National park · Colombia
Ciudad Perdida de TeyunaCiudad Perdida (Teyuna)
Go only as a guided 4–5 day trek from Santa Marta: no independent entry, no day trip, COP 1,860,000–2,150,000 per person all-in; book 1–2 weeks ahead for Dec–Apr, and expect 44 km of mud and river crossings.Go only as a guided 4–5 day trek from Santa Marta: no independent entry, no day trip, COP 1,860,000–2,150,000 per person all-in; book 1–2 weeks ahead for Dec–Apr, and expect 27 mi of mud and river crossings.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
383 km²148 sq mi
approximate
Established
1976
Best months
Dec–Mar
UNESCO
World Heritage
Rules in force · 7Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…
- South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
- South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
- South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
- Colombia ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Migración Colombia or a Colombian consulate; some travellers must complete an online migration form before arrival.
- Colombia ↗Security advice lists specific departments and border areas: check your own government's advice for every place on your route, including coastal roads.
- Colombia ↗Never accept drinks, food or cigarettes from strangers, and be careful with people met on dating apps: drugging (including with scopolamine) followed by robbery is a known risk.
- Colombia ↗Fill in Check-MIG only on the official Migración Colombia site; it is free, and lookalike sites charge a fee.
At a glance
- Country
- Colombia
- Area
- 383 km²148 sq mi
- The ruins sit inside the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Natural Park; the archaeological site itself is a small cleared sector of terraces (check).
- Established
- 1976
- Best months
- Dec–Mar
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Santa Marta
Ciudad Perdida de Teyuna is a stone city of ring terraces and stairways on a ridge inside the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Natural Park, built between roughly the 8th and 14th centuries and reached only on foot. There is no ticket office and no road: every visitor arrives on a licensed 4-, 5- or 6-day trek from Santa Marta or Taganga, about 44 km out and back from the trailhead at Mamey, with roughly three hours at the ruins themselves. The route crosses Kogi and Wiwa land, so guides, cooks, mule teams and camps are local, and the rules on photography, ceremonial areas and staying on the stone paths come from the communities as much as from the park authority. Helicopter tours were banned in 2010 after landings were found to damage the terraces.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO World Heritage · 1979Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park, which contains the site.
Size and age
383 km²148 sq mi · national park since 1976
The ruins sit inside the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Natural Park; the archaeological site itself is a small cleared sector of terraces (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Santa Marta.
Why go
- A stone city of circular terraces and stairways built between roughly the 8th and 14th centuries, reached only on foot.
- The approach crosses Kogi and Wiwa territory; you pass villages, schools and people in white dress, not just jungle.
- Rivers, waterfalls and swimming holes break up the walking, and the last morning climb of about 1,200 stone steps is the payoff.
- Money stays local: guides, cooks, mule teams and camps along the route are run by the communities and the licensed operators.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarBest
- AprGo
- MayCaution
- JunCaution
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepCaution
- OctCaution
- NovGo
- DecBest
- JanDrier trails; peak demand, book early
- FebDry and clear; busy
- MarDry; hot at low altitude
- AprRain returns late in the month
- MayWet; mud and leeches
- JunWet; river levels rise
- JulDrier spell; fewer trekkers
- AugDrier spell; hot
- SepWettest stretch; slippery rock
- OctWet; some departures cancelled
- NovRain easing; green trails
- DecDry, busy holiday weeks
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mosquitoes and biting fliesAll year · Constant at rest stops and camps; worst in the wet months. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| LeechesMay–Oct | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Forest birds, butterflies and frogsNov–Apr | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
| Snakes and scorpionsAll year · Rarely seen; shake out boots and do not reach into rock crevices. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Santa Marta
Most treks start with a 4x4 or minibus ride to the trailhead at Mamey or El Mamey, about 2–3 h on rough road.
2–3 h
Open the page →
From Taganga
Several agencies are based here; pick-up before dawn, then the same road transfer.
2.5–3.5 h
From Cartagena
Bus or shuttle to Santa Marta first, then join a trek departure the next morning.
4–5 h
Open the page →
From Tayrona and Palomino
Some operators pick up or drop off at La Aguacatera on the Palomino road or at the Tayrona park entrance.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Trailhead (Mamey) | Road end, registration, first river crossing and the steep climb of the first day. | With a booked trek only. |
| Camp chain | Roughly six camps with bunk beds, nets, showers and filtered water, spaced 4–8 walking hours apart. | Trek groups only. |
| Mutanyi and Indigenous villages | Kogi and Wiwa settlements along the route; people in white dress, small shops and schools. | Pass through; photograph people only with permission. |
| Ciudad Perdida (Teyuna) terraces | The cleared stone city: plazas, stairways, ring terraces and the long central staircase. | Guided groups, about three hours on site, usually early morning. |
Sketch map
- 1Santa Marta · Town≈11.240, -74.199Map ↗
- 2Mamey trailhead · Gate≈11.184, -73.829Map ↗
- 3Mutanyi village · Village≈11.100, -73.879Map ↗
- 4Ciudad Perdida (Teyuna) terraces · Summit≈11.037, -73.925Map ↗
- 5Final camp below the stairway · Sleep≈11.033, -73.918Approximate; the last camp sits a short climb below the site.Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-day / 3-night guided trek (all-in) | COP 1,860,000 | person | 2026 estimate; covers transport, meals, camps, guide and site entry. |
| 5-day / 4-night guided trek (all-in) | COP 2,150,000 | person | 2026 estimate; the extra day shortens walking days. |
| 6-day variant | COP 2,300,000–2,600,000 | person | Offered by some operators; price varies (check). |
| Separate site entrance ticket | Free | person | None sold: entry is included in the licensed trek price. |
| Drinks at camps | COP 2,000–5,000 | item | Water, soft drinks and beer; the last camp is dearest. |
| Mule to carry your pack | COP 300,000–600,000 | person | Arranged on the trail, not usually in advance (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Licensed operator booking permit or guide
Site entry permit or guide
Passport or ID at checkpoints permit or guide
Travel insurance covering hiking no permit
Park rules
- No independent trekking
- The site is inside an Indigenous reservation and a national park; access is only with an authorised operator and guide.
- No helicopter tours
- Banned since 2010 after landings were found to damage the site.
- Respect the terraces
- Stay on the stone paths, do not climb on walls or remove stones, and follow your guide's route around ceremonial areas.
- Photographing people
- Ask first in villages; some ceremonial sites must not be photographed at all.
- Military kit
- It is illegal for civilians to own or carry Colombian military uniforms or equipment; do not buy them if offered.
- Litter and fires
- Carry out everything; no fires and no camping outside the established camps.
Where to stay
In the park
Trail camps
Bunk beds with mattresses and nets under shelter, blankets, showers and filtered water; included in the trek price.
Near the park
Santa Marta
Hotels and hostels of every level; most treks start and end here.
Near the park
Taganga
Cheaper guesthouses and dive hostels, 15 min from Santa Marta centre.
Near the park
Mamey area
Simple rural lodgings near the trailhead for a night before departure (check).
Safety
Mud, rock and river crossings high
Flash floods high
Heat, humidity and dehydration medium
Stomach illness medium
Fungal infection and chafing medium
Remote evacuation medium
Accessibility
- The trek is not wheelchair accessible: steep, rocky, muddy paths, river crossings and bunk-bed camps.
- Travellers with knee, back or heart conditions should choose the 5- or 6-day version or skip the trek; there is no vehicle access to the ruins.
- Mules can carry packs but not people over the roughest sections (check).
Visiting lightly
- Book with operators that pay local guides, cooks and mule handlers directly and belong to the route's community associations.
- Carry your rubbish out and refuse single-use plastic; camps sell drinks in bottles, so bring a refillable one.
- Do not buy or accept archaeological pieces, and do not enter ceremonial areas uninvited.
- Keep groups small where the operator offers the option; the trail and camps are busiest from December to April.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Ciudad Perdida de Teyuna?
There is no separate entrance ticket. Access is only through a licensed guided trek from Santa Marta or Taganga, which includes site entry: about COP 1,860,000 per person for 4 days and COP 2,150,000 for 5 days (2026 estimate). Budget extra cash for drinks at camps (COP 2,000–5,000) and tips.
What are the best hikes in Ciudad Perdida de Teyuna?
There is one route, walked in 4, 5 or 6 days: roughly 44 km from Mamey to the terraces and back out. The highlights are the first day's long climb, the river and waterfall swims, the third day's quieter forest walking, and the dawn ascent of about 1,200 stone steps to the city itself.
When is the best time to visit Ciudad Perdida de Teyuna?
December to March is driest and busiest; July and August bring a second drier spell with fewer trekkers. May, June, September and October are wettest, with mud, leeches and occasional cancelled departures. Book one to two weeks ahead in the dry season.
Can I visit Ciudad Perdida without a tour?
No. The ruins lie inside the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Natural Park and an Indigenous reservation, and only authorised operators with local guides may take visitors in. Helicopter tours were banned in 2010.
How fit do I need to be for the Lost City trek?
You should manage 4–8 hours of walking a day in heat and humidity with a daypack, including steep, slippery descents. The 5- or 6-day versions shorten the days. Mules can carry your main pack for an extra fee arranged on the trail.
What should I pack for the trek?
Broken-in boots with grip, quick-drying sandals for river crossings, two full bottles of insect repellent, long trousers and a long-sleeved shirt, a rain cape, dry camp clothes, a headlamp, a refillable water bottle, cash in small notes, and a dry bag for electronics.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go