Trek Colombia’s Mountains and Lost City

I had such a great time. What a professional team: Juan, Santiago, Marco, Gabo. Making sure we were safe and having a good time through patience and kindness. One thing I regret is not taking a change of clothes for the Lost City portion, I smelled like a nasty swamp creature after 4 days in the same clothes. Highly recommend a trip to this special place.

This was my first MBA trip and it was a fantastic experience and great opportunity to explore both the Andean highlands and the Caribbean jungle. Both walks are challenging -- the one because of the altitude and cold and the other because of the humidity and mosquitos -- but very rewarding. The guides from the local partner were fantastic and supportive and clearly very experienced at leading groups through the two areas.

Advice is to make sure you bring a sturdy hiking pack with waist support that can fit 3/4 days of clothes with a rain cover, and bring a warm jacket for the first part -- if it's rainy, it can get very cold at night.

A great trip with fantastic guides taking in several different experiences in a wonderful country.

I had such an amazing time on this trip. Danny is a superb trip leader. He did s brilliant job showing our group two beautiful sides to Colombia with the help of excellent local guides. Thank you Danny and team! The contrast between the two treks makes this trip a varied experience. Both walks were challenging but were just what I wanted to enable me to push myself a little bit. Los Nevados is STUNNING and completely worth the cold nights (pack sensibly and you will be totally fine). The jungle trek enables a fascinating insight into the native communities and the history of the Lost City. This trek is more touristy than Los Nevados, but sharing the trails didn’t dampen my group’s spirits, even if the heat and humidity did dampen our clothes! The weather conditions on both treks were easily manageable and part of the adventure— an adventure I won’t be forgetting in a hurry!

This trip is absolutely incredible. It is hard and will test your physical ability and stamina, but if you hike and workout regularly then you will be fine. Anyone that loves diverse terrain and beautiful nature should definitely do this. Memories that will last a lifetime

I've always wanted to see cloud forests, and this trip promised just that, and delivered!! On the Los Nevados trek I suffered from some altitude sickness and had to turn back, but the guides, and our host Danny, were impeccable, providing complete support and getting me back down the mountain quickly and safely. The lost city trek was fantastic, with amazing nature and a fascinating insite into the local Wiwa way of life. Again, the guides for this portion of the trek were impeccable. I doubt I'll forget this in a hurry!!

This was a great introduction to the rich culture and geography of Colombia. Despite really only scratching the surface, the trekking provides insight to the challenges and beauty of the Colombian Andes (hint: it’s cold), to the wonders of the Lost City. Both parts of the trip were distinct experiences. The start at Medellin was also a great glimpse of an artistic city seemingly built in the middle of the jungle. Our guide, Daniel was first class and I very much enjoyed our group. By the end I felt like we could take on any trek thrown at us. Good fun.

It was disappointing that we had an itinerary change. The national park in the mountains was closed. Apparently this happens regularly and it was known to the local guides and MBA - there was a plan to hike to the border of the park and still stay in the fincas however on the day it was unexpectedly prohibited by the police for us to do that. MBA tried to rectify this by treating us to some extra meals and activities ( coffee tour / sport evening) and the local guides tried to come up with some other local hikes. This was OK and everyone tried to find solutions- although we were not consulted on what would be good compensation or a pleasing alternative. It was cold even in solento where we stayed for extra nights. The kit list really needs to have a light down / warm jacket added. The optional tour of Medellín was a bit disappointing - a ride on the metro line and cable car a walk through the square/ market and we stopped for a lemonade. There was an itinerary change again as flight to Santa Marta was rescheduled to go via Bogotá so lost a whole day travelling. The plan for trek to lost city was never really clearly explained. The route is challenging and the weather is unpredictable. For us it wasn’t hot apart from on the last day. There was very heavy rain. Some people took waterproofs despite being advised it was unnecessary as after rain it’s usually hot again. Not for us! It was chilly in the evenings and I think a thin fleece is necessary. The waterfall swims are at the campsite and nice enough. It’s just a short rocky path so it’s better to have a sandal rather than slider. They don’t need to be waterproof as such as not going in the water / just a light shoe for evenings which isn’t a flip flop or slider will do. The steps to the lost city are steep, uneven and slippery. I have a fear of heights and I managed it but do be aware it’s a little precarious. The trails themselves have very steep up and down sections. It’s incredibly muddy and slippery, lots of rickey bridges, stepping stones over rivers and steps up and down, The local guides are great. We had an indigenous guide with us who explained in detail how the local tribes live. It was interesting but there were long stretches where we were sat/stood listening . We encountered some people from the tribes but they were very shy and it wasn’t appropriate to take photos or interact too much. There was a sense of us being gifted the privilege of visitinb their sacred lands. On a practical note - you sleep in camps ( Like a refuge) in beds with mosquitoes nets. It’s basic but food was very good thanks to our own fabulous chef. You walk the same route there and back pass through the camps - so you could leave wet clothes or a bag to pick up on way back if you wanted for example on the last night we stayed in the camp we had lunch in on day 1. I think the actual camp would vary trip to trip but you do pass each camp, all the camps had Wi-Fi and a small shop to buy snacks , drinks , a beer! You can also send some of you things ahead on a mule for a fee if you need to. You’ll need enough cash for the stops along the way to pick up snacks and we bought a lot of electrolytes juices and keep enough cash for tips at the end. Overall it was a great group and a beautiful part of the world. It was an interesting insight into Columbia and all the guides tried hard to give us a fantastic experience- although I felt that some information was lacking and so I’ve tried to include it here for fellow adventurers!

This trek was incredibly challenging, but provides memories and views you will not forget! The knowledge you gain on the way from experienced tour guides and the varied terrain makes every day worthwhile. I would recommend this to anyone who has very good fitness levels and is looking for a fulfilling 10 days in Colombia. Thank you for all the good memories - it was worth the sore legs!

I’ve done several multi-day treks and I’d say this comes second only to the Everest Base Camp trek in terms of difficulty, so the rating is not to be sniffed at. I personally struggled more with the heat/humidity and mosquitoes in the second trek than the altitude in the first. (This could be due to the time of year - July).

The trip itinerary was rejigged a few times due to different things out of the company’s control. Although this meant doing 3 days in 2 on the second trek, which was a lot after the first trek, I preferred this itinerary. It meant we had almost a “rest” day of a 3-hour hike, plus time for a nap and a river & waterfall swim - probably the highlight of the second hike for me, even though it included the lost city. I think a little more free time to explore Salento would have been nice but I understand this was due to having to take 2 flights (Medellín > Bogotá > Salento) instead of the usual one.

Our guide/host for the whole trip, Juli, was informative, fun, patient and very approachable. She was especially good when any medical or travel issues arose in the group.

Although I understand my food intolerances are quite difficult, this sometimes meant I missed out on parts of a dish or a whole starter instead of offering an alternative, or the same thing just without my intolerances. Before the trip, MBA suggested that I might want to bring some cereal / protein bars. But since I’m paying the same as others I was slightly disappointed by this.

The accommodation was very basic, which I wasn’t really prepared for as I didn’t feel the tour description went into enough detail and perhaps some accommodation photos before booking would have helped. Showers/changing also had little privacy and in one of the farms on the first trek I felt a little uncomfortable changing where several local men were able to see me while preparing dinner.

In terms of value for money, the tour was cheaper than other multi-day treks I have done with G-adventures and Intrepid, but you could probably go direct to a local provider for cheaper, as MBA is a third party provider.

However, the views, the group vibe/morale and experience as a whole made it all worth it and it was very rewarding so I have no regrets!

Juli our trekking guide was thoroughly professional throughout. She ensured there were no problems and dealt with any rising issues immediately and would consistently check that everyone was happy and comfortable. I found the trek more challenging than expected this was largely due to lack of terrain detail on the MBA website and incorrect information given over the phone when asked the particular fitness levels required.

First time doing a multi day trek and did not know what to expect… This whole trip was an unbelievable eye opener, both to the amazing culture of Medellin, Solento, Santa Marta, indigenous people of Sierra Nevada, and the wilderness of the Colombia Andes and rainforest. Me and my husband went as part of our honeymoon, and so far we are still married!

Daniel was our primary guide, and he was a fountain of knowledge about the country and the environment, and full of positive energy and encouragement. Couldn’t have asked for anyone better! Colombia is so much more than just what is typically known. It is such a diverse country, advancing socially, with such varied ecosystems, great food, and amazing people.

The trek is basically two main parts, first hiking through the Colombian Andes, then hiking through the cloud forest of Sierra Nevada and the Lost City. Santiago and Yecid were our additionally guides in the Andes, and were great fun and so helpful, especially in the very tough conditions (as we went during the rainy season).

Gabo and Marco were our additional guides to the Lost City, and were equally fun and knowledgeable through the whole experience. Leidis was our group’s chef, and kept our bellies very satisfied and full.

Don’t worry about bringing extra food - the team provided PLENTY of great snacks the whole way through. We also had a chance to do washing between the Andes and Sierra Nevada treks, and at the end of the trip.

Note: MBA list included gators and a tent liner when we signed up. Based on new routes and new accommodation, these are not required. But bring a very good poncho/raincoat for the Andes portion! Especially if going during the rainy season. And super quick dry clothes for Sierra Nevada in particular (hot and humid!). Also definitely recommend the city tour of Medellin on day one!

Would highly, highly recommend this trip to those who want a mix of amazing culture and two challenging treks!

We had Santiago and Yecid for our trip to the national park to see the glacier. Both were extremely help and friendly, they had a wealth of experience that was a massive help in getting to the top. For the lost city hike we had Gabo, Marco and Leidis and again they were friendly extremely helpful and good fun along the way with a wealth of knowledge. A big shout out to Daniel who was with us for the whole 10 days, Daniel could not of been more helpful any questions we had he either answered or found out the answers for us. A massive thank you to Daniel in make our trip that bit more enjoyable 🙂

Really enjoyed my trip to Columbia, it went really smoith from start to finish, Communication was really clear, No hiccups what so ever

We had a great experience in Columbia, we did both an Andes trek,and a trek to the lost city,we also had a guided day tour of Medellin. Daniel was our guide for the whole trip,he was excellent, very enthusiastic,very knowledgeable and couldn't have been more helpful, meeting the whole group's needs. The trek to the Andes was tough,especially cold in the evening time,the lost city trek was at a lower altitude though still a pretty tough hike overall,Marco was our trek guide for to the lost city,a really nice genuine guy,again couldn't do enough for the group,catering to all the groups needs at all times,very knowledgeable and constantly imparting this knowledgeable to the group

I really enjoyed seeing the different landscapes of Colombia.

This is a great trip. Totally different from previous experiences. Some hard walking but with great support from the guides and the mules taking gear on the first trek were a real help. Unfortunately the guidance from MBA was poor as to what was to be expected in terms of back up and we ended up taking a lot of material we did not need and their communication return times are very poor and the information is conflicting . The local guides were excellent and covered off their failures. The lost city trip was great and the jungle camps very enjoyable

The guides and the group wonderful. Juan and Marco were terrific and showed us some of the night life. The hardest part was the altitude and steepness of the mountain. Also, make sure you bring warm coats because at the farms it was very chilly. I highly recommend this trip.

A fantastic trip, 2 very different landscapes with 2 sets of guides. Juan stayed with the group for the duration and we had 2 mountain guides (both excellent) for the first trip, and 2 + a chef for the 2nd. The lost city was impressive but what made it for me was Gabo, the indigenous guide. His insights were superb.

This trip allows you to experience different sides of Colombia. There is the metropolis of Medellin, the Andean mountains, the Sierra Nevada jungle and the costal city of Santa Marta. Juan our guide was excellent. He was kind, considerate and professional.

Colombia is a beautiful, vibrant country, with so much energy and life. This adventure will give you the perfect snapshot of the place.

I would recommend bringing plenty of warm clothes and snacks for the mountains, as well as a change of clothes for the four days trekking in the jungle.

Dani our guide was fantastic and loves his job. he couldn't do enough to look after us. We also had a lovely group of people to travel with. The trekking in the mountains was tough and the accommodation is very basic. Definitely underestimated how cold it would be at altitude and wish we'd taken more layers to wear! The Lost city trek was a true highlight. We swam in some beautiful waterfalls and the accommodation albeit simple was comfortable. The only thing that spoilt the trip was coming down with a tummy bug on the last day of the trek. Fortunately our guides were able to source mules/ motorbike to avoid having to trek!

Our trek through Los Nevados National Park and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta to Tayuna (the Lost City) was an unforgettable experience. The stark contrast between the two regions offered a journey through vastly different terrains and challenges, each uniquely rewarding.

In Los Nevados, hiking at altitude was no small feat—physically demanding but deeply rewarding. The surreal beauty of the frailejones amidst the clouds was unforgettable. Our guides, Santi and Yessin, were exceptional, blending deep local knowledge with expertise in managing the altitude. Their support was invaluable. The fincas along the way were basic but welcoming; packing warm clothes and a book is highly recommended for downtime.

The hike to Tayuna presented a humid, mosquito-filled challenge, but was a beautiful hike. The lush jungle, cascading waterfalls, and rich historical significance kept us all engaged and excited. Marco and Gabo, our guides, were wonderful, with Gabo’s insights as a member of the Wiwa indigenous community adding immense depth to the experience. Meeting a Mamo at Tayuna was a rare and humbling highlight.

Throughout the trek, Dani, our lead guide, was the glue holding it all together. His enthusiasm, care, and ability to unite a group of strangers were remarkable. He ensured safety, fostered camaraderie, and made the entire journey feel special.

This trek was not just a physical journey but a cultural and emotional adventure. Highly recommended for those seeking adventure and knowledge.

Wonderful trip — adventurous, beautiful, and full of surprises. Colombia is stunning: lush green mountains, unique páramo landscapes, and the incredible Lost City (Teyuna), all brought to life by our brilliant guides Juan, Julia, Marco, and Gabo.

The itinerary splits into two parts. The first takes you through the páramo—a magical, high-altitude ecosystem with cloud forests and mossy ridgelines. The second, the trek to Teyuna, is challenging but nothing crazy. Reaching the Lost City after climbing the final 1,200 steps was unforgettable, surrounded by sweeping jungle views. The humidity in the second half is intense, so wicking clothes are a must, but you adjust quickly.

A real highlight for me personally was a torrential downpour on the way down from Teyuna—an unplanned scramble through rushing streams and waist-high river crossings. It was exhilarating and summed up the adventurous spirit of the trip.

Accommodation is basic in places—simpler than Nepal tea houses—but the ecolodge at the end was fantastic and a great place to unwind. If you can, add a couple of days at the beach near Tayrona National Park. It’s the perfect way to end the trip. Salento is a fun town to explore and the Salento brunch cafe is super.

As always with MBA, the group was brilliant, and the trip was flawlessly organised. Colombia is an amazing country, and this trek is a perfect way to experience its beauty and culture. Highly recommend!

I did not know exactly what to expect as this was my first trip of this kind, and it ended up being an experience of a lifetime! The trip was meticulously well organized, and our guides were nothing short of phenomenal - attentive, knowledgeable, and always prioritizing our safety. Special thanks go to our chef who made sure we had delicious and nutritious meals and snacks during the day. All dietary restrictions were catered to. I would travel with MBA again in a heartbeat!

Colombia is an incredible country and this was a great trip (though not the exact itinerary advertised) . The city tour of Medellin kicks things off beautifully before heading to wonderful Salento. The first hike is tough with the altitude but stunning and unique. The farm house stay is really basic but an experience - take layers, a head torch and a book for the evenings.

The travel to Santa Marta was long due to indirect flights meaning we only arrived in time for late dinner (2130) before setting off for the Lost City early the next day. It would have been great to have a little more time here.

The lost city trek is also pretty intense due to the heat and humidity of the jungle, but wow. What a place. The jungle camps are also a little basic but the teams on both treks kept us well fed and looked after. Even as a vegan, protein was included often which I find is often missed.

We had a truly great group with brilliant leaders. Juan is a legend. Definitely recommend if you’re ready to push your limits in terms of back to basics and tricky hiking conditions.

What an amazing adventure! I got to learn and experience so much! Both hikes were beautiful. All the guides had such great positive energy and had so much knowledge! Especially the lost city trek, and everything that came with it, has been so unique and special: learning about, and meeting, the native tribes while hiking in the beautiful Colombian jungle. Memories for life.

Fantastic hiking adventure in this biodiverse area. Laura and the guides looked after us all really well and I would very much recommend a trip to Colombia. I would suggest definitely arrive a day or two early to explore Medellín.

We had a true once in a lifetime experience in Colombia. It enabled us to see so much in a short space of time but in a way that never felt rushed. The hiking is intense, but very well paced, allowing time to enjoy nature and learn about the unique indigenous communities (directly from one of their members). The guides on both treks and Laura (who accompanied us throughout) were just incredible. So knowledgeable, passionate, patient and good fun. They absolutely made the trip.

Los Nevados is the most beautiful and interesting ecosystem I’ve ever experienced and the Tejuna (lost city) is fascinating. Be prepared to be sweaty but exhilarated! We would recommend extending your trip at either side of you can to adjust to the time zone/climate/altitude beforehand, rest a little afterwards, and have time to explore some of Colombia’s amazing cities too.

One tip is that you need to bring everything you’ll need for the humid, hot Tejuna (lost city) trek, but you can rent walking poles there and some of our list (waterproofs, walking poles etc) is available to borrow for the Los Nevados trek.

Highly recommended for anyone who wants to see these incredible landscapes and learn about Colombian culture from insiders.

This was an amazing trip all round. Definitely challenging, with the contrast between the Andes and the jungle, but oh so worth it. Some of the most beautiful scenery I've seen, amazing people and places. The altitude and accommodation in the mountains, not going to lie, are a challenge, as are the heat and humidity in the jungle. But the group leader Dani was absolutely fantastic as were all the local guides, and I wouldn't have changed a single thing! The Lost City is truly magical and getting to learn about the indigenous culture was so special. If you're looking at this trip, honestly, just do it, you won't regret it!

A very memorable trip. Well orgainsed and great to visit some of the more unusual parts of Colombia. All the guides were excellent, so knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. Especially Dani, who looked after us from start to finish and encouraged me through some of the tougher parts.