Santa Marta has many tourist attractions, which is why it has become the target of those who love Caribbean beaches and lush nature. Among these options, we find two that stand out: Tayrona Park and the Lost City (Ciudad Perdida), considered must-see destinations in Colombia.
In this blog post, we tell you the essentials about these tourist destinations and clear doubts that come up when talking about Tayrona Park and the Lost City. For example, there are those who confuse the location of both and even think they are the same, so let’s start there.
No, the Lost City is not within the Tayrona Park area. Both are in Santa Marta, but if we take as a reference the road that leads to La Guajira, the Tayrona Park is to the north while the Lost City is to the south, deep in the jungle of the Sierra Nevada, far away from the Tayrona Park.
To summarize, they are different places. So if one is closed, the other is not affected.
If you have not visited the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, and especially the Lost City, you are missing a very important part of Colombia. You should know that one or two days are not enough to get there. However, the 4 days the trek takes will allow you to breathe fresh air, have magnificent views of the Buritaca River valley, cool off in the crystal clear waters of the Sierra Nevada, and meet the indigenous communities descended from the Tayronas, the people who built the small city in the middle of this mountainous jungle.
The Lost City is located in northern Colombia, specifically in the upper part of the Buritaca river basin in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
To visit Ciudad Perdida you must buy a tour package from a travel agency that will cover everything you need, such as food, medical insurance, transportation, accommodation, etc. They will provide you with everything you need so you just have to think about enjoying nature and the imposing Tayrona ruins.
Most of the guides are natives of the Sierra Nevada, which makes it a unique experience because they know the region through their own experiences, too.
The trek takes at least four days (the time it takes to go to the Lost City and return). Keep in mind that you have to cover some specific parts of the trail every day, so keep a good attitude during the hike so you can enjoy it the most. With Visit Santa Marta you can choose between 4, 5, and 6-day plans to the Lost City.
Tayrona Park is a paradise of more than 15 pristine beaches surrounded by dense forests and exotic wildlife. It was inhabited by the ancient Tayrona people, who disappeared without knowing precisely the reason. Because of this, there are also archaeological remains in some places of the National Park.
Although in one day you can visit some beaches, it is better to enjoy the park staying at least one day.
It is located in the north of Colombia, in Santa Marta. The Tayrona Park is located between the Caribbean Sea and the Sierra Nevada, covering a very important terrestrial and marine area in which there are well-known attractions such as Bahía Concha, Cabo San Juan del Guía, and Playa Cristal.
The park can be reached by land or by sea. The best-known entrances are:
Palangana (Entrance to Neguanje)
This is the entrance to the Neguanje beach. Most people usually buy packages that include boat transportation from Neguanje to Playa Cristal.
Calabazo
This entrance is the least crowded, it takes you to ‘Pueblito’ (Currently closed to the public). Through this trail, you can get to Cabo San Juan and then go out through Zaino. It is a much longer trail, but it will allow you to admire better the flora and fauna of Tayrona Park.
Zaino
The most popular entrance, people identify it as the "entrance to Tayrona" because it is the most visited by tourists and locals.
This entrance gives you access to beaches such as:
Cabo San Juan del Guia
La Piscina
Arrecife (not suitable for swimming)
Nudist Beach
Cañaveral
The first thing is to be clear about these two key points: ‘El Zaino’ and ‘La Aguacatera’. ‘El Zaino’ is the entrance to get to Cabo San Juan and visit the other beaches we mentioned above. On the other hand, ‘La Aguacatera’ is the point where the detour is made to take the road to Mamey, the town where the trail to Ciudad Perdida begins. Both are located on the ‘Troncal del Caribe’ road.
The distance between ‘El Zaino’ and ‘La Aguacatera’ is 12.6 km (7.8 mi) which is about 15 minutes by car.
The time you need will depend on what you want to do, however, to visit both places you should probably have at least a week, if you want to visit one right after the other, here is all the information you need.
Depending on what you choose to visit first, you have two options:
Start with Tayrona Park, spend the night there, and do the Lost City trek the next day.
Make the trek to Ciudad Perdida and continue to Tayrona Park the same day you return from Ciudad Perdida.
Both places have their magic, we will leave you some recommendations so you can choose the best option for your itinerary.
This tour starts early, so it is recommended that you are already in Santa Marta the day before.
You can take all your luggage to the Lost City tour and leave it in El Mamey, it is safe and convenient if you are going to another place immediately after the tour
Tell the travel agency that you will be staying in Tayrona Park on your return, so you will store your luggage in El Mamey.
You can do camping on the beaches of Tayrona
Getting to Tayrona does not require a tour guide and you can do it on your own
You can go to Tayrona by boat if you don’t want to walk, but you will have to leave through ‘El Zaino’ to be picked up on the way
Tell the travel agency to pick you up at the entrance of Tayrona Park (El Zaino).
Be on time at the Zaino entrance at the time stipulated by the agency to avoid delays.
Finally, remember that in both tours you will have to hike, so you could consider not doing them one after the other and taking a rest day between them.
If you've read this far and still haven't included Ciudad Perdida or Tayrona Park on your bucket list, what are you waiting for?
Use the information in this blog to finish planning your trip, pack your bags and come to Santa Marta to make it happen!