Lost City Teyuna
Lost City Trek
Get to know Teyuna, Buritaca-200 or Ciudad Perdida through a multiple-day trek called Lost City trek or Ciudad Perdida trek. This outstanding archaeological site is one of the more than 250 ancient villages found in the northern and southwestern face of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta – Magdalena department, in northern Colombia – belonging to the Taironas, ancestors of the four indigenous groups living in Sierra Nevada nowadays.
The Lost City
Teyuna was discovered in 1976 by a team of archaeologists from the Colombian Institute of Anthropology headed by Gilberto Cadavid and Luisa Fernada Herrera; it was almost entirely restored between 1976 and 1982 and it can be visited through a Ciudad Perdida trek of 4, 5 or 6 days.
Ciudad Perdida is a majestic ancient city built in stones by a civilization called “Tairona”; it is located on the northeastern slope of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Its construction started about the years 700 A.D. approximately and Teyuna protects all the mysteries, traditions and legends of the ancient ancestral population that inhabited this beautiful corner of a paradise called Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
TripAdvisor – Lost City Trek reviews
- klatschannette
I can only recommend the lost city trek with Teyuna Tours!
Everything was excellent: the food, the scenery and our guides Ruth and Pedro. We learnt a lot about... read more
May 23, 2023300lukasg I'm not much of a hiker, but this was an amazing experience. Our guides Ruth and Pedro were very informative, taught us about the local culture and the beautiful Lost... read more
May 20, 2023Leonhard R We booked a (6 person) 4-day trip to go to the Lost City with the English speaking guide Luis (Vergel Barrios), accompanied by Soche and the cook Patricia.
All did... read more
April 30, 2023
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Lost City Trek
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Best option for visitors who prefer to have an exclusive experience, and have an excellent physical condition.
Lost City Trek
4 days
Lost City Trek
5 days
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Why are we different?
We are Teyuna Tours, the only Lost City trek operator to be directly owned by local guides with more than 15 years of experience, we have traveled and lived the magic of archaeological and sacred places in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range for a long time, developing a broad knowledge and reliability in Lost City treks operation.
We are a group of local Lost City trek guides who have been training to be professionals, in order to provide authentic ethno-tourism and eco-tourism experiences to our visitors; we are strongly driven by the desire to create and promote a culture of conservation and care for environment, habits and traditions of our communities.
With this strong will, we could make our dream a solid reality when getting together and creating Teyuna Tours, get to know more about our project:
Santa Marta Tour Guides created their own tour operator company: Teyuna Tours
The Lost City is providing a solid nature tourism alternative
Reservations and Contacts
Teyuna, Buritaca-200 or Ciudad Perdida (the Lost City) is one of the more than 250 ancient villages...
... belonging to the four indigenous groups’ ancestral heritage and found in the northern and southwestern face of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains, Magdalena department, northern Colombia.
Teyuna or Ciudad Perdida was discovered in 1976 by a team of archaeologists from the Colombian Institute of Anthropology headed by Gilberto Cadavid and Luisa Fernada Herrera; it was almost entirely restored between 1976 and 1982.
Members of the local indigenous tribes, descendants of the Tairona culture – the Arhuaco, the Koguis, the Wiwas and the Kankuamos – have stated that they visited the site on a regular basis before its rediscovery was made public and way before Lost City treks started, but that they had kept a secret about it.
They call Ciudad Perdida “Teyuna” and believe it was the most important spiritual center at the time, heart of a network of villages inhabited by their ancestors, the Taironas. Ciudad Perdida, which can be visited nowadays thanks to Lost City treks, was probably the political and manufacturing center of the region, being located in the valley of Buritaca river and probably inhabited by 2,000 to 8,000 people. It was apparently abandoned during the Spanish conquest.
The Lost City
The site that can be reached only by taking the so-called Ciudad Perdida trek, extends between 900 and 1,300 meters above sea level, on the foothills of Cerro Corea, in the northern face of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range, on the right side of Buritaca river.
The main attraction of the Lost City trek, Ciudad Perdida, is known as Teyuna by the indigenous people of the area and therefore the name of the archaeological site: Ciudad Perdida-Teyuna Archaeological Park, even though within the nomenclature of archaeological sites located in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains, it is also known as Buritaca-200.
The area within Ciudad Perdida-Teyuna Archaeological Park includes a complex system of constructions, flagstone trails (trails paved with flat-cut stones), stairs and containing walls, path connecting a series of circular terraces and platforms on which the ceremonial centers, houses and food storages (silos) were built.
The structures that were discovered so far occupy an area of approximately 35 hectares, in which up to 169 stone terraces and more 240 stone rings can be found. Since its discovery, Ciudad Perdida and Ciudad Perdida treks have been managed and regulated by the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History (ICANH), which is the public entity in charge of Ciudad Perdida-Teyuna Archaeological Park.
Being an archaeological park conserved by a national authority, located inside of the National Natural Park of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta -which overlaps with a native reservation inhabited by local indigenous groups too-, in order to reach the Lost City through a Lost City trek it is necessary to make a series of contributions to both communities living in the region in which the trek takes place: farming and indigenous communities, in fact, are in charge of performing maintenance on the trails, and to keep peace and harmony on the way to this ancestral site.
How long does it take to get to Ciudad Perdida?
Ciudad Perdida-Teyuna Archaeological Park can only be visited through several days of walking in the heart of the amazing tropical forest of Sierra Nevada, in a guided tour that takes between 3 and 6 days – the so-called Lost City or Ciudad Perdida trek – operated by TEYUNA TOURS, travel agency based in Santa Marta, Colombia.
How long is the hike to the Lost City?
The hike to the Lost City is 4 to 6 days long; it’s a walk of more than 50 km in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains, involving river crossings, uphills, downhills, outstanding views, native communities and archaeological ruins.
How much is the Lost City Trek Colombia?
The 4 and 5-day Lost City Trek costs$1.750.000 COP and $2.050.000 per person in 2023; these prices includes transportation, guide service, lodging, food, entrance fees, contribution to local communities, travel insurance.
How difficult is the Lost City Trek?
This trekking involves long walks (more than 50 km in total) and takes place in a tropical forest, with high temperatures (up to about 32°C). It is usually hot and very humid, even if during the night temperatures may get as low as 17-18°C. There are a lot of mosquitoes, bugs and other insects, so that we recommend to bring insect repellent; chances of rain are usually pretty high, especially during the afternoon, so the trail can be muddy, and it is necessary to cross rivers and streams.
More information
Teyuna or Ciudad Perdida, also known as the Lost City trek in Colombia, was discovered in 1976 by archaeologists from the Colombian Institute of Anthropology. It was almost entirely restored between 1976 and 1982. The site, which is considered the most important spiritual center of the indigenous tribes in the area, can be visited nowadays through the Lost City trek.
The Lost City trek, also known as the Ciudad Perdida trek, is a guided tour operated by TEYUNA TOURS, a travel agency based in Santa Marta, Colombia. The trek takes between 3 and 6 days to complete and involves walking through the tropical forest of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, crossing rivers, navigating uphills and downhills, and exploring archaeological ruins.
The Lost City trek is managed and regulated by the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History (ICANH), as it is located within the Ciudad Perdida-Teyuna Archaeological Park, a national natural park that overlaps with a native reservation inhabited by local indigenous groups. To reach Ciudad Perdida, visitors are required to make contributions to both the farming and indigenous communities in the region as part of the trek.
The Lost City trek costs $1.750.000 COP for the 4-day trek and $2.050.000 COP for the 5-day trek per person in 2023. The cost includes transportation, guide service, lodging, food, entrance fees, contribution to local communities, and travel insurance.
The Lost City trek is a challenging adventure, involving long walks in a tropical forest with high temperatures, humidity, and mosquitoes. However, the trek offers outstanding views, unique cultural experiences with local indigenous communities, and a chance to explore the ancient ruins of Ciudad Perdida.
In conclusion, if you are looking for an off-the-beaten-path adventure in Colombia, the Lost City trek, also known as Ciudad Perdida trek, is a must-visit destination. Managed by the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History, this guided tour offers a unique opportunity to explore the ancient ruins of Teyuna, also known as the Lost City, while supporting local communities and experiencing the natural beauty of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Book your trek with TEYUNA TOURS and embark on an unforgettable journey into the heart of the Colombian jungle.
Disclaimer - Teyuna Tours S.A.S.
The company is exempt from any kind of responsibility coming from the pre-existing conditions of the visitors, including medical or physical conditions, or even of a different nature, such as pregnancy and others that may affect the health of the visitor him/herself.
If you have questions regarding our services, level of difficulty of the walks, the Lost City treks or other details, feel free to contact us and we will be really glad to advise you.