If you’re drawn to history as much as wilderness, one of the most iconic treks in Colombia is the Ciudad Perdida (The Lost City) trail, winding deep through the jungles of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, one of the highest coastal mountain ranges in the world (up to 5685 meters!). This multi-day hike takes adventurers through dense rainforest, steep river valleys, and misty ridges in the country's Caribbean north, and leads to the famous Lost City of the Tayrona, comparable to Macchu Picchu in Peru. Along the way, trekkers pass through remote indigenous villages, cascading waterfalls, and ancient stone staircases swallowed by the jungle, offering a mix of natural beauty and cultural immersion. The trail is not marked in a traditional sense, but all visitors must go with a licensed guide, as it involves multiple river crossings and humid conditions, with preset campsites along the way for overnight stays. The climate is hot and humid year-round, with a distinct rainy season that can make river crossings more intense, though the trail remains accessible throughout the year. Did you know that Ciudad Perdida is believed to be around 650 years older than Machu Picchu and was only rediscovered by looters in the 1970s?

The Lost City trek was an experience with many faces for me. On the one hand, it was very touristy, with some very noisy groups on the trail and fresh beer which does not feel right in a lush jungle, but on the other hand, I was blown away by the splendor of this lost city in the jungle, and the history and culture it breathes. I was very impressed by the terrasses, the vastness of the location, maybe even more so than when I visited Macchu Picchu two years earlier (although this might also be recency bias ;-)). On the first day, it was incredibly hot (up to 40 degrees Celsius), and on the third day it rained heavily, so prepare for all circumstances!