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"Ancestral voices, living wisdom"
Connect with the ancestral wisdom of the Sierra Nevada
Discover the mysticism of indigenous communities and live a unique experience of cultural and natural connection with the Arhuaca community of Katanzama. This tour is an invitation to discover one of the most vibrant indigenous traditions in Colombia, in an environment full of meaning, nature, and ancestral wisdom.
Duration: 1 day
Starting point: Hotels in the city center or previously agreed location.
End point: Hotels in the city center or previously agreed location.
Pick-up time: Previously agreed (subject to season)
Language: Spanish, English, French.
The day begins with a trip from Santa Marta to the village of Perico Aguao, located among the mountains and landscapes of the Colombian Caribbean. After 1 hour and 30 minutes of travel, a gentle 30-minute walk through the vegetation begins, preparing you for the encounter with a community that lives in harmony with Mother Earth.
Spiritual welcome
Upon arrival, you will be received by the Mamo, spiritual guide of the Arhuaco people, who will perform a protection ceremony. This ritual of energetic cleansing and welcome is a profound sign of respect, opening the doors to the sacred territory and a transformative experience.
A journey full of meaning
During your visit to Katanzama, you will get to know the most representative spaces of the community:
- The Sacred Tree, spiritual center of connection with Mother Earth.
- School and boarding house, where children learn both ancestral knowledge and academic subjects.
- Traditional crops, such as cocoa, banana, and yucca, the basis of their food and economy.
- Correctional center, where conflicts are resolved under their own laws and ancestral wisdom.
- Traditional weaving, a living cultural expression that you can learn about from the hands of their weavers.
A transformative experience
The visit concludes with an expression of gratitude to the community, a farewell filled with respect, and the return along the same path that led you to this encounter with the sacred. Afterwards, you will embark on the journey back to Santa Marta, taking with you much more than memories: you will carry a new perspective on balance, community, and connection with the earth.
Note: This itinerary is subject to change due to weather conditions or force majeure.
An ancestral experience in the heart of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
Located on the slopes of the majestic Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the Kogui community of Mulkwakungui invites you to discover a place full of history, spirituality, and nature. This sacred corner, within the Quebrada del Sol village, is not only a symbol of the ancestral culture of the Koguis but also of the harmony they now share with peasants and Arhuaco communities. A historic agreement was signed here for the region, a milestone that marked the demobilization of insurgent groups, giving way to an environment of peace and cooperation. Today, the community is a model of coexistence, sustainability, and respect for the land.
Duration: 1 day
Starting point: Hotels in the city center or previously agreed location.
End point: Hotels in the city center or previously agreed location.
Pick-up time: Previously agreed (subject to season)
Language: Spanish, English, French.
The experience begins with a 4x4 vehicle journey along an unpaved road of approximately 11 kilometers. During the journey, the landscape transforms between mountains, jungle, and sea, revealing unforgettable views of the Colombian Caribbean, river mouths, and, weather permitting, the snowy peaks that crown the Sierra.
Entering the Kogui Community
Upon arriving at the Quebrada del Sol village, you will get out of the vehicle and be received by an indigenous guide who will take you on a short walk to the Kogui territory, just two minutes across a stream. In this entrance ritual, it is traditional to remove your shoes and undergo a purification ritual through breathing and foot washing, a gesture that symbolizes respect for nature and Kogui customs. Next, you will be received by the indigenous authority at a sacred site, where a spiritual cleansing will be performed to ward off bad energies and attract good vibes. A protection is placed, and as part of the ritual, you may hug a majestic caracolí tree to receive positive energies.
Tour of Mulkwakungui: A Journey into Kogui Culture
Your visit will take you through the village of Mulkwakungui, where you will discover the rich culture of the Koguis. During the tour, you will visit ceremonial houses, traditional dwellings, and learn about the sugar mill process and the importance of coca leaf in the community's daily life. You will also observe the artisanal production of fique woven bags, a tradition passed down through generations.
The Kogui community will show you the use of the poporo, a sacred element representing the balance of the universe and ancestral knowledge. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to visit the local school, where young Koguis continue learning their language and traditions.
Lunch and Reflection
At the end of the tour, you will return to Quebrada del Sol, where you can enjoy a typical lunch accompanied by delicious coffee, while reflecting on the deep connection of this community with nature and their ancestral customs. Sustainable tourism is one of the main sources of income for the community, who have shared their knowledge and territory with visitors in a respectful and enriching manner.
A Journey of Peace, Culture, and Nature
Visiting Mulkwakungui is much more than a simple tourist trip. It is an opportunity to immerse yourself in one of the oldest and wisest cultures in the world, to experience the peace that has blossomed in this region, and to connect with the majesty of the Sierra Nevada. In Mulkwakungui, nature, history, and spirituality intertwine to offer you a unique experience that you will remember forever.
Note: This itinerary is subject to change due to weather conditions or force majeure.
Ancestral Trails and Living Nature
Get ready to live an authentic experience in the heart of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Bunkuany is much more than a destination: it is a sacred journey through majestic landscapes, archaeological vestiges, and the living essence of Tayrona culture. Here, every step connects you with the earth and with a history that still breathes among the mountains.
Duration: 1 day
Starting point: Hotels in the city center or previously agreed location.
End point: Hotels in the city center or previously agreed location.
Pick-up time: Previously agreed (subject to season).
Language: Spanish (bilingual guide upon request).
Your adventure begins early from Santa Marta, when you board a 4x4 vehicle that will take you along rural roads for approximately one hour. You will pass by places such as the colonial church of Bonda and the monument to Tayrona culture, until you reach Donama, a sacred site for indigenous communities, where you will feel how the rhythm of the world changes and becomes slower, more conscious.
From there, continue the ascent crossing rivers and streams until you reach the starting point of your hike. The first section is a 30-minute trail through coffee plantations, where the aroma of fresh coffee mixes with the sound of the mountain. If weather permits, you will reach a viewpoint with privileged views of Santa Marta, Tayrona Park, and the Caribbean Sea. If there is fog, do not worry: the mountain dresses in mystique and the experience transforms.
After a rest, you begin the descent towards Bunkuany. One hour of walking takes you to these ancient archaeological terraces, a living heritage of the Tayrona civilization. Here, the energy of the place is undeniable, and the silence seems to have something to tell you.
At midday, a typical lunch awaits you, prepared with local ingredients, served in the middle of nature. Then, you begin the final stretch of the route: a gentle descent through peasant farms and tropical forest, until you reach the parking lot of Hotel Madre Sierra, where transportation will pick you up to take you back to Santa Marta.
This trekking not only offers you landscapes and hikes: it invites you to look back, towards what we were and still are. To reconnect with the earth through respect and curiosity. To live, for a day, as the ancient inhabitants of this sacred mountain range did.
Note: This itinerary is subject to change due to weather conditions or force majeure.
Ancestral Trails in the Heart of the Sierra
Experience an authentic adventure in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta exploring Bunkuany, an ancient ancestral citadel surrounded by mountains, sacred terraces, and imposing landscapes. Over two days, you will walk along traditional trails, share with local and indigenous communities, and discover the living history of the Tayrona territory.
Duration: 2 days / 1 night
Starting point: Hotels in the urban area of Santa Marta or previously agreed location.
End point: Hotels in the urban area of Santa Marta or previously agreed location.
Pick-up time: 7:00 a.m.
Language: Spanish (bilingual guide upon request).
Day 1: Sacred Terraces and High Altitude Landscapes
The day begins at 7:00 a.m. with departure from your hotel towards the rural area of the Sierra Nevada. The first point of interest will be the Piedra Donnama, a natural space of great cultural and landscape value, where you will learn about local history and the symbolic importance of these rock formations.
Afterwards, we will continue in a 4x4 vehicle for approximately 25 minutes to the sector known as La Lisa, the starting point of our hike.
We will begin a hike of approximately 30 minutes to a natural viewpoint from which you can see the city of Santa Marta, the coastline, and the mountains that connect the Sierra with the Caribbean Sea. There we will enjoy a traditional coffee and a local snack prepared by peasant hosts from the region.
Then we will resume the trail on a journey of approximately one hour through forests, traditional crops, and mountain landscapes until we reach the Bunkuany restaurant, where a typical lunch with local products will be served.
In the afternoon, we will head to the Bunkuany archaeological site. This ancient indigenous settlement, composed of ceremonial terraces and stone structures, is part of the legacy of the Tayrona people. During the guided tour, we will learn about its history, its function within the ancestral territory, and its spiritual connection with the Sierra Nevada.
We will ascend to the highest terrace, an ideal space to rest, contemplate the landscape, and perform optional breathing exercises or yoga, connecting with the energy of the place.
After the visit, we will walk back to the rural accommodation, where we will enjoy a traditional dinner and spend the night surrounded by nature and the Tayrona cultural legacy.
Day 2: Living Nature and Cultural Encounter
The day begins at 7:00 a.m. with a traditional breakfast prepared with local ingredients.
At 8:00 a.m., we will start a hike of approximately one hour along natural trails where we can observe native flora, birds, and small ecosystems typical of the tropical humid forest. The route will take us to the Piedra River, a natural space ideal for a refreshing swim and to enjoy the surroundings.
Afterwards, we will take a 4x4 vehicle for 15 minutes to the Calabazo village, where a local lunch will be served.
After lunch, we will continue in a 4x4 vehicle to the indigenous village of Tayku. There we will have the opportunity to learn first-hand about the culture of the Kogui people, visiting community spaces and learning about their social organization, their relationship with Mother Earth, and their traditional agricultural practices. Depending on availability and community dynamics, a guided cultural dialogue may be held.
After the visit, we will return to the Calabazo village, where transportation will be waiting to take us back to Santa Marta, concluding an experience of connection with ancestral history, nature, and the living communities of the Sierra Nevada.
Note: This itinerary is subject to change due to weather conditions or force majeure.