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1. Day 1 Arrive Bogota, Colombia
   Meet Andean Discovery staff and transport to hotel

   The Adventure Begins Here!

   Upon evening arrival in Bogotá, an Andean Discovery staff member will meet you and drop you off at your hotel, conveniently located near the airport.

   Meals: On your own

   Lodging: Bogotá Marriott Hotel

2. Day 2 Hike to the Sacred Well

   Swim in the Kogui people’s Sacred Well

   Fly to Santa Marta and enjoy lunch. Prepare your body and mind for your impending adventure with a warm-up hike to El Pozo Sagrado, the Sacred Well. Local Kogui people believe this ancient swimming hole, located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, is sacred.   Take a dip, cool off and relax your muscles. Following local tradition, you can make an offering to Mother Earth and ask for protection on the upcoming Lost City trek. You will return to Santa Marta this evening and enjoy dinner on your own.

   Meals: B, L

   Lodging: Casa Carolina Boutique Hotel

3. Day 3 Camp 1

   Begin your trek to the Lost City

   Early this morning, you will meet up with your guide and set out for the trailhead in Mamey in a four-wheel drive vehicle.  Along the way, you will stop for lunch in a local village, where you can also stock up on trail snacks.  Later this afternoon, the time has come to begin your quest to the Lost City, the sacred citadel of the Tayrona people, whose history dates back to at least the 1st Century.

   The first day of trekking is particularly hot because there is no cover from the trees so you will want to start the day with plenty of sunblocks. One of the many highlights of this trek is just a 25-minute walk away: a crystal-clear swimming hole that invites you to jump in. After cooling off in the water, you’ll climb uphill for around 45 minutes, then descend into the valley to the first campsite. When you arrive, you can explore the surrounding rivers, natural pools, and waterfalls or nap in a hammock. Later, the group will gather for dinner and you will spend the night in hammocks.

   Meals: B, L, D

4. Day 4 Camp 1 & 3

   Continue your trek through the biodiverse jungle of the Sierra Nevada Mountains

   This morning wake up early and enjoy a hearty breakfast to prepare for a long day of hiking. The journey will take you approximately 7 hours through the biodiverse jungle of Sierra Nevada mountain range. Start the day walking alongside the Buritaca River, past Kogui indigenous villages. You will continue walking through varied landscapes, deeper into the jungle, across rivers and past local farms and villages. You will stop for lunch at Camp 2, where you can also jump in a swimming hole. Continue hiking through the jugnle this afternoon until you reach Camp 3 also known as El Paraiso. This campsite is located so close to the Lost City that you can practically taste it: less than a mile downhill from the site. The third camp, equipped with hammocks, beds and tents, is the perfect place to rest after an adventurous day. Enjoy a delicious dinner and fall asleep to the sounds of the jungle.

   Meals: B, L, D

5. Day 5 Camp 3 & the Lost City

   Arrive and explore the Lost City

   This morning, fuel up with a mighty breakfast and get ready to climb some stairs. Today, you’ll follow a trail constructed by the Tayrona people to reach the beautiful Lost City. You will need to walk, climb and scramble over 1,200 steps to reach your main destination. When you see terraces, you’ll know you have arrived.

   The Lost City was built in 800 AD and jungle overtook the ruins for the next several hundred years, hiding it from everyone except for local shaman (holy men). It wasn’t “discovered” by the outside world until the early 1970s. Unfortunately, tomb thieves removed much of the gold, valuable artifacts and other remains, leaving behind many mysteries. Upon arrival, your guide will show you around this magical, enigmatic place while sharing ancestral stories. You’ll have time to enjoy the landscape, rest and take pictures before descending back to the 3rd camp for lunch. Then, you will return to Camp 2 for dinner and to spend the night.

   Meals: B, L, D

6. Day 6 Return to Santa Marta

   Begin your return trek passing through local communities

   The last day of the trek begins with breakfast at the camp. Then you will begin your trek back to where this challenging but rewarding journey started. During the walk, you’ll recognize rivers and waterfalls that you can revisit if you need a refreshing break. Eventually, you will return to El Mamey village for lunch. Then, a four-wheel vehicle will return you to Santa Marta by around 5:00 PM.  Here, you will be transferred to your hotel where you can relax and reflect on your otherworldly trek to the Lost City. Dinner on your own.

   Meals: B, L

   Lodging: Casa Carolina Boutique Hotel

7. Day 7 Visit the Sierra Nevada Mountains

   Relax and float down the Don Diego River

   To celebrate the completion of your grueling trek, today provides the opportunity to sit back and relax. This morning, experience the magical microclimates of the Sierra Nevada Mountains by floating down the Don Diego River in a reinforced inner tube. A glacier provides cool, crystal clears waters to move you towards the ocean. Let the river do the work as you enjoy your surroundings. On a good day, all 32 peaks of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range are visible. Also watch for Howler Monkeys and an assortment of migratory birds and native tropical species playing in the trees. Smile and say hi to indigenous Kogui people fishing and washing clothes as you float by.  After an hour, you’ll know you reached the sea when you hit a giant sand bar. Hop out here and get ready for your afternoon flight back to Bogotá. Lunch and dinner on your own.

   Meals: B

   Lodging: Bogotá Marriott Hotel

8. Day 8 Depart

   Transfer to the airport for your international flight

   This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your international flight.

   Meals: B