“Let’s take the scenic route,” our information introduced to the group. We had solely been on the path to the Ciudad Perdida for about an hour, and we had been already veering astray. He led us to a particular swimming spot.
I used to be already drenched in sweat by the tropical forest of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the best coastal mountain vary on this planet. The ten-foot bounce into the deep bend within the river was a welcome reprieve.
Our information had been apprehensive that the passing Hurricane Beryl would make swimming throughout our 4-day, 3-night trek to the highest of the mountain too harmful. He needed to verify our group received not less than one likelihood to swim as we hiked to the 1,400-year-old archaeological web site hidden deep within the jungle. Typically in comparison with Machu Picchu, Ciudad Perdida is properly off the crushed path and visited by far fewer folks
My household and I had traveled to Colombia to hike over 37 miles and three,600 ft of elevation to achieve this “Misplaced Metropolis.” I first heard about Ciudad Perdida from a buddy who had accomplished this trek 2 years earlier together with her household. Frankly, she made it sound fairly depressing — moist, muddy, buggy, humid, and difficult.
Regardless of her warnings, although, I used to be impressed by the thought. Machu Picchu had at all times sounded alluring. However Ciudad Perdida is much much less trafficked, providing all of the thriller and not one of the crowds. The 4 indigenous teams that handle the location strictly implement the every day customer rely of 250 folks. And in contrast to Machu Picchu, there isn’t a vacationer prepare or luxurious lodge at Ciudad Perdida.
After I began wanting into it, there was little or no info on-line, although. There have been discussion board threads and journey blogs that poorly described it and gave some restricted info. However there was no actual, complete information about what to anticipate, the right way to get there, and what I’d must carry. There appeared to be a gaping gap the place a information for this journey ought to exist — so I made a decision to write down one.
Beneath, you’ll discover all the small print to plan your individual Ciudad Perdida trek: The place to go, the right way to ebook it, the gear you’ll want, an itinerary, and extra.
What to Anticipate on the Ciudad Perdida Trek
The archaeological web site of Ciudad Perdida is the final vestiges of the Tayrona civilization and is marked by round stone mosaic platforms that when held the foundations of their properties, ceremonial and feasting areas, stone paths, canals, storehouses and staircases.
It was constructed round 700 A.D. and was actively used till the Tayrona folks mysteriously disappeared within the 1600s. The location lay untouched till the Seventies, when tomb raiders discovered gold and ceramics, and their plunder began popping up on the black market.
The looks of those treasures led Colombian officers to rediscover the location and unearth the stone masonry hidden by 400 years of overgrown jungle vegetation. Nonetheless, it remained principally untouched because of the following a long time of violent drug battle. When the FARC Treaty was signed in 2016, the top of the drug warfare made the world safer for locals and vacationers alike. Because of this, the Ciudad Perdida trek’s reputation exploded.
The Colombian authorities and conservation allies now work with the native indigenous communities to allow them to protect Ciudad Perdida as a sustainable journey tourism vacation spot.
Tour Corporations & Reserving
Seven tour firms maintain the license to information hikers by way of the humid tropical forests to Ciudad Perdida. We used Teyuna Excursions, a cooperative tour company run by 14 veteran Ciudad Perdida guides who’ve intensive information of the terrain and the archaeological web site’s historical past. They make use of 25 guides, 10 interpreters, and 18 cooks.
The opposite six firms are as follows:
Just one firm, Wiwa Excursions, is run completely by indigenous guides. Wiwa Excursions, like all of the others, makes use of the identical camps, trails, and relaxation stops.
Reserving with any of those tour firms is pretty easy. On their web sites, they record totally different choices for various treks. Merely choose the one you need, enter the dates you’d prefer to trek, and ebook your spot. There could also be a small reserving charge. Our journey price us $2,150,000 Colombian pesos (about $533) every. The worth included guides, lodging, meals, and entrance into the Ciudad Perdida archaeological web site.
That’s fairly customary between the seven outfitters, although costs could fluctuate by $50-100. A few of the information companies supply longer, extra intensive journeys which are costlier.
By far, the preferred Ciudad Perdida trek is the 4-day, 3-night model. The one motive to decide on the longer tour could be in the event you needed to spend extra time within the tropical moist forest. Three nights was loads of time for me to expertise the oppressive humidity and the merry bands of mosquitos.
Pre-Journey Practicalities
Ciudad Perdida trekkers might want to spend the night time in Santa Marta previous to the trek. The trekking firms will decide contributors up at their motels and convey them again on the finish of the trek.
Teyuna Excursions saved our further baggage whereas we had been on the hike. Different hikers left their further belongings within the storage holds at their motels.
We had elected to fly out from Santa Marta to Medellin the night after the trek. We nearly didn’t make our flight, because of the van busting its radiator whereas crossing a river driving from the city of El Mamey to the freeway. Whereas I used to be grateful to reach in Medellin that night, it was anxious to go from the mountains to the airport to town all in the identical day. So if in case you have the time, give your self a buffer day so that you aren’t rushed.
Really helpful Gear: What to Deliver on the Ciudad Perdida Trek
The beauty of a supported Ciudad Perdida trek is that hikers solely have to hold their very own water, clothes, and fast necessities. There’s no want to hold your sleep system, a tent, or days’ value of meals. The guiding firms present all of that.
That stated, everytime you hit the path, it’s best to preserve the ten Necessities in your pack. The Ciudad Perdida trek does journey by way of some fairly distant areas. And whereas the guides carry large packs with emergency provides, it by no means hurts to be ready your self.
Beneath is GearJunkie’s record of the 10 Necessities for Climbing. Ensure your day-to-day equipment contains all of them.
I’d additionally advocate having a change of climbing garments for daily. Issues don’t dry out very properly in Colombia’s humid jungle local weather. You’ll be grateful to get away out of your rain and sweat-soaked clothes.
Listed here are my different private suggestions from the expertise.
Garments
Professional tip: Depart a clear change of garments for your self within the bag you permit behind. That approach, whenever you return, you’ll have contemporary, clear garments ready for you.
Gear
- Dayback (I used an Osprey Downburst 24 L Pack)
- Backpack rain cowl (we had Osprey Hello-Vis Raincovers)
- Flashlight or headlamp
- Climbing poles: Climbing poles are usually not allowed in carry-on baggage, and I by no means verify a bag. Hikers can lease poles from the tour firm, if wanted. Our information additionally carried a machete and, in about 45 seconds, may vogue a pleasant climbing stick.
- Water filtration system (I used a Grayl GeoPress Water Bottle): This was further safety to filter the water already filtered by the tour firm. I filtered all of the water we drank and likewise used to brush our enamel. Though every camp alongside the Ciudad Perdida path has a water filtration system, I didn’t need to take an opportunity of getting a abdomen ache whereas climbing.
Private Gadgets & Equipment
- Fast-dry towel
- Toiletries
- Mosquito repellant (completely mandatory — I introduced 100% DEET, however Nopikex was a neighborhood model)
- Mosquito internet (in the event you’re actually involved in regards to the bugs)
- Ebook
- Enjoying playing cards
- Extra cash for snacks and beer
- Telephone or digicam (one thing for pictures)
Professional tip: Deliver your individual bathroom paper as a result of the bogs usually run out by early night.
When to Hike to Ciudad Perdida
The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain vary boasts two seasons: moist and dry. These alternate each 3 months.
In response to our information, the perfect time to hike within the space is from January to March, throughout the first dry season.
The second dry season is from July to August. We did the hike in early July and had been very fortunate to have solely caught a little bit of the rain whereas climbing. There have been loads of storms, usually occurring at night time once we had been cosy in our bunk beds beneath mosquito netting.
November and December are usually the rainiest months.
Ciudad Perdida is a holy web site to the 4 Indigenous tribes that decision the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains house. The Mamos (tribal elders/shamans) from every of the Wiwa, Koguls, Kankuamos, and Arhuacos folks shut Ciudad Perdida each September to carry religious rituals and cleanse the location after 11 months of every day vacationer visits.
Challenges & Suggestions
The path itself isn’t what most North American hikers are usually uncovered to. Reasonably, it crosses rivers and streams and options disorienting altitude positive factors and descents. Rocks, boulders, rain-soaked channels by way of mud, sand, and grime, to not point out a fair proportion of donkey dung, line the way in which up the mountain. The local weather zones vary from tropical rain forests to excessive alpine environmnets within the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains.
This hike is legitimately difficult. I really like climbing, but my typical half-day weekend warrior jaunts within the woods didn’t put together me for the climb up and again down from Ciudad Perdida. Our information strongly advisable that people spend a month or two coaching, ideally by climbing steep uphills and carrying a weighted pack.
My elevated stage of health from four-times-a-week fitness center exercises helped enormously with the climbs. Though, my historical soccer ACL harm slowed my descent to the purpose the place I used to be at all times the final in our group. Adventurers might be properly served to notch a number of full-day coaching hikes (ideally together with elevation achieve) previous to their arrival in Colombia.
Bringing the Household
In some methods, I’m glad I didn’t know the way exhausting the Ciudad Perdida trek could be as a result of then I’d have thought twice about bringing our 12-year-old son. Of all of the hikers we traveled with, he was the one individual beneath 22 years previous. Trekking firms gained’t enable anybody beneath 12 on the tour. He’s an athlete and has been climbing his entire life, although, and did nice.
The shared expertise of the demanding trek bonded our household like by no means earlier than. We journey collectively regularly however often don’t interact in such bodily rigorous actions. The mixture of being in Colombia and climbing solid some very robust household connections.
Watching my 12-year-old take to the path and hike with vigor and confidence could also be the perfect a part of our expertise. Climbing to Ciudad Perdida felt like a transformational ceremony of passage for him.
Itinerary Description: 4 Days, 3 Nights, Trekking to Ciudad Perdida
Day One
A driver picked us up from our lodge early within the morning on our first day. He drove us to the Santa Marta places of work of Teyuna Excursions. Guides broke all current events up into three totally different teams. Then we set off in vans for the 2-hour journey to the city of El Mamey.
We had been handled to a scrumptious lunch after which set off on the path. That first half-day hike was riddled with nervousness in regards to the passing hurricane. Fortunately, it handed with out vital daytime rainfall. We had been capable of swim every afternoon of the trek. The cool dip into the river after climbing every day was a welcome reduction to clean away the sweat and dirt.
Simply the week earlier than, hikers had had fixed rain and trails of muddy rivers. Even in late June, the wet season can maintain on on this geographic space. Most of our hike was both in a light-weight mist or sunshine. The path was (fortunately) principally stable.
The 4-day/3-night trek begins with simply half a day of precise climbing. It was 4 hours on the path, roughly straight uphill, gaining over 1,300 ft in elevation to the height. On the prime there was a small kiosk run by a neighborhood household with a plate of watermelon ready for us.
Teyuna Excursions and the opposite firms help the native financial system by buying fruit and different treats from the indigenous households who stay alongside the path for his or her hikers. On the halfway level each morning and afternoon, we stopped for a fruit snack. Typically watermelon, typically mango, and there was at all times beer and soda for buy together with handicrafts.
There was nonetheless an hour of climbing left that day. The final half mile was straight downhill, 300+ ft, till we reached Adan Camp. There, we shortly jumped again into our moist bathing fits to chill off within the Buritaca River.
We drank espresso, tea, and sizzling chocolate, performed playing cards with our fellow hikers, after which dinner was served. The meals had been easy, plentiful, and scrumptious: rice, beans or lentils, grilled fish or rooster, and a starch (like fried plantains, French fries, or fried yucca).
The cooks cooked for everybody who was on the camp, irrespective of which of the seven firms had been guiding them on the path. Throughout our go to, there have been 80 hikers from the seven totally different tour businesses and no fewer than a dozen guides and interpreters.
The oldsters who run the camp spent a lot of the afternoon working to get a TV sign so the momentary neighborhood may watch the Colombian nationwide workforce play Brazil. Soccer has a fevered non secular following in Colombia, so watching the nationwide workforce play that night time with our guides and the cooks was a thrill.
Day Two
Our information woke us up earlier than daybreak on the second day. We received dressed, doused ourselves in mosquito repellent and sunscreen, and made our solution to the breakfast desk. Sizzling espresso or chocolate, juice, eggs, arepas (Colombian corn desserts), and fruit had been ready for us. Inside 45 minutes of our wakeup name, we had been again on the path.
That morning featured small elevation positive factors and descents. Our interpreter known as them “Colombian flats.” The trail adopted the ridge line, as much as Mono Pecas and eventually to Mumake Camp, the place we’d cease for lunch.
The second and final days are each over 10.5 miles. We crossed streams and valleys, passing by Wiwa communities with their round thatched-roof properties clustered collectively near the river. The forests had been dense, and infrequently, we had been handled to viewpoints of the cloud-shrouded adjoining peaks.
At Mumake Camp we stopped, swam, and ate a rooster stew, rice, and crispy yucca fries. Our guides inspired us to go away any extraneous issues in our packs at Mumake Camp as a result of we’d return there the next night for our final night time on the path.
I used to be grateful for the lighter pack. After lunch we tackled the brutal ascent affectionately often known as “Completely happy Hour.” At instances the path was practically vertical, shortly rising over 1,300 ft. All of us savored the watermelon reward on the prime of Completely happy Hour, after which descended by way of the grassy valleys to Camp Lorenzo, our cease for the night time.
Climbing to Ciudad Perdida does embody lodging, and there’s actually nothing luxurious about it. Camp Lorenzo options two lengthy strains of bunk beds dealing with one another. Laundry strains are arrange within the area between. All of our issues had been both moist with rain or sweat or each, and all 80 hikers had been drying out gear collectively. So the sleeping space smelled like a cool jungle locker room.
Day Three (Ciudad Perdida Day)
Our pre-dawn wakeup name snapped us to consideration. This was the day we had been going to see Ciudad Perdida, the Misplaced Metropolis.
After one other filling camp breakfast, we gathered our issues and set off on the brief 45-minute hike to the archaeological web site. Earlier than 7 a.m., we had been climbing the dizzying 1,200 vertical steps as much as Ciudad Perdida with the 80 different hikers we had been strolling with for the reason that begin.
As we hiked, our guides defined that anthropologists imagine this web site comprises over 170 particular person terraces. It was as soon as a thriving city heart with anyplace from 1,500 to three,000 folks. Some researchers imagine the location may have housed as many as 8,000 folks.
The location’s architectural significance is basically centered across the ingenious design to handle rainfall on the steeply sloped hillside. The Tayrona folks designed a 12-foot retaining wall to forestall erosion and shield the a number of paths that crisscross town.
Our group set off in a special route than the others, and it felt like we had been on their lonesome on the 80-acre web site. We spent a number of hours marveling on the engineering of the stonework and having fun with the views from the highest of the mountain.
As we moved to the guts of the neighborhood, we acquired a blessing from one of many Wiwa Mamos. With a donation, we every acquired a bracelet with totally different coloured beads. My bracelet represented the earth, solar, mountains, flowers, and the sky. Afterward our journey, we noticed this similar Mamo in an archival {photograph} within the Museo de Oro in Bogota.
The very prime of the ruins boasts the traditional picture of Ciudad Perdida: the round platforms cascading off into the gap, framed by palm bushes and mountains. Our information appeared with a smorgasbord of particular treats — cheese, crackers, mango, watermelon, chocolate, and jellies. The well-earned snack helped us soak within the magnificence and the pleasure in our climbing achievement.
After 3½ hours at Ciudad Perdida, it was time to begin the lengthy stroll again. The remainder of the third day was a prolonged 2,300-foot descent. We handed Lorenzo Camp, the place we had slept that night time, making our approach right down to Mumake Camp, the place we’d left a few of our belongings on day two.
Day 4
The final 17-plus km we hiked on day 4 are a blur of a pounding downhill slog. As brutal as Completely happy Hour had felt on Day Two, for me strolling again down felt even more durable.
The final day was cool, a reduction from strolling within the vivid tropical sunshine. The rain began slowly after which picked up little by little as we descended off the mountain. The final 45 minutes we had been strolling in a whole downpour.
By the point we arrived within the city of El Mamey, we had been soaked, drained, and glad.
The Closing Phrase: Why Hike to Ciudad Perdida?
The sense of accomplishment I felt climbing by way of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta with the bugs and the warmth and surrounded by the beautiful Colombian pure magnificence is one thing I gained’t quickly neglect.
Sure, the hike was exhausting. However it was the problem that makes the reminiscence of it even sweeter.
As many archaeological websites across the globe develop into their very own model of Disneyland, the persistence and time wanted to achieve Ciudad Perdida take some time greater than worthwhile. However the web site is absolutely nearly an excuse. The actual achievement of the trek to Ciudad Perdida is the journey to get there.