Amazing hike to the Lost City - Ciudad Perdida

[Mark]

My first big adventure in Colombia was the 3 day hike to the Lost City, known in Spanish as La Ciudad Perdida. It was another one of those great undertakings I hadn't planned at all. The tour starts from Santa Marta, that's also the place to go to the wonderful Parque Tayrona. Everything is included but please do consider giving a tip to the cook (he carries the food of up to 6 people along the way).

I can highly recommend this amazing hike. If you've been there feel free to share your experiences.

Read more about my trip to the Lost City

Best wishes,

Mark

[Colombia329]

Hi Mark,

Nice to hear that you where visiting lost city. I was in Santa Marta last month but unfortunatly it scared me to much to do this trip. It was my first visit to Colombia and I still don't know what to answer if the people ask me how it was. On one hand this country is really beautifull, even amazing beautifull, people in general are nice and nothing really negative happened to me. While I was in Barranquilla I saw too much criminality, one fight between car drivers, one robbery on a motorcycle and a young boy also on a motorcycle with a knife in the hand trying to escape for the police. My biggest fear was ofcourse the guerilla actions but as you see nothing happened to me. The problem was that not everybody was on the same line when I was asking for more information about my safety. One person said that God was with us so there was no danger, another simply said nothing never happens in Colombia and our taxi-driver suggested not to go to ciudad perdida or Tayrona as a European. Anyhow I am glad i was there. We where visiting my wifes mother and family and these people where great, with a big hart ! Fantastic. By the way Mark I can see you live in Brugge, we live in Aalst. Please tell me what your relation is with Colombia?


Grts
Dirk

[Mark]

Hi Dirk,

Your story sounds very familiar. Colombia is such a beautiful country, the people heart-warming yet there is a certain atmosphere that sets your mind in a kind of alertness. I was also having mixed feelings when traveling in Colombia. Either way, you can say that traveling in Colombia is an adventure all the way.

The hike to ciudad perdida (lost city) was truly amazing, an unforgettable experience. You made the right decision by not going. Local people do know if it's safe to travel or not.

Colombia is probably a country you have to visit a few times before you get a feel of life. Let's hope that the new positive developments with the FARC drive the country to a more secure future.

Best wishes,

Mark

PS: I'm from Brugge, we're almost neighbours! It's great to see you here on the forums!