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A boulder with carved markings, believed to be a map of the area around Ciudad Perdida.

View of the central area of the city. Wooden structures once stood on the stone platforms.

Ciudad Perdida (translation: "Lost City") is the archaeological site of an ancient city in Sierra Nevada, Colombia. It is believed to have been founded about 800 A.D., some 650 years earlier than Machu Picchu. This location is also known as Buritaca and the Native Americans call it Teyuna.

Ciudad Perdida was discovered in 1972, when a group of local treasure looters found a series of stone steps rising up the mountainside and followed them to an abandoned city which they named "Green Hell" or "Wide Set". When gold figurines and ceramic urns from this city began to appear in the local black market, authorities revealed the site in 1975.

Members of local tribes—the Arhuaco, the Koguis and the Asario—have stated that they visited the site regularly before it was widely discovered, but had kept quiet about it. They call the city Teyuna and believe it was the heart of a network of villages inhabited by their forebears, the Tairona. Ciudad Perdida was probably the region's political and manufacturing center on the Buritaca River and may have housed 2,000 to 8,000 people. It was apparently abandoned during the Spanish conquest.

Ciudad Perdida consists of a series of 169 terraces carved into the mountainside, a net of tiled roads and several small circular plazas. The entrance can only be accessed by a climb up some 1,200 stone steps through dense jungle.

Unfortunately, the area was at one time affected by the Colombian Civil War between the Colombian National Army, right-wing paramilitary groups and left-wing guerilla groups like National Liberation Army (ELN) and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). On September 15, 2003, ELN kidnapped 8 foreign tourists that were visiting Ciudad Perdida, demanding government investigation of human rights abuses in exchange for their hostages. ELN released the last of the hostages three months later. The AUC paramilitary group declared itself protector of this area. The Colombian Institute of Anthropology avoided the area after the kidnappings occurred and access to tourists was also restricted.

In 2005, tourist treks became operational again. The Colombian army actively patrols the area, which is now deemed to be safe for visitors and there have not been any more kidnappings. For a 6 day return trek to the lost city, the cost is approximately US$250 . This includes one night staying at the lost city. The trek is about 52 km of walking in total, and requires a good level of fitness. The trek includes a number of river crossings and steep climbs and descents. It is a moderately difficult trek.

References

• Toby Muse - Lost City (Archaeology magazine September/October 2004)

External links

• The Lure of Colombia's Lost City by Mark Henderson, The Guardian, October 24, 2009
• La Ciudad Perdida (The Lost City) by Darren Crawford

Coordinates: 11°02′17″N 73°55′31″W / 11.0381554°N 73.9252371°W / 11.0381554; -73.9252371

Archaeological sites in Colombia Ciudad Perdida | El Abra | El Infiernito | El morro del tulcán | Malagana | Monsu | Puerto Hormiga archaeological site | San Agustín, Huila | Tierradentro

From Wikitravel

Ciudad Perdida

Ciudad Perdida ("Lost City" in Spanish) is an ancient, ruined city located in the Colombian jungle close to Santa Marta.

Understand

The city was built between the eighth and the fourteenth centuries by the Tayrona Indians. Nowadays only circular stone terraces covered by jungle remain, but the views and the location of the site are extraordinary. Local name for Ciudad Perdida is Teyuna.

Get in

Treks to Ciudad Perdida are arranged by few different companies and it is not possible to visit the site on your own :

• Turcol, Carrera 1C No 20-15, Santa Marta, ☎ 421 22 56 (turcol_24@hotmail.com), [1].  edit
• Sierra Tours, (sierratours1@hotmail.com), [2]. .Also offers treks to Ciudad Perdida from Santa Marta  edit
• Magic tours, ☎ 5 421 9432 / 5 421 9429 / 316 576 4024 (cellular) (magictour186@yahoo.com). Also offers treks to Ciudad Perdida. Offices in Taganga  edit

The prices are about the same regardless of the company and vary between 470 000 COP and 550 000 COP for a six-day trek and 580 000 COP for a five-day trek. The treks have an official price but it can be the agencies can lower it if you just ask. Some of hostels in Santa Marta or Taganga can book the tour for you or can hook you up with one of the guides. Tours leave when there are enough people for a group, usually around twice a week. A recommended guide is Edwin Rey.

Make sure to bring appropriate gear for trekking, including good walking boots, mosquito repellent, a sleeping bag, appropriate clothing for hiking and for nights, and a water bottle. You will also want to take a pack of cards, a small amount of cash, a torch, toilet roll, snacks and a book.

• LaHeroica, ☎ Cel: (+57) 316-8747656 or (+57) 5-6642992 / 6647941 (info@laheroica.com), [3]. Luxury travel agency that organizes helicopter trips or a 4 days trekking trip combined with mules.  edit

Typical itinerary

The whole trek is 52 km long. The first day is a three-hour walk to the first camp. The second day is another four hours' hiking, and the third day is six hours to the Ciudad Perdida. The fourth day you spend exploring the site. The fifth day is a eight hour walk back to the first camp and the sixth day is only three hours back to civilization. (An alternative is to spend only the third night at the site and the fourth night in the same camp as the second night, meaning you avoid the eight-hour fifth day.)

• During the trek you will pass many little streams and waterfalls, some of which you can swim in, and which have great views. There are several steep uphill climbs (the worst one takes about an hour on the first day), but it is worth it. Overall, because of afternoon rains, you only hike for about 3-4 hours per day.
• Although the community atmosphere while walking is great, it is also fun to spend an hour or so away from the group while trekking to see more wildlife, particularly on the 3rd day.

Some of the 169 terraces of the city

• You will end up playing cards a lot during rest periods; it gets dark quite quickly and while the thought of walking in the jungle sounds good, you will be knackered. Plus, it's not a great idea to go wandering about at night outside of the camps.
• Take advantage of opportunities to swim when you can!
• As much as you might want to just put your head down and keep walking, take the opportunity to watch for wildlife or take in the amazing scenery.

• There are some places to buy beer, snacks, water and such like on the way. There is even a kiosk on the path just after you enter the paramilitary area.

Eat

Meals are included in the price of the tour.

Drink

Beer is sold on most of the campsites for 2000-3000 COP per can. Prices go up the further you go and reach 5,000 COP at the last camp.

Sleep

Sleeping space is in hammocks strung out under a communal shelter. A blanket is provided if you ask; it's worth asking for one even if the evening is warm as it can get very cold at the higher altitudes.