Blogs from Ciudad Perdida, Santa Marta, Colombia, South America - page 7

Hola, kom just tillbaka fran 5 dagars djungelvandring, vadmusklerna totalt sjuka och en oforglomlig upplevelse rikare! Vi blev sen ocksa 12 i gruppen, vilket ar ett aningen stort gang att fara pa vandring. Gruppen bestod av mig och tyska Angela, tre israeliska killar supertranade efter 3 ar i armen, ett gang mindre tranade amerikaner och en ratt stor kanadensisk man. Vi vandrade pa 3 dagar pa en smal stig, tidvis mycket jobbig, med over 1000 meters hojdskillnad till ruinerna va en indianstad fran ca ar 1000 e.K. Omradet ar ett av de viktigaste kokaodlingsomraden i Colombia, med paramilitarier utspridda i djungeln for att skydda fran guerillatrupperna som 1997 kidnappade fem europeiska turister. Inga oroligheter forekom trots allt under tiden vi var dar. Dramat borjade nar en bokhandlare fran New York fick ett allvarligt astmaanfall forsta dagen ... read more

Hey Everyone, Greetings from Colombia! As you can see we are alive and well and definately taking advantage of the beauty and diversity that Colombia has to offer. Another blog is coming soon for the Colombian Coast, as this page is all about our trek to Ciudad Perdida or the ¨Lost City.¨ Located in the rugged Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Lost City is an ancient site that housed around 1500 inhabitants from an indigenous tribe that does not exist any more (built around 500 AD). The city is a marvel of engineering, built on a steep valley wall using thousands of hand cut stones to create an assortment of terraces that houses were built upon. It is an amazing site and has a rather mystical air to it as it is surrounded by deep valleys, lush ... read more

I know because I tried it, finding the Lost City. Yes trekking through Colombian jungle, up and down and up craggy rocks and slippery rocks and some more rocks, but that was after the many colours of mud and tiny path ways and before the multiple river crossing and then finally up 2000 + round rocks covered in moss that they like to call steps. I spent 6 days and a considerable amount of money to find out that I hate trekking and never plan to do such a foolish thing again. I got back yesterday and I’ve been told that when time passes and the swelling goes down from both ankles and the blisters are a mere vague memory that I will feel great about my achievement. We’ll see. I’ve let time pass, it’s ... read more

We arrived in Santa Marta with the knowledge that we weren't covered by our travel insurance as the FCO advises against travelling here.. so certain that if we were going to break a leg it would be here!! Luckily we didn't. We also got our first look and dip in the Caribbean sea!! But we did decide to trek for 6 days through the jungle to find the remote, hidden and recently found.....Cuidad Perdida (Lost City). We again, were not covered by insurance, especially for kidnapping as it was here where our government thinks we would be most at risk, mostly due to some kidnappings 3 years ago. But from what I hear.. when the guerrillas kidnap you, its more of a holiday.....free food, free accommodation, free weed and free Spanish lessons. Not bad! We set ... read more

Ciudad Perdida - "The lost city" the city we are talking about was build by the Tyrona Indians a long time ago and was abandoned four centuries ago when the Indians got wiped out by the Spaniards looking for Eldorado. It is the biggest Pre-Colombian city ever found in South America. At the peak the city had somewhere between 2000 and 4000 inhabitants (Machu Picchu had only 1000). You might have heard of the city in 2003 as some tourists were kidnapped while doing the trek there by the local Guerillas. The big surprise is not that the city got lost it is that anyone found it again. You can believe me when I say that it is in the deep jungle after you crossed a river eight times and went up a million steps ... read more