure to relax. Bring your favourite book (perhaps Gabriel Garcia Marquez would be most appropriate?) and chill out on your choice beachside spot, letting modern life retreat into memory.

Transfer from Tayrona to Santa Marta Airport - Transfer from Tayrona to Santa Marta Airport - Domestic flight from Santa Marta to Bogotá

Day 15:

Transfer from Tayrona to Santa Marta Airport
Car Transfer: You will be driven from Tayrona National Park to Santa Marta Airport (SMR), also known as "Simon Bolívar International Airport" in ample time for your next flight. Estimated travel time: 50 minutes.


Domestic flight from Santa Marta to Bogotá
Scheduled flight Transfer: You will catch a domestic flight from Santa Marta (SME) to Bogotá city's main airport (BOG). Estimated travel time: 1 hour 30 minutes.