La Ciudad Perdida

A little history lesson: In 700 AD, the Tayrona people found their way to a beautiful piece of mountainous rainforest where they built a city full of temples and homes made from stone and palm thatch.  They lived there peacefully until the Spanish conquest brought disease and violence their way in the 1500s.  The city was then abandoned and overtaken by the surrounding plant-life.  In 1976, grave robbers hunting for gold discovered what was soon named the Lost City (Ciudad Perdida).  The Colombian government sent in archeologists to study these ruins of what is known to be Colombia's oldest indigenous civilization.  It is now a destination for adventure-seeking travelers to the Sierra Nevada National Park.  

In October of 2011, I hiked for 5 days through the rainforest, with 10 other foreign visitors and a local guide, to discover the Lost City for myself.  I was with my friend Serena. During the trek we took on incredible uphill and downhill trails, climbed up and down waterfalls, crossed the Rio Buritaka (sometimes ankle-deep and sometimes waist-deep), passed local indigenous people and their communities, slept in simple hammock camps, and fought off the bugs and the rain.  It was a truly incredible experience... enjoy the photos!

Hammock Camp!  A very cozy place to rest our sore muscles at the end of each day 

Those hiking clothes never had a chance to dry in that rainforest climate! 

One of many hiking breaks in the river

A Kogi village still used for community ceremonies

Serena and Me tired after along up-hill haul

One of many trail waterfalls; posing with our fellow adventurers!

Where the rainforest becomes farm fields