CityBuddy
Ciudad Perdida
Best time to visit
The months from December to March offer the driest weather, making the muddy trails much more passable. Avoid October and November, as the rains make crossing rivers dangerous.
Budget tips
Expect to pay about 1,200,000 COP (300 USD) per person for an all-inclusive package including guide, food, and a hammock. No individual entry is possible; the park requires a mandatory certified guide.
Plan your visit
4 to 6 days (round trip hike included)
About
Quick facts: Built more than 650 years ago by the Tayronas, this ancient city has over 1,200 stone terraces spread across roughly 30 hectares of mountainside. Accessible only by a 44-kilometer round trip hike through the jungle, it attracts about 10,000 visitors each year.
Highlights: Archaeologists have discovered that the Tayronas moved tons of stone to create a complex system of irrigation canals that still functions today beneath the canopy. Walking on the moss-covered terraces, you are stepping exactly where generations of Tayronas lived, farmed, and buried their dead.
Where to Stay in Santa Marta
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