Colombia Lost City Trek — Self-Launched (7 Days)
7 days · Colombia
G Adventures charges £769
No-markup version: ~£440 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of the classic 5-day Ciudad Perdida (Lost City) trek from Santa Marta, booked directly with a licensed local operator instead of through a middleman. You get the same jungle trail, the same indigenous Wiwa/Kogi guides, the same camps and waterfalls, and the same sunrise at the Lost City — for roughly half the price. Colombia requires the trek to be done with a licensed operator and indigenous guides, so this version is "self-launched" in the sense of arranging it yourself directly (highly recommended: Wiwa Tours or similar Santa Marta-based licensed operators), not trekking unsupported. Costs are approximate 2026 backpacker rates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Santa Marta — old town, beach and trek briefing
Santa Marta
Fly or bus into Santa Marta (Simón Bolívar International, or long-distance bus from Cartagena ~£12–15, 5 hrs). Check into a hostel or budget hotel in the historic centre — the Centro Histórico is walkable, safe-ish in the evenings on busy streets, and close to the beach and the marina. Spend the afternoon acclimatising: Parque de los Novios for coffee, the Gold Museum (free), and a sunset walk along the malecón. In the evening meet your trek operator (booked in advance by email/WhatsApp with a licensed Santa Marta agency) for a briefing, gear check and to hand over your main luggage for storage. Eat a big, cheap dinner — menu del día is £3–5.
🚌Local taxi from airport to centre ~£2–3; buses from Cartagena ~£12–15
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Santa Marta historic centre (dorm £8–12 / private £18–25)
- →Old town walking wander
- →Gold Museum Santa Marta (free)
- →Malecón sunset
- →Trek briefing with local operator
Santa Marta to El Mamey — jungle trail begins to Ricardito camp
El Mamey / Ricardito Camp
Early 4x4 or shared minibus transfer from Santa Marta to El Mamey (about 2–2.5 hrs) — this is usually included in the local trek package. Register at the trailhead, meet your indigenous guide and cook, then hike 4–6 hours through farmland, river crossings and steamy jungle to Ricardito camp. Expect mud, heat and humidity — 35°C+ is normal. Lunch is served at a village en route. The camp is basic: bunk beds or hammocks with mosquito nets, cold showers and simple but filling meals cooked by the trek cook (breakfast, lunch and dinner are included from here on). Carry at least 2L of water; refills are available along the trail.
🚌Shared 4x4/minibus Santa Marta–El Mamey included in trek package
🛏Ricardito jungle camp (included in trek package) — bunk/hammock, mosquito net, cold shower
- →Lost City Trek Day 1 (~11 km, 4–6 hrs)
- →River crossings
- →Indigenous village lunch stop
Ricardito to Teyuna Paraíso camp — deeper into the Sierra Nevada
Teyuna Paraíso Camp
The hardest walking day: 5–7 hours of relentless ups and downs, passing Wiwa and Kogi settlements, more river crossings and a couple of steep scrambles. You'll pass the point where you can swim in the Buritaca river — take the chance, it's the best part of the day. Arrive at Teyuna Paraíso camp in the late afternoon, eat, and get an early night: tomorrow starts before dawn. Drink treated water and keep salt intake up — cramp is common here.
🚌On foot
🛏Teyuna Paraíso jungle camp (included) — bunk/hammock, mosquito net
- →Lost City Trek Day 2 (~14 km, 5–7 hrs)
- →River swim at Buritaca
- →Wiwa/Kogi village views
Sunrise climb to Ciudad Perdida — then descend to Mumake camp
Ciudad Perdida / Mumake Camp
The highlight day. Leave camp at first light and climb the famous 1,200+ stone steps to Ciudad Perdida (Teyuna) — a 650-year-old terraced city older than Machu Picchu, hidden in cloud forest at about 1,200 m. Your indigenous guide explains the site's history and the living relationship the Wiwa and Kogi still have with it; you get 2–3 hours to explore terraces, plazas and stone carvings before descending. After lunch, walk back down the valley to Mumake camp — shorter but knee-bashing downhill. Tip your guides and cook at the end of the trek (budget £15–25 total, in cash).
🚌On foot
🛏Mumake jungle camp (included) — bunk/hammock, mosquito net
- →Sunrise climb of the 1,200 steps
- →Guided tour of Ciudad Perdida (included with licensed guide)
- →Descend to Mumake camp
Mumake to Las Cascadas camp — waterfalls and river pools
Las Cascadas Camp
A gentler walking day as you head back toward the trailhead, breaking the return with a stop at the waterfalls and natural pools near Las Cascadas — bring swimwear, this is the best swimming of the trek. Camp is another simple jungle setup with dinner cooked by the trek team. Use the afternoon to dry out gear and repack; nothing dries in this humidity, so plan around one hiking outfit and one dry sleeping outfit.
🚌On foot
🛏Las Cascadas jungle camp (included) — bunk/hammock, mosquito net
- →Lost City Trek Day 4 (~10 km, 4–5 hrs)
- →Waterfall swim at Las Cascadas
Las Cascadas back to El Mamey and transfer to Santa Marta
Santa Marta
Final morning hike out to El Mamey (3–4 hrs), picking up breakfast and lunch en route, then the shared 4x4/minibus back to Santa Marta arrives early-to-mid afternoon. Check back into your hostel, reclaim your stored luggage, and treat yourself to a proper shower, a cold beer and a seafood dinner on the waterfront. If you want a bit of luxury recovery, a mid-range hotel in El Rodadero (beach district) is an easy taxi ride away.
🚌Shared 4x4/minibus El Mamey–Santa Marta included; local taxis ~£2–3
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Santa Marta historic centre (dorm £8–12 / private £18–25)
- →Lost City Trek Day 5 (~6 km)
- →Return transfer to Santa Marta
- →Waterfront dinner
Santa Marta — optional sights and departure
Santa Marta
Slow morning. Optional: Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino, the hacienda where Simón Bolívar died (COP 23,000, ~£5), or a boat trip to Playa Cristal in Tayrona National Park if you have an extra day. Buses run onward to Cartagena (~£12–15), Palomino (~£4) or Minca, and the airport is a short taxi away. If you can, add a day at Tayrona — it's the most rewarding way to decompress after the jungle.
🚌Taxi to airport ~£2–3; bus to Cartagena ~£12–15; bus to Palomino ~£4
🛏Checkout (or extend your hostel if adding Tayrona)
- →Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino (~£5)
- →Optional Tayrona National Park day trip
- →Onward travel
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£440 | £769 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £329 per person (43%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£440
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Colombia Lost City Trek — Self-Launched (7 Days) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £440 per person for 7 days in Colombia. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £769 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £440 — a saving of roughly £329 (43%) per person.
How long is the Colombia trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through Colombia.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, backpacker trip through Colombia, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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