If you have ever wondered if it is worth going to a place, we understand because we agree with the old saying: "A journey begins with trepidation and ends with joy". So, thinking too much only prolongs the time to answer the questions you are looking for; if you are here and want to know if it is worth visiting the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, we will help you make that decision.
In Santa Marta, Colombia, there is a dream place, a place that perhaps the description of it makes you want to know. The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is a mountain range located on the shores of the Caribbean Sea. Thanks to its location and altitude, it has a remarkable variety of ecosystems. It is also a place where ancestral cultures have lived for centuries.
We know that when you think of the Sierra Nevada, you might really want to go to Ciudad Perdida, and you are asking yourself questions similar to "How do I do it? How do I get to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta? First of all, getting to Ciudad Perdida in the Sierra Nevada is not as easy as you think - it's at least a four day trip! However, the challenge is well worth it and we see it in the faces of those who return from this tour, an average of more than three thousand people every month!
The trek to the ancient citadel of Tayrona begins with transportation from the city of Santa Marta, around 8:00 a.m., to a place called the Aguacatera, from where the vehicle takes the road that leads to the village of El Mamey. The real adventure begins there, in El Mamey or "Machete pelao", a village in Magdalena that welcomes travelers with a delicious lunch and then the four-day trek (50 kilometers, about 31 miles).
The construction of what is now known as Ciudad Perdida is attributed to the lost Tayrona Indigenous. It is not really known what happened to them; when Ciudad Perdida was discovered, only a sample of their architecture remained. The Sierra Nevada was the scenario where this civilization, which became one of the most advanced in Colombia, developed; the history of this ancient tribe, full of mysteries and legends, is one of the reasons why it is worth visiting the Sierra Nevada.
But there is more, did you know that the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is a Biosphere Reserve declared by Unesco? Its territory is home to four indigenous communities:
The Kogui
The Arhuaco
The Wiwas
The Kankuamos
Ciudad Perdida is a destination desired by many international travelers, also due to the large number of bird species in the Sierra Nevada, several points of the mountain massif have become must-see places for birdwatchers. This shows the value it has for foreign tourists, and no wonder, because its natural attractions are so many that we still have much to discover or improve.
Most trips to the Sierra Nevada involve hiking (to a greater or lesser extent) and you may need to spend the night in the area. For this reason, most trips include lodging (in cabins owned by farmers and/or indigenous communities), food, hydration, guide, medical insurance, and other items that your agency will provide according to your needs.
It doesn't matter if you have never done this kind of trip before, it will be a new experience full of nature. For this reason, it is recommended to be vaccinated with COVID-19 doses and optional, the yellow fever, since it is a tropical forest where many mosquitoes live.
Traveling without professional guidance may limit you to know some places, be unprotected if something happens to you, or even the routes may not be easy to travel. In the case of tours to the Sierra Nevada, you have several tour companies that will take you to know and enjoy attractions that you might not be able to discover without supervision. It is not that traveling to the Sierra Nevada on your own is bad, it is just better to do it with a specialized guide.
Trekking in the Sierra Nevada is one of the most popular treks in Colombia. The trails pass through indigenous communities, rivers, waterfalls, farms, vegetable and tropical fruit plantations. When you come to the Sierra Nevada, you certainly don't want to miss any of this. This is where the accompaniment of an agency comes into play, because in addition to their experience, they have a social commitment to the communities, so they have access to places that you would hardly get to on your own.
For the indigenous communities of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, this place is the heart of the world, so many consider it to be the energy center of the planet Earth. Some travelers, whether they think about it or not, come to "recharge their batteries", and in any case, being surrounded by the exuberant nature of the Sierra Nevada, knowing simpler lifestyles and temporarily disconnecting from the daily routine, results in a renewing experience.
Depending on the tour you choose in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, by the end of the tour you will have met other cultures and opened your mind to new ways of thinking. In addition, having challenged yourself, you will show a new you that you may not have known before.