Every Lost City trek starts in Santa Marta, and you need to be there the night before — not the morning of. Departures meet at 07:00, and the 3-day picks up at 04:30. Arriving on the same morning is not a plan.
From Santa Marta the trek itself begins with about 2.5 hours by 4×4 to the trailhead at El Mamey. After that the road ends and the path starts.
Getting to Santa Marta by air
Simón Bolívar International Airport (SMR) sits about 15 minutes from the historic centre.
- From Bogotá: roughly 1 h 20, several flights daily. The simplest route from anywhere international.
- From Medellín: direct flights, roughly 1 h 15.
- From Cartagena: flying is usually not worth it — the road takes about 4 hours and often beats the airport-to-airport total.
If SMR flights are full or expensive, fly into Cartagena or Barranquilla and come overland. Barranquilla is roughly 2 hours away, Cartagena about 4.
Getting there by bus
Long-distance coaches are comfortable, and the overnight options save you a hotel night.
| From | Time |
|---|---|
| Barranquilla | ~2 h |
| Cartagena | ~4 h |
| Medellín | ~15 h |
| Bogotá | ~16–18 h, overnight |
The Terminal de Transportes is about 15 minutes from the historic centre by taxi. If you arrive at night, take a taxi rather than walking with luggage.
Coming from elsewhere on the coast
- Tayrona National Park: about an hour. Many people do Tayrona first and the trek after, which is the right order — Tayrona is a rest, the trek is not.
- Palomino: about 2 hours.
- Minca: about an hour, and a good stop if you want a cooler night before the heat.
How much time to leave
One night before, minimum. Two if your flight lands late or you are coming overland from Bogotá. The evening before is not spare time — it is when you pay the balance, meet the office, hand over your main bag and get the briefing.
One recovery day after. The last day is 17.2 km of descent. Most people underestimate what their legs will want the following morning, and booking a flight for that afternoon is a decision you will regret at the airport.
For a four-day trek, plan a full week in the region. With less than that, the trek eats the whole trip.
Where to meet us
Magic Tour Colombia, Calle 17 # 3-69 Local 1, Centro Histórico, Santa Marta.
The night before your departure you come to the office to:
- Pay the remaining 90% of the trek price — card and cash both accepted
- Confirm your guide and ask anything you did not think to ask online
- Leave your main bag; only a daypack goes on the trail
- Get the briefing on what to carry, river crossings and the day-by-day plan
On the morning of the trek, pickup is at your hotel at 07:00. Have your passport with you.
Where to stay the night before
Anywhere in the Centro Histórico puts you within walking distance of the office and of somewhere to eat. Taganga, about 10 minutes away, is the quieter alternative and is where many trekkers spend the recovery day afterwards.
Book close to the centre rather than out along the beach road — you are getting up before dawn.
What to arrange before you arrive
- Cash in small bills for tips on the trail. There is nowhere to change a COP 50,000 note once you are walking, and tips run COP 50,000–100,000 per trekker.
- Somewhere to store your main bag if you are not returning to the same hotel. Our office can hold it.
- Travel insurance. Trek insurance for the hiking days is included in the price; insurance covering flights, cancellation and medical evacuation is a separate thing.
- Nothing else. No permit, no park ticket, no separate entry fee — archaeological zone entry is in the tour price and cannot be bought independently.
Do not plan around October
The archaeological site closes from 1 to 31 October every year for indigenous spiritual and environmental restoration. No authorised operator runs the trek in that window, so build your route through the coast accordingly. See best time to visit.
Related
- Lost City trek price — what you pay and when
- 3 vs 4 vs 5 days — which duration fits your dates
- What to pack — what goes on the trail and what stays behind
- Best time to visit — seasons and the October closure
- Bunkuany — one to three days from the same base
Ready to walk it?
Departures leave Santa Marta at 7:00 a.m. every day. The 4-day trek has no minimum group — it runs whether you are five people or one.
From COP 1,860,000 4 days — the classic
