COLOMBIA
LOST CITY TREK
The legendary Lost City Trek is only half of this epic Colombian Adventure that will take you from the colorful City of Cartagena, to the lush jungles of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, to the sandy beaches of the crystal clear Caribbean Sea. Discover this magical region that is as rich in biodiversity as it is in culture and history!
HIGHLIGHTS
Cooling off in waterfalls, crossing rushing rivers, rocking to sleep in hammocks, and trekking through the sacred jungles of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta guided by local campesinos who call the region home
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Taking in the vibrant, colorful culture of Cartagena
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Hiking into La Ciudad Perdida, Colombia’s Lost City, an ancient site built by the Tayrona people dating back to 800 AD (over 650 years older than Machu Picchu!)
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Learning about the indigenous communities who are direct Tayrona descendants and still live harmoniously with the wildlife surrounding them in the Sierra Nevada mountains
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Watching the sunset and feasting on fresh seafood on the sandy beaches and azure waters of Palomino
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Connecting with the vibrant and talented women of DAMARTES in the fishing village of La Boquilla and creating sustainable coconut handicrafts
WHAT TO EXPECT
ITINERARY AT A GLANCE
MAP
WHAT'S INCLUDED
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$3,995
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REVIEWS
PAYMENT TERMS
THE ULTIMATE COLOMBIA
LOST CITY TREK
PACKING LIST
From the best hiking shoes to our fav daypacks, here’s everything you need to go from jungle to sea in Colombia!
COLOMBIA
DAILY BREAKDOWN
DAILY BREAKDOWN
NOTE: All distances are approximate!
DAY 1
CARTAGENA
Welcome to Cartagena! The WHOA team will greet you at the Cartagena airport, and in the evening we’ll enjoy one of our special WHOA Welcome Dinners together and get briefed on the amazing adventure ahead!
Included Meals: Welcome Dinner
Stay: Armeria Real Hotel or similar
Arrival Logistics: Arrive Cartagena International Airport (CTG) by 3PM
DAY 2
CARTAGENA
After breakfast (and some of that famous Colombian coffee), we’ll visit the fortress of San Felipe, the Popa Hill and walk around the beautiful colorful streets of the walled city. In the afternoon, we’ll visit the Boquilla district to meet the women of DAMARTES for a coconut craft workshop. The DAMARTES Project (Damas y Madres del Arte – ‘Women and Mothers of Art’) is led by seven women who were the first from their community to generate their own income creating jewelry, accessories and vases from coconuts. They’ll tell you their stories and teach you their techniques so you can create a masterpiece of your own! You’ll have the evening free to grab dinner in Cartagena.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Stay: Armeria Real Hotel or similar
DAY 3
CARTAGENA to SANTA MARTA
Mid-morning we'll hop in our ride and start our road trip to the port city of Santa Marta. After settling into the hotel, we'll have some free time to stroll around the historic center of the city and prepare for the trek. In the evening, we'll meet our hiking guides for dinner and have our briefing for the Lost City Trek!
Driving Time: 5+ hours
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Hotel Boutique Casa Carolina or similar
DAY 4
LOST CITY TREK
SANTA MARTA to CAMP 1
We’ll leave our hotel bright and early in order to reach Machete Pelao, the trailhead for our out and back hike. Today’s hike takes us into the jungle of the Sierra Nevada mountains to our first Campamento of the trek where we’ll spend the night.
Hiking Distance: ~ 5 mi / 8 km
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Camp 1
DAY 5
LOST CITY TREK
CAMP 1 to PARAISO
On day 2 of our trek, we’ll continue into the jungle along the Buritaca River, pass by a traditional Kogui village and learn about the indigenous culture. In the evening we’ll rock ourselves to sleep in hammocks at Camp Paraiso.
Hiking Distance: ~ 9.5 mi / 15 km
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Camp Paraiso
DAY 6
LOST CITY TREK
CAMP PARAISO to MUMAKE
Today we’ll rise bright and early to climb the 1200 stone steps up to La Ciudad Perdida, the Lost City! Once at the Lost City we’ll have a couple of hours to explore, learn and imagine how this site was used over 1000 years ago and is believed to be only 10% uncovered. Afterwards, we’ll retrace our steps to Camp Paraiso for lunch and then will make our way to Camp Mumake for the night and we’ll spend our last night on the trail together!
Hiking Distance: ~ 7.5 mi / 12 km
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Camp Mumake
DAY 7
LOST CITY TREK
CAMP MUMAKE to PALOMINO
Today we’ll continue our way back to Camp 1, and onward to Machete Palao—our original starting point. From here we will be transferred to beautiful Palomino, where we’ll rest in an eco lodge next to the beach, enjoy some refreshing and tasty cocktails!
Hiking Distance: ~ 10 mi / 16 km
Driving Time: 1+ hours
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Stay: Senda Kokkos or similar
DAY 8
PALOMINO
Today is all about resting, recovering and taking in the beautiful Caribbean coast and all it has to offer! In the evening, we will gather for a Celebration Dinner together and “Cheers!” to the epic journey we shared!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Celebration Dinner
Stay: Senda Kokkos or similar
Note- The ocean waves and current can be quite strong along this stretch of the Caribbean sea, our Hotel can consult on the conditions each day, and share things to do like r&r by the pool or on the beach, spa, town visits, bird watching, river tubing, and more.
DAY 9
PALOMINO to CARTAGENA
Around 8 AM we’ll head back to Cartagena to say our “see you laters.” You can book your flights home or on to your next stop after 8 PM.
Driving Time: 5+ hours
Included Meals: Breakfast
COLOMBIA
PHOTO GALLERY
PHOTO GALLERY
Itinerary subject to change based on availability and unforeseen conditions, but that's part of the adventure! Even when things change, trust you'll be well taken care of with WHOA quality, professionalism, and TLC!
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Here at WHOA, we strive to make everything we do sustainable and of true value to our partners. For that reason, our itineraries and partnerships can vary depending on the season, organization's needs, and the abilities and desires of our group. We do our best to seek out local partners that are thoughtful and sustainable, and we work closely with them to understand their needs to create an experience that will truly be of value to everyone involved.