Lost City Trek | 3 days Express route from Santa Marta

What to Know Before Your Lost City Trek 3 Days

Physical preparation:

The Lost City Trek 3-day option is the most demanding version of the route. Day 1 is especially intense, you'll cover in a single day what the 4 day trek distributes across two. Before booking, assess your fitness level honestly. You don't need to be an athlete, but you do need genuine stamina and experience with sustained physical effort. Building long walks into your routine in the weeks before departure will make a meaningful difference on the trail.

Diet and medical conditions:

If you follow a vegan, vegetarian, or any other special diet, please notify us in advance so we can prepare the right meals for you. Communicate any allergies, prior injuries, or relevant medical conditions at the time of booking. Always bring your personal medications,  guides are not authorized to administer medication on the trail.

Health and hydration:

The yellow fever vaccination is recommended as a preventive measure when traveling to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta rainforest region. Bring at least 1.5 liters of water for Day 1, potable water refills are available at every campsite at no additional cost. Maintain a steady pace and drink regularly: hydration is especially critical on a trek of this intensity.

Documents:

Colombian travelers must carry their national ID card. Foreign travelers must bring a valid passport. A photocopy is sufficient during the trek. Store your original document securely at your hotel before departure.

Pack light:

On the Lost City Trek 3-day route, every extra kilo in your pack is felt more acutely especially on Day 1. Bring only the essentials. Any additional luggage can be stored free of charge at our office or at the Machete Pelao checkpoint.

Clothing & gear:

The Sierra Nevada terrain is humid and can be slippery at any time of year. Trekking boots with firm grip are non-negotiable. Pack camp sandals to rest your feet at the campsites. Lightweight, breathable clothing is ideal during the day; switch to long trousers and a long-sleeved shirt at night to protect yourself from cooler temperatures and mosquitoes.

On the trail:

Stay with the group at all times and follow your guide's instructions without exception. When passing near indigenous or farming communities, act with full respect do not enter their spaces or photograph anyone without permission. Protect the natural environment: no littering, no unnecessary plastics, no damage to heritage structures. The use of drugs and excessive alcohol consumption are strictly prohibited throughout the trek. Purchases at campsite shops are cash only.

Security and connectivity:

Leave all valuables at your hotel. You are solely responsible for your personal belongings throughout the three days. Mobile signal is virtually non-existent for most of the trek. Inform family and close contacts that you will be offline. Arrive with all devices fully charged and bring a power bank as backup.

Why Travel With Magic Tour Colombia?

Many agencies offer the Lost City Trek but not all operate with official government authorization. Not all have two decades of continuous experience on this specific route. Not all hold certifications in sustainable tourism. And very few work with guides who were actually born and raised in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.

Our guides don't simply mark the pace on the trail. They become a genuine part of your travel story a connection to the territory, its history, and the communities that have lived here for centuries. By the time you return to Santa Marta, they will be one of the things you remember most.

If you find a lower price with another agency, don't hesitate to contact us.