Upon your arrival at El Dorado Airport in Bogotá, our local partner will be waiting for you. The drive to your hotel, which is located in the old town, La Candelaria, takes around 30–45 minutes, depending on the traffic.

You will be given some practical information about Colombia in general and about your own tour. Feel free to ask as many questions as you like. The guide is there to give you a good start to your holiday.

You have the evening to yourself to relax or to explore the cosy old town. Bear in mind that Bogotá is located at an altitude of 2,600 metres, so take things easy to allow your body to acclimatise.

After breakfast, you will be picked up from the hotel by a guide who will take you on a walk around to the highlights of the old town.

A visit to the Gold Museum, Plaza Bolívar and the Botero Museum gives you an exciting insight into the history of Colombia.

Look forward to one of the highlights of the tour, which is the view of the city from the top of Mount Monserrate, which stands 3,152 metres high. The city tour takes place on foot, but fear not, a cable car takes you to the top of Mount Monserrate!

The rest of the day is yours to do as you please.

Today, nothing specific is planned for you. You can explore the city on your own or purchase an extra excursion from home.

Bogotá has much to offer. Head off on adventure in the small streets of La Candelaria and visit the Paloquemao market, one of Bogotá’s oldest markets, selling flowers, exotic fruit, vegetables and much more besides.

You could also take a taxi to the modern part of Bogotá where you will find department stores and lots of shops and restaurants. There are countless possibilities!

We highly recommend purchasing a bike ride, which is a great way to experience the capital, or an excursion to Zipaquirá, the underground salt cathedral located just north of Bogotá.

Today, the tour heads for Santa Marta, which enjoys a scenic location on the Caribbean coast at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. You will be picked up from your hotel and driven to the airport. The flight takes about 1.5 hours.

Santa Marta is one of the oldest Spanish cities in South America. It was founded in 1525. Santa Marta is where Simón Bolívar spent his last days in 1830. More recently, football player Carlos Valderrama, better known as El Pibe, has also put Santa Marta on the world map.

Santa Marta has a pleasant centre with beautiful, colourful colonial buildings, and you will find good restaurants and cosy cafes.

Today marks the commencement of your trek to the Lost City. Channel your inner Indiana Jones, as this adventure is akin to a mini-expedition through the lush jungles of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Spanning about 50 km, the trek lasts four days, traversing terrains with high temperatures and humidity. Overnight stays are in basic camps along the way. Your skilled guide will lead you and your group to the impressive ruins of Ciudad Perdida, better known as the Lost City. We assure you that while the trek is challenging, it is entirely worth the effort and may become your fondest memory from your tour in Colombia.

The Lost City was constructed by the Tayrona people around 800 AD. It is believed that the city was abandoned around the time Spanish colonists first arrived in Colombia. What makes the Lost City truly special is that it was only rediscovered by treasure hunters in the 1970s.

Following breakfast, you’ll be picked up from your hotel and taken in a 4×4 vehicle on a roughly 3-hour journey along bumpy roads to the small town of El Mamey, the starting point for the trek. Here, you’ll break for lunch before embarking on the initial stage of your walk towards the Lost City. The path blends paved roads with narrow trails and begins with a notable incline, so expect to break a sweat right from the outset.

Upon arrival at the first campsite, situated about 450 metres above sea level, you’ll have time to relax before dinner is served.

Distance: Approx. 7 km
Hiking time: Approx. 4 hours
Difficulty level: Moderate

This is the most demanding day of the trek. You’ll face several tough ascents and descents, as well as cross the Buritaca River multiple times. Lunch is served at a campsite en route, with ample snacks and fresh fruit to keep you energised throughout the journey.

Although there will be plenty of sweating and panting, there’s ample opportunity to relish the beautiful verdant landscape you traverse. You’ll also pass through the local village of Mutanzi. This unique experience will bring you close to a community that leads a very different lifestyle from what we’re accustomed to. Remember to show respect as a guest in this area, for example, always asking for permission before taking photographs. Your guide will share insights into the indigenous tribes’ beliefs, traditions, and customs as you approach the Lost City.

Upon arrival at the camp, located approximately 900 metres above sea level, you can take a refreshing dip in the river or simply unwind before dinner is served. We can nearly guarantee that you’ll end the evening fast asleep following this long, rewarding day trekking through the jungle.

Distance: Approx. 17 km
Hiking time: Approx. 8 hours
Difficulty level: Moderate to hard

Today’s trek begins early with an ascent towards the ruins located about 1,200 metres above sea level. The final approach to the Lost City is up a steep stone staircase with 1,200 steps, varying in shape and size. Climbing the steps is tough, but once you reach the summit, you’ll deserve a self-congratulatory pat on the back, and be mesmerised by the incredible vista that unfolds. This 35-hectare site comprises a complex network of buildings, paths, and staircases linked by over 150 terraces, plazas, and stone pathways scattered up and down the mountain sides. From the top, you’ll enjoy stunning views across the dense jungle and striking ruins.

Your guide will provide a fascinating tour of the Lost City, illuminating its history, with time for you to explore independently in this magical site amidst the Sierra Nevada jungle.

There is only one path in and out of the Lost City. After spending about 2-3 hours at the ruins, you will retrace your steps back to the camp where you spent the previous night for lunch. From there, the trek continues to the next camp, marking your final overnight stay in the jungle. Enjoy falling asleep to the sounds of the jungle as night falls.

Distance: Approx. 11 km
Hiking time: Approx. 9 hours
Difficulty level: Moderate to hard

Following breakfast, you will hike back towards the small town of El Mamey. If your legs are exceptionally weary, you have the option of partly returning via donkey or motorcycle, which can be organised and paid for locally. Note that the whole group departs from Mamey to Santa Marta only once everyone has arrived and had lunch.

The evening in Santa Marta is yours to spend as you wish, though you may simply yearn for a long hot shower, a hearty meal, and a well-deserved ‘I did it’ beer before indulging in a soft bed and a good night’s sleep.

Distance: Approx. 16 km
Hiking time: Approx. 7 hours
Difficulty level: Moderate

You have the day to yourself in Santa Marta. You can explore the city on your own or purchase a guided tour of the city from home. You can also purchase a tour to the nearby Tayrona National Park, which boasts unique flora and fauna and some of the most beautiful beaches in Colombia.

After breakfast, it is time to bid Santa Marta farewell. You will be picked up from the hotel and driven to Cartagena – a drive of around 5 hours.

You will stay in Cartagena’s charming old historic district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Behind the thick city walls, you will find beautiful colourful colonial houses, smiling ladies selling fruit and a mass of travellers on foot or in horse-drawn carriages exploring the cosy narrow streets.

In the afternoon, you will go on a 2-hour street food tour in Cartagena, when your guide will introduce you to the array of delicious specialities served in the city’s streets and alleyways. These are specialities that visitors often avoid for the simple reason that they don’t know what they are. Look forward to experiencing and enjoying a taste of Cartagena just like the locals do.

You have the day on your own to explore Cartagena, a veritable melting pot of cultures from Colombia’s indigenous population as well as the Spanish and the Africans.

With an average temperature of 30 degrees all year round, you may find yourself making a beeline for a shady spot on a bench in Bolívar Park, overlooking the beautiful Santa Catalina Cathedral. Or perhaps you would like to go shopping at some of the many exclusive shops with air conditioning.

You also have the opportunity to visit the small, UNESCO-listed town of Palenque de San Basilio, the first free town founded by the African slaves that managed to escape from the Spanish colonial power.

In the afternoon, you can go on a guided tour and see the impressive fort of Castillo San Felipe de Barajas.

Enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants on the city’s large squares or on the roof terraces overlooking the city roofs.

You have the day to yourself in Cartagena. If you’ve not yet had your fill of beautiful colonial buildings, we highly recommend a walk in the Getsemani district. 15–20 years ago, this area of Cartagena was not somewhere you went. This was where the poor people lived, and the area attracted both whores and pickpockets. Today, Getsemani has become the hip district with small shops where local artists sell their art, trendy cafés and coffee shops. Visit Plaza Trinidad and enjoy the unique atmosphere here in the afternoon, when it buzzes with life.

The time has come to say goodbye to Colombia, so enjoy your last morning in Cartagena.
You will be picked up from your hotel and driven to the airport. The time of this depends on when your overseas flight leaves.  The drive to the airport takes around 30 minutes.

You will land at your chosen airport after an eventful tour of Colombia.