Trekking to Colombia’s Lost City is an experience that stays with you long after you’ve washed the jungle dirt from your hiking boots. In a world of wonders, some treasures still feel seemingly hidden, waiting to be found.
‘They say that the city was lost because the Spanish came. The Indigenous Tayrona community didn’t want to fight, so they left, heading further up the mountain,’ says Andrés Castellanos.
Andrés is from Colombia. He became a local leader for Intrepid in 2019 and earlier this year, became their deputy operations manager. Before joining Intrepid, Andrés used to guide school trips to Ciudad Perdida. Given that he studied architecture, the kids couldn’t have hoped for a better guide.
Cuidad Perdida lies in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range. Andrés points out that this range is not part of the Andes, which dominates so much of South America. He adds the peaks here soar over 5700 metres, making it the highest coastal mountain range in the world.
Old city, new trip
Intrepid has launched a multi-day trek led by local guides to Ciudad Perdida for 2025. Beginning in the World Heritage-listed port city of Cartagena, travellers wind their way along the Buritaca River, through rainforest and jungle and camp in the mountains. On their way to the Lost City, trekkers spend time with Indigenous community members, even hearing from their spiritual leader. It’s a trip for anyone who longs for an adventure.
Reaching Ciudad Perdida feels like stumbling into a myth, an echo of the legend of El Dorado – the fabled city of gold that lured explorers and treasure hunters deep into South America’s jungles. While the Lost City may not shimmer with gold, it represents a chapter of history rich with the stories of the Tayrona civilisation and their sacred connection to this land.
Meet Indigenous mountain communities
Built by the Tayrona people over a thousand years ago, this archaeological site is said to predate Machu Picchu. Spread across a mountainside, the Lost City’s terraces seem impossibly precise, with steps worn down by centuries of use. Mist often clings to the stones, lending an air of mystery, but it’s not hard to imagine life for a civilisation once thriving in the endless green canopy of this high-altitude jungle city.
After all, this trek isn’t just about the destination. It’s also about the people who call this land home. Along the way, there are encounters with the Kogi and Wiwa communities, descendants of the Tayrona, who preserve their ancestors’ wisdom and connection to nature. Some of these include agricultural traditions such as farming coca, an important plant for spiritual practices.
The second day of Intrepid’s trek brings travellers to the Wiwa Community Camp, where they have a rare opportunity to meet El Mamo, the spiritual leader and sage of the community. El Mamo talks about the Wiwa way of life, sharing how everyone in their community has an essential role. From there, the trail leads deeper into the humid, tropical jungle, taking trekkers to Mutanyi, a small Kogi village of 20 traditional huts crafted from mud, wood and palm leaves.
End up where the world began
Andrés explains that to the Indigenous communities of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta – including the Kogi, Wiwa, Arhuaco and Kankuamo peoples – the mountain range is sacred. They believe it is the ‘Heart of the World’ and consider its peaks, rivers and ecosystems integral to the universe’s balance and health.
‘For them, this is the world and where the world began. They are the only ones allowed to go to certain peaks and some of the tallest mountains in Colombia,’ says Andrés. Traditionally, only Indigenous leaders and priests are permitted to ascend snowcapped mountains like Pico Cristóbal Colón and Pico Simón Bolívar.
While some of the mountains are off-limits to protect their sacred status, the Lost City thankfully is not – though it remains a privilege earned through effort. The only way to reach the site is on foot. The four-day trekking component of Intrepid’s trip is challenging – expect steep climbs, muddy paths and river crossings – but it’s thoughtfully paced, giving you enough time to soak up the landscapes and connect with your surroundings.
This trek is a physical challenge, but it’s also a cultural immersion, a history lesson and a chance to walk in the footsteps of ancient people. Andrés emphasises the significance of these mountains and their stories. ‘Being in the middle of nature, of course, what you see up there is very rewarding, but you also have a space to talk with the community,’ he says.
As someone who loves architecture, Andrés marvels at the Lost City’s design, a masterpiece of form and function. But as a Colombian, he’s most proud of how the trek connects visitors to his country’s heart.
Visit the Lost City with Intrepid on Lost City Trekking in Colombia. Find out what else is new for 2025 with The Goods.
