Caribbean Adventure: Lost City Trek & Medellín — Self-Launched

Land at Rafael Núñez airport and take a taxi or Uber (~£4-5) to Getsemaní, the graffiti-covered neighbourhood just outside the old walls — far better value and more atmosphere than inside the walled city. Check into a hostel dorm. In the evening walk to Plaza de la Trinidad, grab a beer from a tienda and people-watch, or eat at one of the street-food stalls (arepas de huevo, ~£1.50).

🚌Airport taxi to Getsemaní ~£4-5

🛏Hostel dorm in Getsemaní (e.g. via Hostelworld), £10-14

• →Settle in
• →Plaza de la Trinidad street food and bars

Do the city on foot — the walled city is tiny and free to wander. Walk the walls at sunrise, visit Plaza Bolívar, the Clock Tower and the Gold Museum (free entry, ~30 min). In the afternoon walk or take a taxi (~£1.70) to the Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas (£5 entry) and climb the tunnels. Skip the paid city tour — a free walking tour (tip-based, ~£5-8 tip) from Plaza de los Coches covers the same ground. Optional: boat to Islas del Rosario is ~£65-70 through an agent, better value as a day trip booked locally the day before.

🚌Walking plus a couple of local taxis ~£4

🛏Hostel dorm in Getsemaní, £10-14

• →Self-guided walled city walk
• →Gold Museum (free)
• →Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas ~£5
• →Optional: tip-based free walking tour

Take a local bus from Cartagena's Terminal de Transportes to Santa Marta — Unitransco/Berlinas coaches run hourly, ~4-5 hours, ~£10-12. From the terminal, a taxi into the centre is ~£2. Spend the afternoon in Santa Marta's historic centre: the Gold Museum is free, and the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino (where Bolívar died) is £4. Use the afternoon to confirm your Lost City trek booking, buy a 30-40L daypack if needed and hire walking poles (~£4/day). Eat at the mercado público for cheap seafood and arepas.

🚌Local coach Cartagena–Santa Marta ~£11; taxis ~£3

🛏Hostel dorm in Santa Marta centro, £9-13

• →Gold Museum Santa Marta (free)
• →Quinta San Pedro Alejandrino ~£4
• →Trek briefing and gear check

Your trek operator collects you from Santa Marta around 6am in a shared 4x4 to El Mamey (Machete Pelao), ~2.5 hours on rough road. Leave your main bag at the Santa Marta hostel or the operator's storage. Lunch at the village, then a relatively gentle 4-hour hike through farmland, river crossings and Kogi communities along the Buritaca River to Ricardito camp. Hammocks or rustic bunks with mosquito nets; cold showers, flushing toilets, power 5-9pm. Trek price (£270-330 pp through Magic Tour/Wiwa/Turcol) covers guides, all meals, camps and mule support; tip the guides ~£3-4/day.

🚌Shared 4x4 Santa Marta–El Mamey (included)

🛏Ricardito camp — hammock or bunk with mosquito net (included in trek)

• →Lost City trek day 1 (~4 hrs hiking)
• →Kogi community farmland hike

A tougher day: steep climbs and descents, lots of river crossings, high humidity (35-45°C). 5-6 hours of hiking with lunch en route. Arrive at Paraíso camp in the afternoon and swim in the Buritaca River. Pack a dry bag — in rainy season crossings can be waist-deep. Drink the treated river water from the camps' filters, or buy bottled water at checkpoints.

🚌On foot

🛏Paraíso camp — hammock or bunk (included in trek)

• →Lost City trek day 2 (~5-6 hrs hiking)
• →River swim at camp

Early start to reach the Lost City before the heat and the day-trippers. Climb the 1,200 ancient stone steps and spend ~3 hours with your indigenous guide exploring the terraces and sacred sites of Teyuna (1,200m). Then continue trekking through banana and cacao plantations on winding jungle paths to Mumake camp — about 8 hours of walking in total. This is the biggest day; keep water and electrolytes topped up.

🚌On foot

🛏Mumake camp — hammock or bunk (included in trek)

• →Climb 1,200 steps to Ciudad Perdida
• →Guided tour of the Lost City terraces
• →Trek to Mumake camp (~8 hrs total)

A shorter, easier day: leave Mumake early, hike back past the village of El Mamey and reach Las Cascadas camp by lunchtime. The rest of the afternoon is yours — swim in the river, rinse out your clothes and rest your legs. Buy a cold beer from the camp shop and swap jungle stories with other trekkers.

🚌On foot

🛏Las Cascadas camp — hammock or bunk (included in trek)

• →Lost City trek day 4 (~4 hrs hiking)
• →River swimming and rest

Last views of the jungle as you hike the final stretch back to Machete Pelao (~2-3 hrs). Shared 4x4 back out to the road, then a transfer or local bus to Taganga, the little fishing village 15 minutes from Santa Marta. Check into a cheap guesthouse and spend the afternoon doing nothing on the beach — you've earned it. Fresh fish dinner on the waterfront ~£6.

🚌Shared 4x4 and local bus/collectivo to Taganga (included or ~£4)

🛏Guesthouse or hostel dorm in Taganga, £9-13

• →Final trek morning
• →Taganga beach afternoon

Take a local bus from Santa Marta's market to the park entrance at El Zaino (~£1.50, 1 hr), pay the park entry (£15-17 for foreigners) and hike the 2-hour coastal trail through jungle to Cabo San Juan's famous double beach and hammock hut. Alternatively take the bus/boat to Playa Cristal for snorkelling. Bring plenty of water and cash — ATMs are non-existent in the park. Note the park closes 1-15 Feb, 1-15 June and mid-Oct to early Nov; on those dates go tubing on the Río Don Diego and visit Minca instead.

🚌Local bus Santa Marta–El Zaino ~£1.50 return ~£3; park shuttle boat optional ~£7

🛏Hammock or dorm in Taganga/Santa Marta, £9-13

• →Tayrona National Park hike
• →Cabo San Juan beach and swim
• →Optional Playa Cristal snorkelling

Bus back to Santa Marta or straight to the airport, then fly to Medellín with Avianir, Latam, JetSmart or Wingo (~£45-70 one way, 1h20). From José María Córdova airport take the airport bus (~£1.30) or a taxi (~£12) to El Poblado. Dorm bed in El Poblado or Laureles. In the evening head to Provenza for dinner and bars — Medellín's nightlife is a highlight in itself.

🚌Bus to airport ~£2; domestic flight ~£50-70; airport bus ~£1.30

🛏Hostel dorm in El Poblado or Laureles, £10-15

• →Domestic flight to Medellín
• →Provenza night out

Ride the metro (£0.70) and Metrocable to San Javier, then join a community-run Comuna 13 graffiti and history tour (~£12-15, book via GetYourGuide or with a local guide on arrival) — the escalators, hip-hop and murals are the story of the city's transformation. Have lunch at Berracas de la 13, the women-led community restaurant G Adventures visits, and buy coffee from their shop. Afternoon options: Museo de Antioquia and Botero sculptures in Plaza Botero (~£5), or Parque Explora (£7).

🚌Metro/Metrocable ~£2

🛏Hostel dorm in El Poblado or Laureles, £10-15

• →Comuna 13 graffiti and history tour ~£13
• →Lunch at Berracas de la 13 ~£7
• →Plaza Botero and Museo de Antioquia ~£5

Depending on your departure time, squeeze in a final coffee in Laureles or ride the cable car up to Parque Arví (~£2.50 return) for city views. Airport bus or taxi back to José María Córdova and fly home.

🚌Airport bus ~£1.30 or taxi ~£12

🛏—

• →Final cafés
• →Optional Parque Arví cable car ~£2.50