Self-Launched Colombia Multisport & Lost City Trek

Land at El Dorado (Uber/taxi ~25,000–40,000 COP, about £5–8). Check into a hostel in La Candelaria — Hostal Candelaria or Masaya Bogotá are solid picks (~£12–15/night dorm). Spend the afternoon acclimatising: Plaza de Bolívar, Botero Museum (free), and a stroll up to Cerro de Monserrate if the altitude feels fine (cable car ~24,000 COP return, £5). Eat ajiaco or a bandeja paisa in a local corrientazo for ~£3–4. Note Bogotá sits at 2,640 m — take it easy on day one.

🚌Airport taxi/Uber ~£6

🛏Hostel dorm, La Candelaria (~£13)

• →Museo Botero (free)
• →Plaza de Bolívar walk
• →Monserrate cable car (optional)

Book a shared day trip to Chingaza National Park through your hostel or GetYourGuide (~£45–60 including park entry, transport and a local guide — you can also join a group tour from a Bogotá agency on Calle 12). The hike takes in frailejones, palm and succulent valley country and the crystal-clear Laguna de Siecha (~3,500 m). Book ahead — entry is capped. Back in Bogotá by evening for a hot chocolate con queso and early night.

🚌Shared tour minibus included

🛏Hostel dorm, La Candelaria (~£13)

• →Chingaza National Park guided hike (Laguna de Siecha)
• →Frailejón páramo landscape

Take an early bus from Bogotá's Terminal Salitre to Villa de Leyva (~3.5 hrs, ~35,000 COP / £7 — Flota Sugamuxi or Expreso Gaviota run frequently). Spend 3–4 hours wandering the cobbled plaza, the fossil museum and the terracotta rooftops. Then continue by bus to San Gil via Tunja/ Bucaramanga connection (~6–7 hrs, ~70,000 COP / £14). Alternative: overnight bus straight to San Gil and do Villa de Leyva as a separate day. Check into a San Gil hostel or guesthouse near the plaza (~£10–12).

🚌Buses Bogotá–Villa de Leyva–San Gil ~£21

🛏Hostel/guesthouse San Gil (~£11)

• →Villa de Leyva colonial plaza and fossil museum
• →Terracotta rooftops viewpoint

San Gil is Colombia's adventure capital. Book the classic Río Suárez Class IV–V run direct with a local outfitter — Colombia Rafting, Sumak Rafting or Sam's VIP are all reputable (~150,000–180,000 COP / £30–37 including gear, transport and guide). Half-day trip. Afternoon: relax in the plaza, or try caving at Cueva del Indio or a 30 m bridge bungee if you want more. Eat at the market — hormigas culonas (big-bottomed ants) are a local delicacy if you're brave.

🚌Walk / short colectivo to put-in

🛏Hostel/guesthouse San Gil (~£11)

• →Río Suárez whitewater rafting (Class IV–V)
• →Optional caving or bungee jumping

Morning free: try paragliding over the Chicamocha Canyon (~£40, book direct) or hike to Juan Curí waterfall (bus + 20 min walk, entry ~15,000 COP). In the afternoon take a shared colectivo or bus from San Gil to Barichara (~45 min, ~12,000 COP / £2.50). Barichara is the prettiest town in Colombia — whitewashed walls, red tiles, cobblestones. Check into a small guesthouse (~£12–15) and catch sunset from the mirador over the Suárez valley.

🚌Colectivo San Gil–Barichara ~£2.50

🛏Guesthouse Barichara (~£13)

• →Optional paragliding or Juan Curí waterfall
• →Barichara mirador sunset

Walk the El Camino Real — a 9 km cobblestone royal road built by the Guane people and widened by the Spanish, running along the top of a canyon between Barichara and Guane. It's free, self-guided and well marked; take 3–4 hrs, plenty of water and stop for fresh juice at the roadside stands. In Guane see the small archaeological museum and the 17th-century church, then take a colectivo or bus back to Barichara (~£1.50). Evening: try the local cabrito (goat) or a pizza in the plaza.

🚌Colectivo Guane–Barichara ~£1.50

🛏Guesthouse Barichara (~£13)

• →El Camino Real 9 km hike
• →Guane village and archaeological museum

Bus from Barichara to Bucaramanga (Palonegro airport) — ~2.5 hrs, ~30,000 COP / £6. Fly Bucaramanga–Medellín on Avianca, LATAM or Wingo (~£40–55 one way, book in advance; Wingo is usually cheapest). Land at José María Córdova (Rionegro), 45 min from town — take the airport bus (Combuses Rionegro, ~13,000 COP / £2.70) rather than a taxi (£20+). Base yourself in Laureles or El Poblado — Laureles is cheaper and more local (~£11–14 dorm). Free afternoon to eat: bandeja paisa at a fonda in Laureles for ~£4.

🚌Bus Barichara–Bucaramanga £6, flight ~£47, airport bus £3

🛏Hostel dorm Laureles (~£13)

• →Laureles neighbourhood wander
• →Local food night

Do the city's story properly: join a Real City Walking Tour (free, tip-based, ~£5 tip) or a Medellín bike tour (~£25–30 via GetYourGuide) that covers the city's history from Pablo Escobar era to the Metrocable and urban libraries. Afterwards ride the Metrocable (Line K to Santo Domingo — just a standard metro ticket, ~4,000 COP / £0.80) for the views. Visit Comuna 13 and its escaleras eléctricas with a community-led tour (~£12, book through the local colectivo guides on site rather than a big agency).

🚌Metro/Metrocable ~£2

🛏Hostel dorm Laureles (~£13)

• →Medellín city bike tour
• →Metrocable Line K
• →Comuna 13 community tour

Take the bus from Terminal del Norte to Guatapé (~2 hrs, ~25,000 COP / £5.30) — easy and cheap, or a GetYourGuide day trip if you prefer a single ticket (~£35). Climb the 740 steps of La Piedra del Peñol (entry ~20,000 COP / £4.30) for the best view in Antioquia, then wander the zócalo of Guatapé with its painted bas-reliefs. Boat trips on the reservoir are ~£8 if you fancy it. Back in Medellín for the evening.

🚌Return bus Medellín–Guatapé ~£11

🛏Hostel dorm Laureles (~£13)

• →La Piedra del Peñol climb
• →Guatapé colourful town
• →Optional reservoir boat trip

Morning flight Medellín–Cartagena (~£45–60, book early on Wingo/Avianca). Airport to Getsemaní by taxi ~£5 or city bus ~£1. Check into a hostel in Getsemaní (~£13–16 dorm) — it's cheaper and livelier than inside the walls. Afternoon walking the old walled city: Plaza de los Coches, Torre del Reloj, Las Bóvedas, and sunset from Café del Mar on the walls (~£4 for a beer with a view). The Gold Museum (Museo del Oro Zenú) is free.

🚌Flight ~£52, airport taxi £5

🛏Hostel dorm Getsemaní (~£15)

• →Old walled city walk
• →Sunset on the city walls
• →Museo del Oro Zenú (free)

Bus or shared minibus from Cartagena to Santa Marta (~4–5 hrs, ~55,000 COP / £12; Marsol/ Berlinas minibuses are comfortable). Check into a hostel in the Centro Histórico (~£10–12 dorm). Meet your Ciudad Perdida operator or confirm your booking (Wiwa Tours, Expotur, Magic Tours and Turcol all run the 4–5 day trek, £330–420 including food, guides, mules and hammock camps). Buy what you need: sunscreen, insect repellent, 3–4 L water capacity, quick-dry clothes, cash (no ATMs on the trail).

🚌Minibus Cartagena–Santa Marta ~£12

🛏Hostel dorm Santa Marta (~£11)

• →Bus to Santa Marta
• →Trek briefing and kit shopping
• →Santa Marta waterfront and Gold Museum (free)

Early 4x4 from Santa Marta to Machete Pelao (El Mamey) — ~2 hrs, included in your trek package. Start hiking through farmland and into steamy jungle, crossing the first of many river valleys, with brief stops in Kogi communities. Today is about 7–8 km and lots of up. Sleep at Ricardito camp in hammocks or rustic bunks with mosquito nets. Carry ~2 L water in a hydration pack; refills are available at camps from filtered streams.

🚌4x4 Santa Marta–Machete Pelao (included)

🛏Hammock/bunk camp Ricardito (included in trek)

• →Ciudad Perdida trek day 1 (~8 km)
• →Kogi community encounters

The toughest day — long climbs and descents with several river crossings, plus the famous steep wooden ladders. ~14 km through dense cloud forest with howler monkeys and toucans if you're lucky. Swim at the Wiwa camp waterfall if water levels allow. Your Wiwa or Kogi guides explain the spiritual significance of the territory — the Sierra Nevada is a sacred heart of the world to its Indigenous peoples.

🚌On foot

🛏Hammock/bunk camp Mumake or Paraíso (included)

• →Ciudad Perdida trek day 2 (~14 km)
• →River swims and ladder climbs

A shorter, gentler day (~12 km) up to the camp at the base of the 1,200 steps that lead into Teyuna. Arrive early afternoon, rest, eat well and get an early night — you'll climb the steps at dawn. Your guides will share the story of the city, built around 800 AD and abandoned during the Spanish conquest, rediscovered by grave robbers in 1972.

🚌On foot

🛏Hammock/bunk camp below Teyuna (included)

• →Ciudad Perdida trek day 3 (~12 km)
• →Camp at base of the 1,200 steps

Up at 5 am to climb the 1,200 mossy stone steps into Teyuna before the heat and crowds. Spend 2–3 hrs exploring the terraces, plazas and ceremonial circles with your Indigenous guide — the site is far smaller and more atmospheric than Machu Picchu. Then walk back down the valley to camp and continue on to a lower camp, or in some packages descend all the way to Machete Pelao by late afternoon. Bring cash for a cold beer at the camp shop.

🚌On foot

🛏Hammock/bunk camp (included)

• →Sunrise climb to Ciudad Perdida
• →Guided tour of Teyuna terraces
• →Descent

Final 4–5 hrs walking out to Machete Pelao along the river — easier terrain and a good chance to swim at the last crossing. 4x4 back to Santa Marta (included), arriving late afternoon. Shower, laundry (~£3) and a celebratory meal in the Centro Histórico. If you have energy, Parque de los Novios has good bars.

🚌4x4 Machete Pelao–Santa Marta (included)

🛏Hostel dorm Santa Marta (~£11)

• →Final trek section
• →Return transfer to Santa Marta
• →Celebration dinner

Departure day. If you have a later flight, add a half-day to Tayrona National Park (bus to El Zaino ~£3, entry ~£8, 1 hr walk to La Piscina beach) or a morning coffee in the old town. Santa Marta airport is 20 min from the centre (~£4 taxi); most people fly to Bogotá (~£55) and connect out. Note: this itinerary ends here as per the original — if you're heading home, book the domestic hop with at least 3 hrs connection in Bogotá.

🚌Taxi to airport ~£4

🛏Departure day — none

• →Optional Tayrona National Park half-day
• →Old town coffee and markets