Ciudad Perdida Trek (Teyuna)

Information

Distance

44.0 km

Duration

4–6 days

Max elevation

1,150 m

Country

Colombia (CO)

Difficulty

Moderate to strenuous — humid tropical forest, muddy terrain, repeated river crossings

Best Season

December–March and July–August (relatively dry seasons)

Permits & Fees

A licensed ICANH tour operator is mandatory; independent hiking is not permitted

Description

The Ciudad Perdida Trek leads through the dense jungle of Colombia's Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta to the ancient Tayrona city of Teyuna, founded around 800 CE — approximately 650 years before Machu Picchu. Over 4–6 days, trekkers cross crystal-clear rivers multiple times, pass through living Kogi indigenous communities, and climb 1,200 ancient stone steps to reach 169 terraces hidden beneath the rainforest canopy. All visitors must join a licensed tour operator approved by the four indigenous groups who steward the land — an arrangement born of respect for their heritage and ancestral territory.

Trail Highlights

The ruins of the ancient city of Teyuna (Tairona, ~800 AD), 169 stone terraces, 1,200 historic steps, the living culture of the Kogi and Arhuaco peoples, and the Sierra Nevada forest