The lost city

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27th August- 29th August: Taganga
29th August- 3rd september: The Lost City




We made our way to the fishing town of Taganga, staying at a hostel called ¨casa de felipe¨which just had the collest vibe...but more about that in 2 entries. From here we booked the Lost city tour!



CUIDAD PERDIDA- THE LOST CITY! (literal translation). this was definitely one of my highlights in Colombia! and i love Colombia!!! Let me just say i could not describe to you the feeling i got walking through the tropical forest whilst rain was storming down on us...then looking up at the rain through the tropical trees...it was magical!



Cuidad Perdida was only found around 1974 by tomb robbers who came across it accidentally. The years that followed and the fights that ensued were bloody. It became known as the ¨infierno verde¨(the green hell). Everyone was after the treasures that were left behind by the Tayrona people that inhabited this lush land. The Tayronas had finally been wiped out by the Spanish invasion- a story not uncommonly heard about old cultures in South America! Luckily the government soon seized control and protected it. still not many tourists traverse this trek, so we would often be walking alone along the path!



At 21, we had an extremely large group. Our trusted guide Rodrigo. And 6 days of trekking. The trek itself wasnt the hardest that ive undertaken, but it definitely had its challenges!



It took us 3 days to get up to the lost city. Walking along ancient paths, passing by indigenous cutlures. Along the way, there would be endless hills that we had to climb! i loved the mental challenge of just going up and up..and not stopping until you finally made it up that pass, or your body failed from fatigue! the lush green landscape we walked through was a welcome cover from the oppressive heat that soared from the flaming sun. Dense moisture in the air, we would be walking with very little on, sweating faster than we could replenish it. jumping into rivers that we came across just so that we could feel moments of cooling relief. I LOVED IT!



getting to the lost city, you could automatically feel the magic of the place. after climbing the butt-master 2000 (so i nicknamed it because my ass was solid rock after reaching the top!), you come across the terraces that onced housed hay-covered houses that belonged to the Tayrona civilization. Standing on the main platform and looking around was stunning (peering into the valley below, surrounded by majestic mountains, which were being enclosed by white clouds signaling the impending tropical rains). The city was grand and beautifully designed! They had channels to drain the rain, and was generally well designed! They would have made great landscapist! even by todays standards!



We had a great group. everyone was chilled, and loved to have a great time. along the trek, you would automatically have companions to ease some of the discomforts of trekking. But was often more enjoyable walking alone and letting your mind just float into its distant thoughts and memories. Very thought provoking activity trekking has become to me! Definitely one if the added highlights.



We would often make it to camp before the impending afternoon tropical rain. Like clockwork, it would always start around 2:30pm. so we would always rush to get to the next camp in time, whilst the snails lagging behind would get its full onslaught! it was only when we had to walk most of the day and were trapped by the rain that i realised the magic of walking through the forest immersed in the active energy of the soothing rain!



We would sleep under open shelters. our awesome guide and helpers would create amazing meals (god knows how with such basic amenities), and hang our hammocks up for our sore bodies to lull to sleep in. Often however, the hammocks would be too close such that someone moving during the night would ultimately result in those around them being swung also! we would always sleep nearby to rivers- supplying our fresh water, invigoration for our sweaty aching bodies, a playground for swimming, and a lulling noise for our weary sleeping heads. We would sleep under protection of mosquito nets, covered from head to toe in clothing, multiple mosquito repellants applied, and yet you still wake up with bites all over! they would even penetrate through the hammock, my jacket, and shirt and into my back! some serious mutant msquitoes here!!



It took two long days to get back to Taganga! ii could have walked fro longer- but admiteedly that hot shower and decent night sleep was amazing! most of the group met up that night...and we got absolutely sloshed! many funny stories!

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