Lost City of Colombia - 8 days

Lost City of Colombia - 8 days

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Lost City of Colombia - 8 days

8 Days Starting in Santa Marta and ending in Goodbye Colombia

Visiting: Santa Marta, Paraiso, Turcol - Colombian Tourism, Casa de Alfredo, Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona, Colombia

Tour operator:

On The Go Tours

Tour code:

1842/LCOC

Group Type:

Private

Specialist Group:

Family/Kids

Guide Type:

Partially Guided

Group size:

2 - 4

Physical rating:

Low

Age range:

Not recommended for under 5yrs.

Tour operated in:
English
Interests:

Beach Tours, Cultural

Activities:

Sightseeing, Swimming

This tour is no longer available

Tour Overview

PRIVATE TREKKING HOLIDAY: Trek through lush jungle and local settlements to uncover Colombia's Lost City, overnighting in charming houses along the way. Climb the 1,200 stone steps which lead to the Ciudad Perdida, a fascinating site made up of stepped terraces carved into the side of a mountain. Top off your stay with some relaxation by the beach in Tayrona National Park.

Highlights

  • Lost City (Ciudad Perdida) - Explore this ancient archaeological site built by the Tayronas between 500 and 700 AD, making it 800 years older than Peru's Machu Picchu

  • Santa Marta - Enjoy free time at the start of your tour in the first Spanish settlement in South America, nicknamed the ‘Pearl of America’

  • El Machete River - Take a dip and admire the jungle on this stop on your trek en route to Adan's House

  • Mutanyi - Interact with the local Koguis people and learn about their traditions en route to Gabriel's House

  • Buritaca River - Traverse the waters of this river on your trek, spotting areas where treasure hunters were once active

  • Tayrona National Park - Enjoy free time in one of Colombia's most stunning national parks with mangrove swamps, green forest, mountain peaks and a spectacular coastline

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1 : Santa Marta

Location: Santa Marta

Meals Included: No Meals

Welcome to Santa Marta, the first stop on your Colombian adventure. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel in Santa Marta where you will be able to relax and freshen up before making the most of your free time for the rest of the day. Founded in 1525, Santa Marta was the first Spanish settlement in South America and has been nicknamed the ‘Pearl of America’ thanks to its stunning location. Take a wander through the city and see what you think of this legendary city.

Day 2 : Santa Marta – Adan’S Camp

Location: Santa Marta

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Santa Marta - Adan's House. Now the real fun begins as Day 2 marks the start of your hike that will eventually take you all the way to the Ciudad Perdida (Lost City). You will be picked up from your hotel in the morning and driven for 2 hours before arriving at the outskirts of the jungle. From there you will be driven for another hour along a bumpy road to the settlement of Machetepelao, the start of the trekking route. You will trek for a total of around four and a half hours, stopping along the way to take a dip in the El Machete River and to admire the verdant jungle. Your final stop for the day is Adan’s house, the home of a former colonist.

Day 3 : Paraiso Camp

Location: Paraiso

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Adan's House - Gabriel's House. Time for a hearty breakfast as you are about to embark on a six hour hike through some of Colombia’s most beautiful deep forest. Roughly halfway through today’s hike you will pass through Mutanyi, a meeting town of the Koguis people. Here, you will have the chance to interact with the locals in order to learn more about their community, history and traditions. This is an excellent opportunity to immerse yourself in a unique culture. In the evening, you will have the opportunity to take a dip in the nearby Rio Buritaca before heading to dinner and then to bed in colonist Gabriel’s House.

Day 4 : Lost City (Ciudad Perdida)

Location: Turcol - Colombian Tourism

Accommodation: Camp

Accommodation Name: Numake Camp

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Paraiso Camp - The Lost City - Numake Camp. After an early breakfast, you are back on the road and the first challenge of the day presents itself in the form of 1,200 stone steps, which lead to the much anticipated Lost City. Built by the Tayronas between 500 and 700 AD, the Ciudad Perdida is around 800 years older than Peru’s Machu Picchu and was probably the capital of the region at the time. The site comprises 169 stepped terraces, which have been carved into the side of the mountain, a series of tiled roads and some small circular plazas that show the harmony between the Tayrona civilisation and nature.

In 1972 the city was discovered by treasure hunters and is now a major archaeological site. Once you have finished exploring everything the ancient city has to offer, it’s time to head back to Paraiso camp to freshen up and have some lunch. After lunch, you continue trekking back to Numake Camp where you spend the night.

Day 5 : Adan Camp

Location: Casa de Alfredo

Accommodation: Camp

Accommodation Name: Adan Camp

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Rumualdo's House - The Lost City - Gabriel's House. After an early breakfast, you are back on the road and the first challenge of the day presents itself in the form of 1,200 stone steps, which lead to the much anticipated Lost City. Built by the Tayronas between 500 and 700 AD, the Ciudad Perdida is around 800 years older than Peru’s Machu Picchu and was probably the capital of the region at the time. The site comprises 169 stepped terraces, which have been carved into the side of the mountain, a series of tiled roads and some small circular plazas that show the harmony between the Tayrona civilisation and nature.


In 1972 the city was discovered by treasure hunters and is now a major archaeological site. Once you have finished exploring everything the ancient city has to offer, it’s time to head back to the camp to freshen up and have some lunch. After lunch, you begin a five hour trek back to Gabriel’s House.

Day 6 : Santa Marta

Location: Santa Marta

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Adan Camp - Santa Marta. you will make your way back to the Mamey region. After lunch you will be transferred back to the hotel in Santa Marta and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Day 7 : Tayrona National Park

Location: Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona, Santa Marta

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Santa Marta - Tayrona National Park - Santa Marta. This morning you will be met at the hotel where you will start a walking tour to Arrecifes within Tayrona National Park. Sitting on the Caribbean coast, this park is a national treasure and encompasses pristine beaches, picturesque forests and a huge variety of flora and fauna. Howler monkeys and iguanas are just two of the numerous animals that can be spotted here.

You can enjoy a swim in the Caribbean Sea at the many beaches you may stop at today. Soak up some sunshine and enjoy the beach, the choice is yours.

Day 8 : Goodbye Colombia

Location: Colombia

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today marks the end of your Colombian adventure. After breakfast and hotel check-out you will be transferred to Santa Marta airport for your onward travel.

What's Included

  • 7 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 3 dinners

  • 8 nights Standard accommodation in Santa Marta. Simple accommodation whilst trekking. Upgrade to Superior or Deluxe accommodation in Santa Marta is available upon request. Accommodation rating – See Trip Notes for details

  • Airport arrival and departure transfer on day 1 and day 8

  • Services of local English-speaking specialist guides and trekking guide for trek to the Lost City

  • Entrance fees to all sites and activities as described in the itinerary

  • All relevant transfers and transportation

  • Trek to the Lost City on a shared excursion

What's Not Included

  • International flights and visas

  • Tipping – an entirely personal gesture

  • Laundry, drinks and items of a personal nature

Check out our Q&As

  • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

    Yes

  • Are airport transfers included in this tour?

    Transfers and transportation in private air-conditioned vehicles

  • What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?

    4 and 3 star hotels

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Ensuring our footprint is light and that the benefits of travelling reach the local communities you visit is paramount to us. We’re proud to say that when travelling with us, the large majority of your holiday funds remain within the countries you visit, supporting local economies at a grass roots level.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Since 1998

  • Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

    With English-speaking tours, it's not a huge surprise that most on our travellers are from English-speaking countries or have English as their second language. Our group tours cater for everyone from 18 years old to 70+

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

Reviews of this Operator

Calvin  

Wonderful experience

05-Jan-2023

Jamal is our tour guide. Right from the start, he created a group chat in whatsapp and if any issues to make sure we contact him. He was on the ball with every issue thrown at him. Luggage being left behind, stragglers wondered off in a different path, hotel room etc. He explains the various site along our route to give us a better understanding of the local cultures. We had a great time, thanks to Jamal.

Trustpilot
Norma Sullivan  

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The Land of Northern Lights tour was a triumph! My tour of Southern Iceland was absolutely wonderful. The venues chosen, the timing allotted at each venue and the variety of things to experience was nearly perfect. Our guide, "Thor", was smart, amusing, full of history and anecdotal stories as well as being incredibly hospitable and helpful. This small group experience was my first, but not my last thanks to On the Go.

Trawls (Google Reviewer)  

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05-Feb-2024

On The Go Tours Sri Lanka was an incredible experience that was made even better by our tour guide Akthar. He was incredibly knowledgeable about his country and he loved sharing it with us. The tour covers a wide range of activities so you can truly experience what Sri Lanka is all about. The beautiful 4-5 star hotels at the end of every day was an absolute bonus. Thanks for a great trip OTGT I’m sure this won’t be my last

Xtreme Floor Care (Google Reviewer)  

Traveled through Egypt with On...

30-Nov-2023

Traveled through Egypt with On the Go Tours, professional service, very informative and helpful tour guides. The choice of hotels was excellent... Definitely recommend this company

Gavin Harrigan  

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16-Sep-2021

I have just returned from my tour with On The Go and it was an amazing trip! From arriving at the airport and meeting the OTG representative, everything was well organised and hassle free.  Our tour guide was Amir. He is awesome!! From the beginning he was so friendly and enthusiastic about showing us around Egypt, giving us loads of information at each place and time to explore ourselves. Learnt so much from him about this fascinating place, and he was always happy to answer more questions.   The trip itself was amazing. There's lots of travelling on this trip, but it's really not too bad, and the sights you see when you get to where you are going are worth it. I'm not a big fan of boats, but the Felluca ride across the Nile was pretty fun too.  On the first day I also did the optional tour of Cairo with Ahmed Helal - another excellent guide from OTG. It's worth doing this add on as you don't spend much time in Cairo, and you go to three very different places.  I'm so glad that I decided to do this trip. It was just ace.  If you're thinking about it too, you should probably just book it. And hopefully you get Amir as your guide.

Paul Kelly (Google Reviewer)  

TOTALLY MOROCCO We booked a 9...

26-Feb-2023

TOTALLY MOROCCO We booked a 9 day tour of Morocco visiting many main cities and places of interest. The coach was very comfortable and we felt safe with the driver Suliman. The guide was Hicham Touraouine and he was fantastic. He spoke perfect English as well as French, Arabic and Berber. He was so kind and considerate and made a good tour great. We particularly enjoyed ‘glamming in the Sahara Desert. So much to see and do and great food and company. We would definitely use On The Go Tours again, especially if Hicham was the guide. Paul & Penny

Rolly Hay hay (Google Reviewer)  

Gallipoli tour. The guide was...

28-Sep-2023

Gallipoli tour. The guide was awesome. Everything went like clockwork.. My complaint is that you expect 4 people to cramp together on the back seat of the van for 4 hours. That is poverty travel. Not really acceptable for the price paid. So uncomfortable. If was to do this trip again I'd just rent a car. Although the guide was amazing, but that's 3 hours of the trip.

Sarah Paterson (Google Reviewer)  

Terrible tour of India. For...

27-Dec-2023

Terrible tour of India. For some reason On the Go hadn't realised that my room mate had booked her own room for the first night of tour. So the hotel in Delhi had tried to put me in her room after midnight, by wheeling in an extra bed. She went Crazy!! I then had to sit in hotel reception for hours. While the tour guide said he couldn't find me a room. Throughout the tour the guide consistently ask me and my room mate for money for my room, causing more friction between us. Don't book with this company had the worst experience ever. Go with Intrepid or G Adventure

brandy hoffman (Google Reviewer)  

I had used them once...

09-Aug-2023

I had used them once before and loved them. I decided to try them again for a Baltic tour not knowing that they put me on another Tour group- Baltic vision. Loved that tour but was not impressed they marked up the cost for me over 100%. I understand taking some for yourself because of paperwork, but over double the cost everyone else paid on the tour. Just double check before you book with them that you’re not over paying.

Giovanni Guidi (Google Reviewer)  

I booked three tours with...

19-Aug-2023

I booked three tours with this agency. While the first two experiences were very nice, with well-thought-out itineraries and knowledgeable guides, the third tour was an absolute nightmare for us. Due to the unavailability of an hotel from the trip notes, the agency opted to replace it with another they claimed was "similar." To our dismay, this alternative was nothing short of a decrepit, filthy establishment that threatened to ruin our entire safari experience in South Africa. But the fiasco didn't end there. This so-called hotel began proposing and organizing activities starkly different from what we were promised in the trip notes, together with an awful services of their guides and vehicles. And when this disaster struck and we desperately needed their support? The agency ghosted us. It took them an entire day to respond, and when they did, they simply shrugged off our concerns, asserting it was too late to fix anything, even though three nights of our trip were still ahead. The level of unprofessionalism was staggering. Forced to salvage our experience, we took matters into our own hands, leaving that awful place to book another hotel and activities for the remainder of our trip—all at my own expense. Based on my experience, I suggest travelers to think twice before considering this agency. Seek out reputable companies known for their commitment to customer service and integrity.

Book with Confidence

  • Low Deposit

    On The Go Tours requires a minimum deposit of 300 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of on the go tours charges.

    Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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