A mototaxi arrived at 7am on Saturday and helped carry my things to the centre of Minca where I was picked up by a jeep taking me and 2 others to Santa Marta where we would meet our groups for the Lost City Trek.
The Lost City/Teyuna/Ciudad Perdida is found in the Sierra Nevada or Santa Marta and was re-discovered in 1972 by treasure looters and then officially found the Colombian government in 1976. It is the ruins of an ancient indigenous town which was built in 800AD by the "Tayronas" who inhabited the land long before the Spanish conquistadors arrived.
The trek to reach the Lost City is around 45km through dense jungle, mountains, rivers and indigenous communities and takes 4 days. I was in a group of 10 people, mainly Germans who didn't speak English, a friendly Swiss couple and a crazy British man. Luckily there was another group going at the same time of younger travellers who I could hang out with in the evenings as well.
We started on Saturday from Mamey. Before setting off we had lunch in Mamey and then began the uphill climb.
The first part was hard, in direct sunlight and consistent dusty uphill for a long time. We stopped lots and were also given snacks along the way. Over the 4 days we were provided with banana, watermelon and oranges as snacks, providing refreshing breaks. One of the days our break included swimming in the river which was so nice apart from when fish started to nibble my blisters! I got out pretty quickly after that.
The 3 nights were spent in 3 different camps along the way. They were bunkbeds protected by mosquito nets under wooden roofs. We had to get up at 5am each morning to be ready to leave at 6am. This meant we could avoid the hottest part of the day or try to at least!
We reached the Lost City on the 3rd day just as the sun was rising. To reach the city you have to climb 1200 slippery steep stone steps, which was probably the hardest part of the whole trek. Well for me coming down them without falling all the way down was probably the hardest part and took a lot of concentration. What you find at the top of the steps though is incredible.
A maze of terraces and stonework surrounded by mountains and jungles. Our guide, Jorge, explained many of the features to us and the different sections of the city. We spent around 2 hours wandering around the site trying to take it all in.
I found the trek challenging but very rewarding. Around every bend was a new surprise, whether that be a beautiful sunrise, a massive blue butterfly, a winding tree, crossing the river by what the guide called a 'cable car', or bumping into members from indigenous communities carrying turkeys on their backs.
The area we were trekking in is still inhabited by indigenous communities, mainly the Kogi and Wiwas. We saw many of them going about their daily activities, walking the same paths as us. They live off the land and raise many animals including pigs, turkeys and chickens. It was interesting to learn about their way of life but I found some things strange: the spiritual leaders choose which children get to attend school and arrange marriages between the tribe members. When the girl has her first period this is the age at which they are eligible to marry. Also girls are seen as closer to mother earth so are not permitted to wear shoes... as they are at one with nature and stronger than males. On our last evening we had a spiritual leader come and talk to us and answer more questions about their way of life.
We got back to Mamey about midday on the 4th day where we had our final lunch. I had a bucket shower which I appreciated so much. The climate for the trek had been very dusty and humid so any chance to shower was amazing.
I spent my last night in Colombia in a hostel in Santa Marta. I was pretty exhausted but did manage to watch the beautiful sunset at the harbour.
Daf
2019-04-18
wow! - what an adventure, I'm so glad you were able to keep your shoes for the trek (mother earth - who are they trying to kid!), pictures are stunning, and I bet that they do not do justice to the actual views, the shower facilities look glamorous! Defo a very memorable trek!
Carynm
2019-04-18
Can see why this was a "must do" before moving on from Colombia. The cable car looks like an interesting experience! (Glad they're a little more sophisticated in the Alps!). The rows of beds with mosquito nets remind me of sleeping on the train in Thailand. How great to see the parrots in the wild, and trust you to make friends with another puppy! Great sunset picture to finish off the trip xxx