Colombia Lost City Trek: Self-Launched Teyuna Adventure
7 days · Colombia
G Adventures charges £790
No-markup version: ~£480 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of the classic 4-5 day Ciudad Perdida (Lost City of Teyuna) trek from Santa Marta. Rather than paying a large-group operator, you book directly with one of the authorised local trek agencies in Santa Marta (e.g. Magic Tour, Expotur, Wiwa Tours) — these are the same licensed operators the big groups use, and their all-inclusive trek packages cover guiding, mule support, camps, meals and transport to El Mamey. Add a night or two in Santa Marta for the Caribbean coast, Tayrona-adjacent beaches and the Gold Museum. Costs are approximate backpacker rates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Santa Marta
Santa Marta
Fly into Santa Marta (Simón Bolívar, SMR) or take a bus/collectivo from Cartagena (~4-5 hrs, £10-15). Settle into a hostel in the historic centre or El Rodadero. Use the afternoon to shop for trek supplies (quick-dry clothes, insect repellent, a 30-35L daypack, dry bag) at the Mercado Público or Exito supermarket, then visit the small Gold Museum (free) and Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino (£4). Book your Ciudad Perdida trek in person with an authorised agency today or tomorrow morning — 4-day treks typically depart daily and cost around £300-360 per person all-inclusive (transport, guide, camps, all meals). Early evening: sunset beers on the Malecón.
🚌Local taxi from airport (~£3); walkable historic centre
🛏Hostel dorm in Santa Marta historic centre (£10-14)
- →Gold Museum (free)
- →Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino (£4)
- →Book Ciudad Perdida trek with authorised agency
- →Malecón at sunset
Santa Marta to El Mamey and first jungle camp
Sierra Nevada / Ricardito area
Early 4x4 pickup from Santa Marta (included in trek package) to the trailhead village of El Mamey (~2.5 hrs). Lunch in the village, then a gentle ~4-hour walk through farmland, cacao and coffee smallholdings into the steamy foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Camp tonight is hammocks or rustic bunks with mosquito nets, cold showers and river swimming. Day one is easy — don't overpack, you carry your own gear (mules can be hired for your bag for ~£30-40/day if you prefer).
🚌Shared 4x4 Santa Marta to El Mamey (included in trek package)
🛏Trek camp: hammock or rustic bunk with mosquito net (included)
- →4-hour jungle trek into Sierra Nevada foothills
- →River swim at camp
- →Hummingbird spotting from hammock
Deeper into the jungle toward Paraiso camp
Buritaca River valley
The toughest terrain day before the ruins: 5-6 hours of steep ups and downs over root-tangled paths, with several stream and river crossings (waist-deep in rainy season — keep electronics in a dry bag). Guides time the walk to beat the worst heat. Arrive at a river-side camp in the afternoon, swim in the cool Buritaca, and eat a carb-heavy dinner cooked by the trek cook. Early night — lights out around 9pm.
🚌On foot, 5-6 hrs
🛏Trek camp: hammock or bunk by the river (included)
- →Steep jungle trekking
- →Buritaca River swim
- →Camp dinner with trek cook
Climb 1,200 steps to Teyuna (Lost City) and trek on to Mumake
Ciudad Perdida / Mumake
The big day. Leave at dawn, climb the famous 1,200 moss-covered stone steps and emerge onto the terraces of Teyuna — the largest pre-Columbian settlement in Colombia, abandoned in the 16th century and only 'rediscovered' in 1972. Guided tour of the terraces and sacred sites (~2-3 hrs), usually with time to sit above the clouds before day-trippers arrive. Then ~4-5 more hours of trekking through banana and cacao groves to Mumake camp. Total on foot: ~8 hours. Drink plenty of treated river water (refillable at every camp).
🚌On foot, ~8 hrs including 2-3 hrs at the ruins
🛏Trek camp: Mumake (included)
- →Climb 1,200 steps to Ciudad Perdida
- →Guided exploration of Teyuna terraces
- →Jungle trek to Mumake camp
Descend via El Mamey and finish at Las Cascadas
Las Cascadas
Early start and a long descent back towards the trailhead, passing through El Mamey and rural Kogi communities. Lunch and a relaxed afternoon at Las Cascadas camp — swim under waterfalls, wash the mud off, and celebrate with the group and guides over dinner.
🚌On foot, ~5-6 hrs
🛏Trek camp: Las Cascadas (included)
- →Descent through Kogi farmland
- →Waterfall swim
- →Last night at trek camp
Walk out to Machete Pelao and back to Santa Marta
Santa Marta
Final 2-3 hour walk out to Machete Pelao, then the shared 4x4 back to Santa Marta (included). Check back into your hostel — hot shower, laundry (~£3), and a proper meal. Afternoon free for the beach at El Rodadero or Bahía Concha, or a siesta. Evening in the centre around Parque de los Novios for street food and live music — ajiaco, arepas de huevo and cold Club Colombia.
🚌On foot to Machete Pelao then shared 4x4 to Santa Marta (included in trek package)
🛏Hostel dorm, Santa Marta (£10-14)
- →Final jungle walk out
- →El Rodadero or Bahía Concha beach
- →Parque de los Novios night out
Santa Marta — depart or extend
Santa Marta
Depart at any time, or extend: book a day trip to Tayrona National Park (~£20 entry plus transport) or a boat shuttle to Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona's Cabo San Juan, dive at Taganga (~£45 for two dives), or head onward by bus to Cartagena (~£12) or Minca for coffee-farm stays.
🚌Taxi to airport (~£3) or bus onward to Cartagena (~£12)
🛏Optional extra hostel night if extending (£10-14)
- →Optional Tayrona National Park day trip
- →Optional Taganga diving
- →Bus onward to Cartagena or Minca
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£480 | £790 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £310 per person (39%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£480
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.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Colombia Lost City Trek: Self-Launched Teyuna Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £480 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 £790 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £480 — a saving of roughly £310 (39%) 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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