Overview
This 13 day, privately-guided adventure holiday in Colombia has it all: trekking to the Lost City of Colombia, ancient sites and cities such as Santa Marta, located between beaches and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains and a tour of the Coffee Triangle. You have two days to browse through the beautiful and buzzy Bogotá and also time in Palomino on the Caribbean Coast. Accommodation is in a mix of hotels, mountain huts and campsites (on the Lost City Camp) and the Colombian welcome that you will receive is always tangible. This is one of those adventures of a lifetime, and perfect for exploring the still very much unspoilt Colombia.
Please note: this tour is privately-guided with the exception of the trek to the Lost City of Colombia and the one through Cocora Valley, where you may be joining a small group tour.
- Bogotá
- Salento
- Cocora Valley
- Santa Marta
- The Lost City
- Palomino
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Bogotá
On arrival at Bogotá Airport, meet a member of the local team for your briefing and transfer to the hotel. Spend the rest of the day visiting Bogotá’s top sights. We recommend a visit to La Candelaria, a neighbourhood showcasing a unique mix of Spanish colonial architecture and vibrant street art. Museo Botero is in the same neighbourhood and boasts artworks by Botero, Dalí, Degas and Picasso. If time allows, check out the Gold Museum, depicting the life and culture of pre-Hispanic societies through over 55,000 pieces of gold.
- Accommodation: Hotel de la Opera or similar in Bogotá
Day 2: Bogotá
Take the chance to visit the sights that you didn’t manage to catch yesterday whilst on this free day in the city. For panoramic views of the city, hike up the steep hill of Monserrate, or opt for a more leisurely stroll around Simón Bolívar Park. The areas of Chapinero and Zona Rosa offer a choice of restaurants, cafes and shops, where we recommend trying ajiaco (chicken soup), Bogotá’s signature dish.
- Accommodation: Hotel de la Opera or similar in Bogotá
- Meals included: breakfast
Day 3: Bogotá – Salento
The day starts with a private transfer to Bogotá airport, for your flight to Armenia in the Coffee Region of Colombia. The coffee produced in this region is known for its mild, well-balanced flavour. After landing in Armenia, you are transferred to Finca El Ocaso coffee farm in Salento to experience the entire process of coffee production, from planting to brewing. Finish the tour with a coffee tasting session, before the transfer to your hotel. If time allows, stroll through the streets of Salento to admire the colours of its typical Paisa architecture.
- Accommodation: Hotel Salento Real or similar in Salento
- Meals included: breakfast
Day 4: Cocora Valley – Finca la Primavera │19km
Start with an early breakfast at a Salento restaurant, before heading to Cocora Valley (in a WW2 jeep), where you begin the trek with a small group, led by a local guide. Today’s hike is challenging as the route ascends (and descends) over a series of peaks. Start with an easy walk along the San Jose River, surrounded by wax palms that are typical of the area. These are the tallest type of palm tree in the world, growing up to 60m tall. The route ascends into the dense vegetation of the cloud forest, before a well deserved lunch stop. Continue ascending towards the páramo high-altitude ecosystem, an essential source of water and home to over 3,000 plant species and over 120 bird species. Reach your final destination of Finca la Primavera mountain hut (3,680m) by late afternoon. If skies are clear, you’ll be rewarded with views of the Nevado del Tolima volcano. Bring the day to a close with dinner in the farm’s wood-stove kitchen.
- Walking for the day: 8-9h, 19km, ↑1400m ↓400m
- Accommodation: Finca la Primavera (shared room) or similar in Cocora Valley
- Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5: Finca la Primavera – Cocora Valley – Salento │20km
After breakfast at Finca la Primavera, start the ascent to the view point over the valley of Cardenas River. On clear days, views extend to Paramillo del Quindio and Nevado del Tolima volcanoes. Traverse the valley and gradually descend towards the lunch stop at a local farm, a chance to taste aguapanela, a drink made from sugar cane juice. Trek into the upper part of the Cocora Valley, later reaching the entrance, and meet your driver around 16.00 to transfer to Salento.
- Walking for the day: 8-9h, 20 km, ↑200m ↓1840m
- Accommodation: Hotel Salento Real or similar in Salento
- Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Day 6: Salento – Santa Marta
Prepare for the morning pick-up and transfer to Pereira airport. Fly to Santa Marta, the oldest city in Colombia, located between beaches and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains. Following the transfer to your hotel, spend the rest of the day exploring sights such as the Catedral Basílica de Santa Marta and checking out the bars and restaurants around Parque de los Novios. Bring the day to a close with a sunset walk along Paseo El Camellón, which runs between the modern marina and the city’s old port.
- Accommodation: Hotel Boutique Casa Carolina or similar in Santa Marta
- Meals included: breakfast
Day 7: Lost City Trek: Machete Pelao – Camp Adán│8km
After breakfast, transfer to Machete Pelao (1h 30mins), where there is a lunch stop. Begin the uphill trek with the guided small group, through the tropical forest. Catch your breath while taking in the mountain views, then gradually descend to Camp Adán, to dine under the stars.
- Walking for the day: 4h, 8km, ↑570m ↓310m
- Accommodation: Camp Adán or similar, hammocks or bunk bed (limited availability)
- Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 8: Lost City Trek: Camp Adán – Mamo Romualdo Camp│15.5km
Start the day with an early breakfast, before heading deeper into the rainforest, surrounded by thick vegetation and streams. Pause for a lunch break, before continuing to the valley of the Buritaca River, where you can swim and cool off. The trail passes indigenous dwellings such as the small settlement of the Kogi people, whose ancestors are believed to have built the Lost City in AD800. Continue on, crossing streams to reach the camp and meet Mamo Romualdo, the spiritual authority of the Kogi people.
- Walking for the day: 8h, 15.5km, ↑374m ↓330m
- Accommodation: Mamo Romualdo Camp or similar, hammocks or bunk bed (limited availability)
- Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 9: Lost City Trek: Mamo Romualdo Camp – Mumake Camp│14km
Wake up to an early breakfast, before tackling the 1,200 stone steps to reach the Lost City, the sacred site discovered by a group of looters in the 1970s, who helped themselves to artefacts. These were then spotted on the black market, leading to the re-discovery of the Lost City. Explore the remains of the ancient city and giant terrace platforms, before stopping for lunch. Continue with the last part of the trek to Mumake Camp.
- Walking for the day: 7h, 14km, ↑443m ↓763m
- Accommodation: Mumake Camp or similar, hammocks or bunk bed (limited availability)
- Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 10: Lost City Trek: Mumake Camp – Camp Adán │8km
Start the day at a slower pace, with a free morning. After lunch at the camp, begin the return trip to Camp Adán, surrounded by dense jungle and wildlife such as monkeys, toucans and lizards. Spend the evening relaxing on the riverside spot or cooling off in the nearby waterfall. After dinner, drift off to the sounds of the jungle.
- Walking for the day: 4h, 8km, ↑50m ↓150m
- Accommodation: Camp Adán or similar, hammocks or bunk bed (limited availability)
- Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 11: Lost City Trek: Camp Adán – Machete Pelao – Palomino│8km
Continue the descent towards Machete Pelao. On arrival, rest and refuel over lunch, before your private transfer to Palomino. This coastal village is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta to the south, Palomino River to the west and San Salvador River to the east. Begin your recovery with a refreshing swim, taking in the view of the white sandy beaches that stretch for miles.
- Walking for the day: 4h, 8km, ↑286m ↓526m
- Accommodation: Finca la Jorará Eco Hotel or similar in Palomino
- Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Day 12: Palomino
Free day to choose between Palomino’s various activities (payable locally). See flamingos at Santuario de Fauna y Flora Los Flamencos, visit one of the nearby waterfalls, or sunbathe at the beach. If you’re still feeling adventurous, you can float down Palomino River on an inflatable tube, while keeping an eye out for howler monkeys and toucans. Spend your last evening watching the sunset, trying local seafood and listening to live music.
- Accommodation: Finca la Jorará Eco Hotel or similar in Palomino
- Meals included: breakfast
Day 13: Departure
Departure after breakfast, transfer to Santa Marta airport included.
- Meals included: breakfast
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of hotels, mountain huts and basic camps. During the Lost City trek, you will sleep in hammocks, or can request to book a bunk bed in the large dormitory (minimum of 30 beds in the dormitory). Bunk bed availability is limited, so will need to be requested when booking. In remote areas, rooms will be shared with other travellers, and facilities will also be shared, with no ensuite or private bathrooms. Despite the lack of amenities, the ones we select will of course provide clean premises and friendly service.
Click to view default hotels
- Hotel de la Opera (Bogotá)
- Hotel Salento Real (Salento)
- Finca la Primavera (Cocora Valley)
- Hotel Boutique Casa Carolina (Santa Marta)
- Various camps (The Lost City)
- Finca la Jorará Eco Hotel (Palomino)
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular accommodation being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. Lunch and dinner are provided on the multi-day treks, otherwise available either at the accommodation or from restaurants in the local area.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is rated as moderate to strenuous. It is suitable for regular hikers with a very good level of fitness who are looking for challenging hikes. These itineraries have mostly moderate walks, but may include longer strenuous treks on some days, and usually have extended steep ascents and descents. They may also include mountain terrain which is rugged and rough underfoot, with some sections of scrambling. Walking days involve 4-9h of walking (read more about difficulty grades).
For seasoned hikers, this might seem relatively straightforward. However, the difficulty lies in the hot and humid conditions. Expect to sweat a lot, and not be able to dry anything on the Lost City trek as it’s so humid. Another challenge and irritation of the treks is the bugs and their bites. There are lots of them, especially mosquitoes at the Lost City. There are luggage storage options for Cocora Valley and Lost City treks, and you can request to have your luggage transferred on a mule during the Lost City trek (at an additional cost).
When to go
This trip is available to start on any day throughout the year, except for September when the Lost City trek is not available. Trips from 15 December to 15 January can only be booked on request.
December to April is the dry season, which makes the trek less challenging. Cocora Valley has a mild (10-20C) yet variable climate with a mix of sunny, rainy, cloudy and foggy days.
The area of Santa Marta is hot, humid, and windy all year round, with temperatures ranging from 24C to 33C.
Getting there
FCO up-to-date travel advice for Colombia
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended arrival airport for this tour is El Dorado Airport (BOG) and departure airport is Simón Bolívar International Airport (SMR).
Arrival: airport transfer from El Dorado Airport (Bogotá) to your hotel is included
Departure: airport transfer from your hotel to Simón Bolívar International Airport (Santa Marta) is included
Inclusions
Included
- 12 nights accommodation
- 12 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 5 dinners
- Excursions listed in itinerary with English-speaking guide
- Small group guided trek of Cocora Valley and the Lost City
- Domestic flights (Bogotá – Armenia and Pereira – Santa Marta)
- Transfers listed in itinerary
- Contribution to reforestation
Excluded
- International airfare
- Public transport
- Luggage transfers during treks
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks not listed in inclusions
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Tips and gratuities
- Towel not provided during treks (please bring a light towel)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- We regret that this tour is not open to solo travellers. However, if you would only like to complete the Lost City trek, this can be organised on request for groups and solo travellers
- Luggage transfer (by mule) during Lost City trek
- Extra nights in Palomino (on request)
- Shorter or longer custom programmes in Colombia – please reach out to our sales agents with your requests, and we will craft an itinerary to suit your needs.
