The story of a place
An ancient settlement reached through a demanding living landscape.
Ciudad Perdida, also known as Teyuna, is approached through the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta on foot. Terraces and stone paths form the archaeological destination, but the journey crosses lands with continuing Indigenous significance.
The trek is not a casual extension to a beach stay. Heat, river crossings, steep sections and several days of walking require realistic preparation and respect for local rules.
The essential experience
Make time for this.
Undertake an authorised trek that explains the landscape and respects Indigenous communities as well as the ruins.
Explore the highlights
Look a little closer.
Ciudad Perdida’s terraces emerge within the forested slopes of the Sierra Nevada.
Terrace patterns
Notice how level spaces fit the slope.
Stone paths
Consider movement through the settlement.
Forest setting
Vegetation both protects and challenges archaeological remains.
For the curious reader
History, landscape
and context.
Ciudad Perdida (Spanish for "lost city"; also known as Teyuna and Buritaca-200) is the archaeological site of an ancient city in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta of Colombia, within the jurisdiction of the municipality of Santa Marta. This city is believed to have been founded about 800 AD. If so, Ciudad Perdida predates Machu Picchu by about 650 years.
Background reading: an abridged extract from Ciudad Perdida, by Wikipedia contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Paragraphs have been selected and shortened for this guide. Retrieved 22 September 2026. Source revision ↗.
Turn curiosity into a visit
Plan your visit.
- Physical demands
- Strenuous humid walking, steep steps and river crossings.
- The practical detail
- Never assume a published trek duration includes transfers or a recovery day.
Before you set off.
Your ticks stay in this browser.Through the seasons
A place in the world
Find your bearings.
Select the pin to open a detailed map. Use Closer look to see the surrounding region. Drag to move a zoomed map.
Map: Natural EarthA closer view.
Load the local map to explore the surrounding area. Map tiles require an internet connection.
- 1Ciudad PerdidaOpen directions ↗ · Location reference ↗
A sense of place
In pictures.
Keep looking.
10 photographs, with full-size views and individual credits.
Go a little further
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}