DAYS | 9
TREK ROUTE | Lost City Trek (5 days)
REG FEE | £490
CHARITY | Any
DIFFICULTY | Challenging
DATE | Various 2024
THE TREK
Nestled in Colombia’s Sierra Nevada stands Ciudad Perdida, the Lost City. Reach these magical ancient ruins on an extraordinary challenge which will see you making your way through lush jungle, discovering spectacular and unique wildlife and vibrant fauna and flora on an epic journey into the rainforest.
You will explore diverse jungle, swim in beautiful rivers and stand in awe of some of the most breathtaking scenery - what an experience! This is a multi-day trek led by skilled guides. Tough, but truly magical, this challenge will be an adventure you never forget.
Our trips are inclusive of accommodation, meals, transport and more, so all you need to do is focus on the challenge ahead!
trek ITINERARY
DAY 1 - ARRIVAL & ORIENTATION
Own travel arrangements to your accommodation in Santa Marta. Check-in available from midday. Please be at the hotel in before 5pm for check in and the challenge briefing from your trekking guide.
DAY 2 - FREE TIME & TREK BRIEFING
You’ll have some free time during the day before your challenge briefing from your trekking guide. You will be given a detailed plan for the days ahead and have an opportunity to ask any questions you may have. Then, it’s time to pack up your bags and lock up any spare items in the hotel storage.
VIEW FULL ITINERARY +
DAY 3 - TREK DAY 1
After breakfast, you will transfer by four-wheel
drive vehicle from Santa Marta to the Mamey sector, ready to start your trek from Machete Pelao. You’ll have lunch here, then trek toward your first campsite. Along the trek today, you’ll
be able to see the incredible sights from the Tres
Cruces viewpoint, and enjoy delicious local fruits,
as well as taking a refreshing bath at the natural
pools of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
DAY 4 - TREK DAY 2
After an early start, you’ll trek from the first camp to
the second camp, located in a Wiwa Indigenous
Community, at an altitude of 450 meters above sea
level. At this camp you will have the opportunity to
learn about the local flora and fauna, and also to
speak with members of the Wiwa community and
learn more about their customs and traditions
In the afternoon you can relax and swim in the cool
waters of the river, which has its source high above
the Lost City. In the evening before an early bedtime,
the Indigenous guide will tell you more about the
area and the sacred meaning for the native people.
DAY 5 - TREK DAY 3
Today, you’ll rise early for breakfast and then
hike some steep trails over almost 6 miles to
your third camp. The third camp is located
about 830 meters ASL, very close to the Lost City
Teyuna, the sacred city of the Tayrona people.
DAY 6 - TREK DAY 4
Rising very early, you will have breakfast and
immediately start the short (approx. 1 mile)
but very steep ascent to the first terrace
of the Lost City. After having climbed over
1,200 steps to reach your destination, you
will rest and then begin an in-depth guided
tour of this breathtaking lost jungle city.
The tour will last approximately 2-and-a-half
hours and during the time you are here you
can enjoy the sweeping vistas of lush valleys
and steep, forested hills and take photographs.
After the tour you will descend to the third
camp, where you will take lunch and rest a
little, then continue with the descent to the
second camp where you will overnight.
DAY 7 - TREK DAY 5
On the last day of your adventure you will
continue your hike back to Machete Pelao via the
first campsite, where you will have lunch before
departing by vehicle to your accomodation in
Santa Marta. After some time to rest and change
you will enjoy a farewell dinner with your whole
team and our guides.
DAY 8/EXTENSION DAY - DEPENDING ON YOUR TRAVEL OPTION
You are free to continue on your own itinerary after
breakfast.
If you’ll be joining us on our Tayrona National Park
extension, you will depart on the extension trip
today!
TRIP COSTS & INCLUSIONS
We provide several funding options for our trekking challenges, to provide you with the maximum possible flexibility.
First, decide whether to pay for your challenge outright (Self-fund option) or fundraise for your challenge. If you’re fundraising, you can choose our Minimum Sponsorship option with a full fundraising target, or opt to Flexi Fund: pay some of your trip costs yourself, and cover the rest with a reduced fundraising target.
The separate funding options are detailed in full below:
SELF-FUND
Registration fee:
£490
Balance payment:
£725
Fundraise:
No fundraising required
Read more...
The full cost of this challenge is £1,215. You will be required to pay the registration fee of £490 at the time of booking and the final balance of £725 which is due 10 weeks before departure.
Whilst registering for the challenge, you will still be asked to select a charity. This charity will receive a notification of your registration and may support you with any fundraising you may wish to do alongside your challenge - however, there is no obligation to fundraise and there is no minimum sponsorship amount due.
Once your final balance has been settled at or before 10 weeeks prior to departure, your place on the trip will be confirmed and you'll be ready to take on the challenge of a lifetime!
MINIMUM SPONSORSHIP
Registration fee:
£490
Fundraise:
£1,450
Read more...
You will be required to pay the registration fee of £490 at the time of booking, and you'll then need to raise a minimum sponsorship amount of £1,450 for your nominated charity, which usually needs to be raised in full by 8 weeks prior to your departure.
When taking on a challenge with us, you can rest assured that all of the money you fundraise throughout the year will go directly to the charity you are supporting.
Once you hit that all-important fundraising target and your place on the challenge is confirmed, the charity will use this money to cover the remaining costs of your challenge (which will never exceed 50% of your fundraising target).
The remainder of your fundraising (never less than 50% of your fundraising target) will stay with your charity, as a donation to their vital work. In addition, 100% of any Gift Aid and every single pound that you raise above your target will stay with your charity.
FLEXI FUND
Registration fee:
£390
Flexi payment:
£95 or £195
Fundraise:
£1,060 (£195 flexi) or £660 (£395 flexi)
Read more...
You will be required to pay the registration fee of £490 at the time of booking, and then you will make a further contribution of either £195 or £395 to your trip costs, due 10 weeks before departure. You will also have a minimum fundraising target.
The benefit of the Flexi Fund option is that it gives you the best of both of the other funding options: your contribution toward your trip costs will decrease the minimum fundraising amount you need to raise. The more you contribute with your Flexi Fund payment, the greater the discount on your fundraising target:
- If you opt for the £195 Flexi Fund amount then your fundraising target will be £1,060.
- If you opt for the £395 Flexi Fund amount then your fundraising target will be £660.
When taking on a challenge with us, you can rest assured that all of the money you fundraise throughout the year will go directly to the charity you are supporting.
Once you hit that all-important fundraising target and your place on the challenge is confirmed, the charity will use this money to cover the remaining costs of your challenge (which will never exceed 50% of your fundraising target).
The remainder of your fundraising (never less than 50% of your fundraising target) will stay with your charity, as a donation to their vital work. In addition, 100% of any Gift Aid and every single pound that you raise above your target will stay with your charity.
INCLUSIONS & EXCLUSIONS
Your full itinerary, in the Challenge Information Pack below, gives details of the specific inclusions for your trip.
Please note that international flights are not included in our public challenges in order to allow you maximum flexibility on when to arrive, how long to extend your trip, which airline you fly with, where you depart from or which class you fly (lucky you if not in economy with us!).
Take a look below to see at a glance the inclusions and exclusions for this challenge.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Ground transfers
Accommodation as specified
All meals on the trek and other meals as specified
All National Park fees, entrance fees, taxes, and permits
English-speaking professional guides
Safe drinking water during the trek
Porter service on the trek
Comprehensive pre-departure support and advice
24-hour emergency line for use during your trip
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
International flights to Cartagena
Tips and gratuities
Visas
Travel insurance
Medical expenses in case of emergency on your trip
Any necessary vaccinations or medications
Meals and drinks not specified in the itinerary
Optional excursions
Personal camping equipment and clothing
Other items of a personal nature
WHICH CHARITIES CAN I CHOOSE FROM?
You’re free to choose to fundraise for whichever charity you like, as long as they are registered in the UK or Ireland.
When you register, you’ll see a list of charities to choose from - this list includes our Partner Charities and also other causes and charities registered across the UK and Ireland who have already agreed to support fundraisers taking part our in challenges.
If you’d like to fundraise for a charity which is not already a partner of ours, just let us know and we’ll link up with them!
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
How difficult is this challenge?
We have four difficulty levels for our treks, which take into account factors like altitude, terrain, weather conditions and more. The rating for this trip is as below:
Challenging - you will be walking long distances on sometimes/occasionally uneven and rough terrain and experience some harsh weather conditions so plenty of training will be required.
You will be away from the comforts of home but will be rewarded with an unforgettable adventure!
Perfect for those who want to push themselves physically and mentally.
What is the accommodation like?
Whilst in Santa Marta you will stay in a comfortable hotel.
During the challenge, you will stay in shared bunkhouses in campsites on the trail. The campsites are very basic yet comfortable. You will be housed in basic jungle huts on a multi-share basis. There will also be kitchen and dining areas, and your food will be served communally by the cooks each night.
Toilets available are ‘long drops’ rather than the Western facilities you are used to, and on the trail there is infrequent access to running water.
Do I need mountaineering skills?
Nope! One of the huge benefits of the Colombia Lost City challenge is that you do not need any specialist mountaineering skills, experience or equipment to reach the city.
This non-technical climb will be a real test of your mental and physical resilience - but it does not require you to be a seasoned mountain climber.
What will the group size be?
Group sizes may vary, but will almost always include somewhere between 10 - 30 participants.
READY TO GET SIGNED UP? book now!
TAYRONA NATIONAL PARK
EXTENSION TRIP
ADDITIONAL DAYS | 6
REG FEE | £125
ACCOMMODATION | Hotel
ACTIVITIES | National Park, Puntas Gallinas, Relax on the Beach
BALANCE | £395
tayrona national park
Why not extend your stay in South America by visiting the stunning Tayrona National Park after you complete your Lost City trek? This breathtaking extension trip will give you a glimpse of one of the most beautiful natural parks in Colombia, as well as visit the most northerly cape on the continent, and also give you the opportunity to relax and celebrate on the beach.
Take a look at our Colombia Trek Challenge Info Pack for further details or get in touch to add our trip extension to your challenge!
VIEW FULL EXTENSION TRIP ITINERARY
DAY 1 - PUNTA GALLINAS
You will set off in the morning to the headland of Puntas Gallinas, the most northerly point on the mainland of South America. Today, take a panoramic tour of Uribia and the beautiful beaches of Manaure and watch the sunset over the lagoons of Cabo de la Vela.
Breakfast & lunch included.
DAY 2 - PUNTA GALLINAS
Today, there’s more to see - you will transfer to Las Dunas de Taroa, the towering sand dunes that reach all the way to the Caribbean sea. You’ll have some free time to relax on the beach, take a refreshing swim and soak up the sun.
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included.
DAY 3 - RETURN TO TAYRONA
You’ll depart early to return for lunch in Uribia, taking in the sights one last time as you drive south to your next destination: your accommodation on the outskirts of Tayrona National Park.
Breakfast & lunch included.
DAYS 4-5 - RELAX IN TAYRONA, BEACH ACTIVITIES
Tayrona National Park is one of the most stunningly beautiful national parks in South America. This is the perfect place to sling up a hammock and recuperate from your arduous trek to the Lost City. You’ll have free time over two days to enjoy Tayrona and relax by the beach.
A wide range of activities are available locally (at varying additional cost) including snorkelling, SCUBA classes, Colombian cookery classes, birdwatching hikes and boat trips. Or, you can simply relax by the beach and sample the local food and drink!
Breakfast included each day.
DAY 6 - Arrive in the UK
After breakfast you'll be picked-up by private vehicle and transferred to the airport for your flight home. Farewell Colombia!
2024 dates
LENGTH: 8 DAYS/7 NIGHTS
STATUS: GUARANTEED DEPARTURE
