The Caribbean Coast and Lost City

Arrive at the Riohacha Airport and meet your transfer to your hotel. After checking in, spend the afternoon exploring Riohacha. Walk along the delightful seaside promenade where you can see local Wayuu Indians as they create their beautiful handicrafts. Watch the sunset over the Caribbean, then head back to the hotel for a tour briefing and to prepare for your trip to the Upper Guajira Peninsula (Alta Guajira).

Drive from Riohacha to Punta Gallinas. This unique place is the northernmost point of South America and you’ll find some of the Caribbean coast’s most spectacular beaches here. The trip to Punta Gallinas is an experience in itself. Your drive begins with a good-quality road until you reach the 4-way intersection Cuatro Caminos. From here, follow the main road north. In the distance, you’ll see Uribia, the native Wayuu capital, also known as the Indigenous Capital of Colombia.

Continue for another 1.5 hours to come to Colombia’s Outback. Here in this wild desert landscape, your route follows 4-wheel drive tracks. Pass the Hondita Bay and the Honda Bay, where you’ll see lovely views and colorful sandy beaches. Drive for about 2 hours through this remote landscape and you’ll reach the sand dunes of Taroa. Don’t miss the incredible sunset in this beautiful place where the yellow dunes meet the deep blue sea. The original Punta Gallinas (or “Chicken Point”) lighthouse now lies in ruin. Near the ruins enjoy a lovely but remote beach where you are unlikely to encounter many other people. Stay overnight in a Wayuu lodge, experiencing their hospitality, cuisine, and culture.

In the morning, enjoy the lovely Punta Aguja beach. From here, there is an optional boat tour to Hondita Bay where you can usually see pink flamingos. (The boat tour is at your own expense and can be requested a day in advance.) Leave Punta Gallina after lunch, again crossing the deserts of the Upper Guajira Peninsula. When you reach the railroad tracks for the Cerrejon coal mine, you’ll find the road to Cabo la Vela. This area is less deserted than the northern area you have just left.

The drive from Punta Gallinas to Cabo la Vela takes approximately 2-3 hours. Cabo la Vela is on the western coast of the peninsula and has amazing beaches that are rarely crowded. This is a great location for exploring the numerous bays or desert trails, for sampling local cuisine and for experiencing cultural traditions. Watch the Wayuu fisherman at work or try kite surfing in the ideal permanent wind currents (course and gear rental available for an additional fee). End the day with a memorable sunset from the El Cabo lighthouse, then spend the night in a rustic lodge.

Begin the day with a visit to the distinctive and beautiful beaches of Pilon de Azucar or the Ojo del Agua. Take your time enjoying the stunning landscapes and the refreshing water then eat a nice lunch locally. After lunch, begin the drive back to Riohacha. If conditions are dry, you’ll drive through the desert and across a salt flat, then follow the railroad trackback to the Cuatro Caminos intersection. Continue on to Riohacha, then take the Troncal del Caribe highway, crossing the southern Guajira peninsula, and entering the state of Magdalena. You’ll reach the city of Santa Marta about 2 hours after crossing the Magdalena border. The rest of the day is free to explore this delightful city.

After breakfast, take a 3-hour tour of the city of Santa Marta. This was the first town established by Spanish settlers in Colombia in 1534. Walk through the crowded downtown streets of the colonial areas. Visit the Santa Marta Cathedral, the oldest church in Colombia, where Simon Bolivar was initially buried (His body was eventually moved to his birthplace in Caracas). You’ll also learn more about the native culture of the surrounding areas at the gold museum. End your tour with the Plaza Bolivar, the pier, and the seaside promenade. Enjoy free time in the afternoon to explore at your leisure or relax in the hotel.

You’ll be picked up at your hotel in the morning and travel in 4-wheel drive vehicles, following the coast to the northeast. After about an hour, the paved road ends and the off-road adventure begins. Another hour after you leave the paved road, you’ll come to El Mamey, or Machete Pelado, village (150 m/492‘). Stop here for lunch and then begin your hike to the Lost City (La Ciudad Perdida).

Today’s hike is exposed to the elements, so be sure to pack plenty of water and dress appropriately for the weather. You will be offered tropical fruit along your hike to help give you energy. Take the trail along the Quebrada del Alto Mamey River, which is a gentle one-hour walk before the path climbs steeply up to the El Mirador Pass (640 m/2,100’). Pause here to appreciate the fantastic view overlooking the Buritaca River and the town of Mamey. Descend from the pass for 1.5 hours to the Donde Adan Lodge, which awaits you in a beautiful location beside the Quebrada Honduras River. A dip in the natural pool by the lodge is very refreshing after a day of hiking. Spend the night in a hammock at the lodge.

Begin by hiking to the Mumake Pass (680 m/2,231’) via a gentle and well-marked trail. Along the way, you’ll cross into protected land that’s controlled by the Kogi indigenous tribe. There are also Wiwa Indians settled in these valleys that run some of the hikers’ lodges. Notice how the landscape changes from farmland to a more natural and well-preserved wilderness as you enter the protected areas.

After crossing the Mumake Pass, descend quickly to the Buritaca River (430 m/1,411’), where you’ll see the Kogi settlement called Montangi and get a glimpse of their way of life. Continue hiking for about an hour, then cross the river via a hanging bridge and begin the ascent to the Koskunguena Pass (824 m/2,703’). On the other side of the pass, you’ll descend once again to the Buritaca River (743 m/2,438’) and cross the river one last time. Follow the riverbank to El Paraiso lodge (870 m/2,854’), where you can swim in the river before spending the night sleeping in hammocks.

Another early start for an exciting day! Initially, the trail follows the right bank of the Buritaca River, then after a short distance, crosses to the other side. Here you’ll see the ancient stairs that climb steeply up to the Lost City of the Tayrona (1,175 m/3,855’). Climbing these steps is like traveling back in time as you draw closer to this astounding archaeological site. The original name of the city was Teyuna, and it is all that remains of the lost Tayrona civilization. Spend 4 hours touring the area and learning about the culture and architecture of the city. It is believed that the Kogi people descended from the Tayrona people, and you may also be able to visit the home of a Kogi Mamo, or shaman, during your tour.

After the tour, return to El Paraiso lodge for lunch, then follow the same trail back toward the Mumake Pass. At the foot of the pass, spend the night at the Mumake Lodge (389 m/1,276’).

Complete your Lost City trek today. Immediately after leaving the Mumake Lodge, hike up to the Mumake Pass (680 m/2,231’). After crossing the pass, descend again to the Quebrada Honduras River then climb once again up to El Mirador Pass (640 m/2,100’). Continue walking to reach the end of the trail in the town of El Mamey (150 m/492’). Eat lunch here in town, then drive for about 2-2.5 hours to reach your next hotel.

Spend today touring Tayrona National Park, which is one of Colombia’s best-known natural parks. Here you’ll find some of the best beaches in Colombia nestled into the foothills of the world’s tallest coastal mountain range, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. This park ranks second in Colombia for annual visits and it is easy to see why. The park area (150 square kilometers of land and 30 square kilometers of sea) protects tremendous biodiversity as well as archaeological ruins such as Pueblito.

Take a light hike from the main parking area, following the coastline to see iconic locations such as Arrecife’s area, La Piscina beach, and El Cabo San Juan, all within 2 hours of hiking. Spend a peaceful day enjoying the beaches and natural areas. Enjoy traditionally prepared fish for lunch. Return to the lodge in the afternoon for the last night of your tour.

Sadly, your Exploring the Caribbean Tour has reached its end. Transfer to the Santa Marta Airport takes approximately 1.5-2 hours. Have a pleasant journey!